The PastWaterford was once a transportation hub, with dozens of trains a day going through town. The Train Station on Alice Street was built for the new Canada Southern Railway in the 1870s.
The Canada Southern line was built from both ends (Fort Erie and Amherstburg) beginning in 1871. The two lines met at Townsend just east of Waterford. Waterford's first train appears to have been on Tuesday, January 21, 1873, as reported in the Norfolk Observer of January 24 - The clipping below tells us:
The Iron horse made his first appearance at Waterford, on Tuesday last. The greatest excitement prevailed, hundreds of the inhabitants turning out to welcome the strange visitor. The railroad opened doors for farmers and businesses alike to ship their goods further afield, including the huge American markets of Buffalo and Detroit. It also brought the latest and much needed supplies to the residents of the community.
By the 1890s, the Brantford, Waterloo and Lake Erie Railroad brought even more convenient transportation to Waterford. It was taken over by the TH&B (Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo) which merged with Michigan Central. And later, the Lake Erie & Northern (LE&N) electric rail line came to town, operating on a north south route with its station (now gone) just south of the "Black Bridge". The railways were responsible for much of the growth of Waterford's core - generating employment and business opportunities for the town. Many people tell stories of children catching frogs in the millpond to sell to the chefs aboard passing trains for frog's legs in their dining cars. Similarly, ice was cut in the pond and stored in an ice house to be used by the railway in the summer. The most famous incident involving Waterford's railways has to be the stabbing death of Michael Donnelly of the famed Black Donnellys of Lucan, Ontario. Michael Donnelly was a family man who seems to have been no longer involved in his family's feuds when, as a railway worker in 1879, he found himself staying at Slaght's Hotel in Waterford while on railway work. In the bar that night a dispute arose between Michael and a fellow railroad worker, William Lewis, about whose dog was stronger. Donnelly was fatally stabbed and died within minutes. There is some suggestion that the murder was a setup, as the rest of the Donnelly family was killed at home within a few months. Lewis stood trial, was convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to 5 years in jail. On a more pleasant note, excursions from the Alice Street station to Niagara Falls, Detroit and Buffalo were commonplace. Closer to home, travel within the county became easier, with stations in La Salette, Windham, Waterford, Townsend Centre and Villa Nova. They even put on entire trains to take fans to watch hockey games in Tillsonburg! |
Saving Our StationTrains continued to run through Waterford into the 1980s. But before the tracks were even taken up, the train station, which was controlled at that time by Con Rail was threatened with demolition.
A group of citizens under the name Save Our Station (SOS) was formed, spearheaded by Don Townsend. With the support of the then City of Nanticoke, the Waterford Chamber of Commerce bought the station and leased the land it sat on from Canadian National. Considerable work was done to restore the building from its dilapidated state to its present condition. The building was designated as a Historic Building by the Ontario Heritage Foundation.
In 2005, the Waterford & Townsend Historical Society bought the building from the Chamber of Commerce and has maintained it ever since. We consider the Station to be an important part of our stewardship of local history. Several businesses and enterprises have been housed in the restored station, including a café, a daycare and a food bank. Since 2007, it has been Quilt Junction. Now under Lana Thomson, it is a wonderful supply store and teaching facility for quilters from far and wide. The Society is thrilled to have Quilt Junction as a tenant. The business is a very good fit for the handmade and historic aspects of our beautiful station.
Lots more information about Shadow Lake Trail at:
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Photo is an enhanced detail by Alison Bell from a townscape dated 1906 but thought to be earlier. It was probably created to be sold at the Town Reunion in 1906.
It shows St. James Street coming down directly towards the rail yard.
The long building is the station before it was moved a couple of blocks west to where it stands today.
It shows St. James Street coming down directly towards the rail yard.
The long building is the station before it was moved a couple of blocks west to where it stands today.