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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-21, Page 13Rebirth of a rail station Exeter's old train station gets a new lease on life... in Grand Bend. Dr. Anne Wilson bought and renovated the building for her new office. By Fred Groves T -A staff GRAND BEND - Over a hundred people of all ages gathered in Grand Bend on Friday morning to witness the preservation of a build- ing and the perseverance of its new owner. Optometrist Dr. Anne Wilson of- ficially opened her new office which will be housed in the nearly 120 year-old Exeter Railway Sta- tion. There were many special guests on Friday including Eliz- abeth Kettlewell from the Canadian Railway Heritage Society. "A year ago we thought it (the station) was so run down, many of us thought it was a terrible mis- take," said Kettlewell. Wilson bought the station a year ago and had it moved from its Exet- er location to its new home in Grand Bend where it is positioned right on the edge of town so all can see when they enter the com- munity. Kettlewell said she visited the Exeter station when it was still in use and talked to an elderly man who told her some interesting sto- ries including how certain freight was transported. "There was always one stray cow that would get loose, run down the tracks and the children of Exeter would chase it." Kettlewell said that when she vis- ited the station it had a distinct smell of wet clothes, pipe tobacco, manure and work boots. "Today 1 went in and sniffed the walls," she admitted of looking for the familiar aroma. In 1993 the Goderich-Exeter Railway wanted to put to pro- ductive use the land on which the station was located, but had no use for the station itself. 1t was going to be demolished unless someone bought it and removed it from the site in Exeter. That's when Wilson stepped in. Although she wouldn't say how much it cost to move, she did admit it was more than it would cost to build a new clinic. Among the many special guests who attended the opening was Lambton MP Rose -Marie Ur. "I'd like to congratulate Dr. Anne Wilson for her courage and in- itiative in preserving the station," said Ur. "The heritage has continued. I ap- preciate that you stuck with it," Hu - ton MPP Paul Klopp said to Wil- ton. "The turnout here today shows the community appreciates it." Exeter was the most important of the 16 stations on what was orig- inally the London -Huron -Bruce Railway which was opened on Jan - 4, 1876. .Wilson was very humble about Jan- cry feat andAo inted out that the sta- tion's preservation would not have been possible without the efforts of many people. "I want to thank those who pelped out in special ways. There ere just so many," said Wilson. She said that some minor changes had to be made to the station and said, "we had to make a few altera- tions, I hope you forgive us," Also invited to the special open- ing on Friday were Kent and Shir- ley Shoults of Ingersoll who pro- vided all the antique light fixtures for the station. They were dressed in clothing from the late 1800's and say they often come garbed to fit the occa- sion. EX:. ER FATIQf, i;ii BU'll IN EXETER, ONTARIO BY Nc Atl 1pL NK kAt,WAY CN THE ',DON, Li ON AND BRUCE LINE T C _ANAD.AN NATIONAL RAILWAYS io GRAND BEND, ONTARIO a'JD OPENED AS HER OFFICE WILSON, OPTOMETRIST Shirley and Kent Should; came dressed for the occasion. Above, Exeter Mayor Bruce Shaw, Dr. Anne Wilson, and Grand Bend Mayor Tom Lawson cut the ribbon to officially open the 1arnbtavl MP RosoMarle W, left; and Dr. Anne Wilson in the station. foyer of the station. Sales & Service POWER TOOLS • WOODWORKING EQUIPMENT LL ENGINE REPAIR 11 CRAFT SUP EEXETER TOOL & MpIH ST. 116. ! I!Icngi Fast Money. Order By October 15 And Get .a $400 Thank -You Note. Buy a new Arctic Cat® before October 15, 1994, and get $400 in Cat Cash.TM" That's $400 to spend on Arcticwear® or on the hundreds of other Arctic Cat parts and accessories at our dealership. So stop by today, before our incredible new line-up of Cats -and the Cat Cash -disappear. ,Aliderssic BE«t'ER irj ,j 4.:Products /n: 1'