The Post Road Heritage Group has received a $10,000 donation from Access Credit Union for the reconstruction of the Officer’s Mess Kitchen at Fort Dufferin near Emerson.

President Marlyn Empson says they plan on rebuilding it as close to historically correct as possible.

“We dismantled it and we saved as much lumber as we could from it to reuse in the rebuild of the project," she explained. "It had deteriorated to the point that it was a liability to have around anymore. It was one of the three buildings that

were original, and we just felt that was important to put that little piece of the puzzle back in there. It kind of gives you a sense of the history and what things were like back then.”

The Canadian government sold the building to a private individual in 1906, before the Province of Manitoba retained ownership. It is currently leased to the Post Road Heritage Group, which manages and maintains the site. The group is hoping to add interpretive displays to the mess hall in the future.

According to Empson, the mess hall’s size betrays it’s historic value.

“It was built right beside the officers quarters, which were both built for the Boundary Commission. They are the ones that marked the border between Canada and U.S. from Lake of the Woods out to the Rockies," she explained. "It’s a fairly humble building, it's only 18 [feet] by 24 [feet]. We don't have any photos of the interior of it, but it was built to provide food for the officers in the officers quarters, which was only spaced about four feet away from that building.”

The mess kitchen was originally constructed in 1872.

Empson says the interpretive outdoor trail has also seen upgrades over the years.

“We've had an interpretive trail there since, I think it was 2002. We've kind of changed the route to include a few more things. More depressions have been found where buildings of some sort were at one time. We've matched them up to historical maps and we've done a little write ups, so you know more of an interpretation of what went on there for people to read up on.”

The group has installed posts for new interpretive signs to be erected in spring along the Fort's outdoor trail. As a national historic site, Fort Dufferin has attracted visitors from as far as Australia, Japan and Europe.

As part of the much longer Trans-Canada Trail, Empson says they’ve noticed a definite increase in traffic on the Fort Dufferin trail. Hikers will soon find interpretive panels touching on Mennonite immigration.

Not only was Fort Dufferin the headquarters for the International Boundary Commission and the staging grounds for the “March West” by the North West Mounted Police, it also served as the site where 18,000 immigrants began their journey west, many of which were were Mennonite immigrants.

Empson admits that raising funds during a pandemic is tricky, but donations like the one from Access Credit Union are very helpful.

The Post Road Heritage Group is also hosting a pair of fundraisers - a 50/50 raffle, and the opportunity to purchase Fort Dufferin apparel. Tickets for the raffle are still available at various establishments in Emerson, as well as from board members. Draw date is December 1st, 2021. Follow Fort Dufferin on Facebook, Instagram or email at fortdufferin1872@gmail.com in order to purchase raffle tickets or learn more about the Fort Dufferin apparel.