In January of the fourth year, someone applied for a heritage listing on the Portland building.
The original Hargrove family house. The one that had burned. What remained of it had been rebuilt decades ago into something unrecognizable from the outside, owned by a succession of families and businesses, and was now being considered for heritage status due to the architectural quality of the Victorian bones underneath the subsequent modifications.
The application surfaced through Damien’s attorney, who flagged it as a matter of interest given the estate’s history. There was a public comment period. Property history was being researched.
Which meant that the fire of 1990 was going to be documented.
In a public record.
Damien read the attorney’s note on a Tuesday morning and was very stil
