HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2012-06-06, Page 23GRAND A vision on track- from raliway station to optometrlstWedneiiLakeshore)
Railway
station 100
this year
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
She looks pretty good for
100.
The former Exeter railway
station that became the
Grand Bend optometrist
office in 1994 owned by Dr.
Anne Wilson,
Looking back
It was 1993 and the
Goderich Exeter railway
wanted to use the land where
the station was located but
had no use for the building
itself. It was going to be
demolished unless someone
bought it and removed it.
At the stone time 1)r. Wil-
son was looking for a perma-
nent office. Her Ontario
Street office was too small
and she needed space for her
2,000 patients. So, she
thought, why not buy this sta-
tion, restore it and move It to
Grand Bend. So, her and hus-
band Professor Alan Ileard
overcame all the problems
and the move went ahead.
The station dates to 1911
and was the last one on the
London -Clinton line. Exterior
features include a hipped
roof with wide overhangs and
the eaves lined with decora-
tive rafter heels. 'lhe original
interior plasterwork and fin-
ish were in good condition.
Its historical significance was
recognized in a 1987 study of
heritage railway stations
undertaken for the Ontario
Heritage Foundation.
Exeter was the most impor-
tant of the sixteen stations on
what were originally the Lon-
don, Huron and Bruce
Railway, which was opened
on January 4, 1876.
There were three station
buildings in Exeter's history.
The Great Western Railway
built the first on the west side
of the line in 1875. In 1908 the
Grand Trunk Railway built a
new station on the east side
of the line. It was destroyed
by fire on October 20, 1911.
Arson was suspected. The
third and final station was
built by the Grand Trunk
Railway on the same line and
opened just before Christmas
1911. This is the building that
has housed the Grand Bend
Optimist office for the past 17
years.
The Exeter station also
served Grand Bend. Henry
Guenther operated a passen-
ger and mail stagecoach
between the two points meet-
ing all the trains in Exeter and
calling at all the Grand Bend
hotels.
So, May 27, 1993 the station
was moved from its historic
location to the site where it
sits today. 'Ihe $40,000 move
by a Port Elgin company took
six hours including time
logged May 21 for raising the
70 -foot long building onto a
trailer and moving it to its
rural roots. Ur. Wilson paid $1
for the station that she recov-
ered to its original state.
The move was not easy -but
the timing great as it rained a
lot the next week. To squeeze
through a bridge on Highway
83, the station's dormer at the
entrance was removed in
three pieces bringing the
width at the bottom down to
29 feet. 'Ihe dormer was later
reattached.
To fit under hydro lines the
station's top roof, which rose
three feet above the main
roof, was removed.
Dr. Wilson enlisted the
rTv of
BLUEWATER
sense w.
MOW) Moa, • ARCA
2001
NOTICE OF WATER RATE CHANGE
Effective July 1, 2011 water rates outlined in by-law #53-
2011 will be applied to municipal water customers.
During the 2011 budget deliberations The Bluewater
Municipal Council reviewed the need to change the current
water rate structure. On June 6, 2011 Council passed by-law
#53-2011 to change the Bluewater municipal water rates.
Ratepayers interested in additional information are
encouraged to visit the municipal website or call
519-236-4351,
www.town,bluewater,on,ca
help of Fred Cane, who was from the Ontario Heritage Foun-
dation and Bob Tremain who was the curator of the Lambton
Museum for advise
opened
Heritage
office officially
The
Local
the big
(Dave
safe
resident
safe
Carrie
standing
McLeod)
of restoration. The Optometrist
in September 1994.
Grainger remembers
proudly
bought
at
Acme
the
eye
Signs
the
clinic
Neon
story behind
today. "My dad
(London) Ltd. in
1974. 'Ihe safe was already in the building when he bought it
and it stayed In his office for many years. When he found out
that Dr. Wilson was refurbishing the old train station he
phoned her and told her that he had the original safe from the
station. 'lhe safe is now in its original home,
Dr. Wilson retired on October 1, 20116 when 1)1., t terry 1)ay
bought the optometry practice. I)r, Wilson still owns the
building.
.1 ti', t,
Fish Species and Angling
in Port Franks
Please Join us fora free presentation
on fishing techniques
and fish species found in the
the Ausable River Watershed
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Port Franks Marina Pavilion
(7574 Biddulph Street, Port Franks)
For more information, contact Kari at
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA)
at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-8a11-266-2610
or a -mall kjeaneabca,on.ca
Event hosted by the Municipality of lombton Shores
and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ARCA)
In cooperation with Ontario Family Fishing itikek (July 2-10, 20 71)
i��
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of
Canada provided through the Department of the Environment
Then and now
Need Mortgage Money?
Falai & Residential 1 & 2 Mortgage $ 3.25 Interest of Less
• No upfront fees
• Personal loans/mortgages
• Consolidate your debts
• Problem mortgage specialist
Head Office Ph: 519,744 6251
II 10163
If you qualify, pnymonts:
Allll, ApPIUX, Mn, Ptlytulunt
' 5,000 ' 13.55
'10,000 ' 27.08
'50,000 '135.42
'100,000 '270,83
ASTRAL FUNDING INC. 1-800-387-1932
tis tOth ;;Iieel. Il,ln»el
Portia Needs a Home!
111111111=1111111111111111111111mo
ROYAL LEPAGE
Ask MarJe about Portia
and Real Estate at
98 ONTARIO S'I'.S
in Grand Bend
(next to House of Flogs,
Sears & No Frills)
Marie Crowe* is helping Sarnia-l.umhton SI'('A find adoptive
parents for Portia. If you can give Portia a loving N happy
home, please call Marie for more information' I go on the
SP('A website ut
http distuniutaummesucietya:uw
Helping You is What 1 1)o!
37 Years of Caring Experience!
If you're buying or selling your home u( cottage,
please call Marjo Crowe* at 51'9 66I 0.180
... and don't forget to spay or neuter you( pets,
•