The saws have stopped whirring at the Flin Flon Hobby Shop, marking the end of an era for the community’s do-it-yourselfers.
The Hobby Shop was a decades-old, member-run woodworking facility that leased space from the city in the lower level of the Community Hall.
Amid dwindling membership, back rent and concerns that members could no longer afford to maintain equipment, the city recently cancelled the lease.
“We believe it is sad that the Hobby Shop has come to an end, but the use indicates the value of the option and there was very little use over the past few years,” said Mayor Cal Huntley. “If I could give an opinion, personal garages have become bigger, access to sophisticated power tools has become greatly enhanced and the ability for the average person to have a ‘home’ hobby shop has taken over.”
Huntley said Hobby Shop equipment has already been removed or is in the process of being removed.
Unclaimed items are to be taken for resale or recycling by Habitat 53°, the local branch of Habitat for Humanity.
Huntley couldn’t say what will become of the space left vacant at the Community Hall.
“We don’t know yet and are exploring opportunities and options,” said Huntley.
The Hobby Shop was at one time a thriving Flin Flon institution with numerous members using the facility to build everything from birdhouses and cabinets to shelves and nightstands.
Huntley could not say how many members the shop had at the time of closure.
“The Hobby Shop was an independent organization,” he said. “Although contacts occurred from time to time, the city was not directly informed on an ongoing basis as to how many people had a connection to the Hobby Shop, or what their formal relationship was. Some people may have been using the space primarily for personal storage, and this would boost numbers somewhat. However, the city’s general impression is that active use of the space as a workshop had dwindled down to only a few persons.”
No one who was involved with the Hobby Shop at the time of closure could be reached for comment.
One former member, who asked that his name not be published, called the closure a “real shame” but agreed with Huntley’s comment that it is now far easier than it once was for an average person to have a home-based hobby shop.
