Post by Max on Aug 16, 2007 17:57:47 GMT -3
Date Published | Aug. 14, 2007
Jim Cook, an local artist, displays his artwork at the Elgin St. train station. Members of the Sudbury artist community have organized an exhibit in the station. Photo by Matthew Gilles 2007.
BY MATTHEW GILLIES - for northern life
The city's historic train station on Elgin St. is turning 100 this year, and to celebrate there will be an exhibition of artifacts, photos and artwork from Aug. 13 to 19.
This is an opportunity for people to learn more about the history of the railway in the community and the importance of the railway to the beginnings of Sudbury, said the city's museum curator Jim Fortin.
With the help of the Greater Sudbury Heritage Museums and the Northern Ontario Railway Museum and Heritage Centre, a number of railroad photos and and artifacts, such as Bowland's Axe, an axe used by surveyor John Bowland in 1883 will be on display for the week.
Bowland blazed the first survey line for the CPR into Sudbury. The axe was presented to Sudbury city council in 1921.
During the building of the railway, nickel and other minerals were discovered in this area.
“It's a reminder of our link to the railway, a reminder of how young our community really is,” said Fortin. “This station was built in 1907 – it was only 25 years previously that the railway reached here. It's one of our oldest surviving buildings – it's a link to the past.”
Throughout the week, visitors can view the displays from 11 am to 2 pm daily.
“If people are interested, they should get down here, enjoy the artwork – there's some really nice pieces here,” Fortin said.
There will be information staff and volunteers available to answer questions and talk about the city's rail history.
Reader Feedback
On Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 13:37, Watch Out said:
What there's still a historic building left in Sudbury??
Hurry up and tear it down to make another parking lot!!!!!!
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 09:20, SirGalahad said:
What a shame that rail travel is dead here in Northern Ontario. VIA rail is too slow, too expensive, and has a poor schedule. In Europe, rail travel is one of the most common methods of getting from city to city. Their trains are fast, on time, and inexpensive.
As for the Sudbury Station turning 100, well the building is a landmark, however it's not used for anything, It should be fixed up, and converted into a museum on the history of rail travel in Northern Ontario.
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 12:45, Concerned Resident said:
Great, When I came to Sudbury in 1956, quite a few beautiful buildings, eg. Od Post Office, were here. It is tragic, so many have been bulldozed for parking. We should get a strong By Law, to favor Heritage Buildings.
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 14:53, Me said:
The first building in Sudbury was located 5 miles East of downtown. This places it in Minnow Lake. I'm guessing it was a railroad related building.
Does anyone know the exact location of this first building in Sudbury?
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 19:09, DEBBIE said:
The old station looks great,but please get rid of them UGLY yellow flour mill silos.
On Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 11:25, Common Sense said:
We have a historic 100 year-old rail station in the heart of downtown, but the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum is in CAPREOL !!??! How much sense does that make?
We also have only one passenger train through that station, and it comes from way up North. If you come from Toronto or Ottawa, you get dropped off about a mile East of LaSalle Falconbridge (it looks like the middle of nowhere) and the station is a trailor!
If we are proud of our railway heritage, bring passenger trains downtown, move freight out of the city core and re-vitalize the station. Look at any major city in Southern Ontario and you'll see the train station is a hub of activity. Here, it's just a hang out for the homeless.
On Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 11:27, Move it said:
Move the trains out of town and convert the rail lines into bike paths!!
Most of the tracks run right next to the water and have beautiful scenery. The station downtown could be a central park for the city, directly ajacent to Bell Park and would make this city much more pedestrian friendly!
Jim Cook, an local artist, displays his artwork at the Elgin St. train station. Members of the Sudbury artist community have organized an exhibit in the station. Photo by Matthew Gilles 2007.
BY MATTHEW GILLIES - for northern life
The city's historic train station on Elgin St. is turning 100 this year, and to celebrate there will be an exhibition of artifacts, photos and artwork from Aug. 13 to 19.
This is an opportunity for people to learn more about the history of the railway in the community and the importance of the railway to the beginnings of Sudbury, said the city's museum curator Jim Fortin.
With the help of the Greater Sudbury Heritage Museums and the Northern Ontario Railway Museum and Heritage Centre, a number of railroad photos and and artifacts, such as Bowland's Axe, an axe used by surveyor John Bowland in 1883 will be on display for the week.
Bowland blazed the first survey line for the CPR into Sudbury. The axe was presented to Sudbury city council in 1921.
During the building of the railway, nickel and other minerals were discovered in this area.
“It's a reminder of our link to the railway, a reminder of how young our community really is,” said Fortin. “This station was built in 1907 – it was only 25 years previously that the railway reached here. It's one of our oldest surviving buildings – it's a link to the past.”
Throughout the week, visitors can view the displays from 11 am to 2 pm daily.
“If people are interested, they should get down here, enjoy the artwork – there's some really nice pieces here,” Fortin said.
There will be information staff and volunteers available to answer questions and talk about the city's rail history.
Reader Feedback
On Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 13:37, Watch Out said:
What there's still a historic building left in Sudbury??
Hurry up and tear it down to make another parking lot!!!!!!
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 09:20, SirGalahad said:
What a shame that rail travel is dead here in Northern Ontario. VIA rail is too slow, too expensive, and has a poor schedule. In Europe, rail travel is one of the most common methods of getting from city to city. Their trains are fast, on time, and inexpensive.
As for the Sudbury Station turning 100, well the building is a landmark, however it's not used for anything, It should be fixed up, and converted into a museum on the history of rail travel in Northern Ontario.
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 12:45, Concerned Resident said:
Great, When I came to Sudbury in 1956, quite a few beautiful buildings, eg. Od Post Office, were here. It is tragic, so many have been bulldozed for parking. We should get a strong By Law, to favor Heritage Buildings.
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 14:53, Me said:
The first building in Sudbury was located 5 miles East of downtown. This places it in Minnow Lake. I'm guessing it was a railroad related building.
Does anyone know the exact location of this first building in Sudbury?
On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 19:09, DEBBIE said:
The old station looks great,but please get rid of them UGLY yellow flour mill silos.
On Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 11:25, Common Sense said:
We have a historic 100 year-old rail station in the heart of downtown, but the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum is in CAPREOL !!??! How much sense does that make?
We also have only one passenger train through that station, and it comes from way up North. If you come from Toronto or Ottawa, you get dropped off about a mile East of LaSalle Falconbridge (it looks like the middle of nowhere) and the station is a trailor!
If we are proud of our railway heritage, bring passenger trains downtown, move freight out of the city core and re-vitalize the station. Look at any major city in Southern Ontario and you'll see the train station is a hub of activity. Here, it's just a hang out for the homeless.
On Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 11:27, Move it said:
Move the trains out of town and convert the rail lines into bike paths!!
Most of the tracks run right next to the water and have beautiful scenery. The station downtown could be a central park for the city, directly ajacent to Bell Park and would make this city much more pedestrian friendly!