The first Algoma University at St. Thomas class is currently busy at the main campus in Sault Ste. Marie getting their introductory taste of a four year Bachelor of Arts program. Meanwhile, finishing touches are being completed on the former Wellington Street Public School in preparation for the return to their home location later in September. 

Things are falling into place nicely on a project that was fast-tracked in order to bring a university option to students in St. Thomas. The $1.1 million dollar building renovation was made possible largely through a $900,000 donation from the estate of Dorothy Palmer. Crediting city hall staff, contractors and Palmer Estate executor Andrew Gunn, St. Thomas CAO Wendell Graves noted on a recent tour of the school, “We have pulled out all the stops to get the building up to shape in time.”

The Kettle Valley Pioneers presented their 34th annual Elgin Historical Show August 10th to 12th. Dan Patterson Conservation Area was filled with antiques related to farming (tractors, machinery and implements) plus food vendors, displays and music.

Julie Berry, in conjunction with the Society of Friends (Quakers) from Sparta, has been organizing the Lantern-Floating Ceremony in Pinafore Park for more than twenty years. This past Monday (August 6th), she welcomed the people gathered to remember those who lost their lives due to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, August 6-9, 1945. She noted her dedication to the yearly ceremony, the importance of preventing another nuclear bombing from ever happening again, and also the joy to be found in the peaceful and beautiful display made by the lanterns on the water.

The North America Railway Hall of Fame aims to provide a flavour of the importance of the Canada Southern Railway, and also to honour North America railway heritage. The diversity and richness of that history was on display on Friday evening (June 22) as presentations were made to the nineteen 2012 Hall of Fame inductees. 

The Elgin County Railway Museum and the CASO Station are working together to present St. Thomas Railway Nostalgia Weekend from 10am-4pm, June 23rd and 24th, 2012.  It will combine the always popular annual Strawberry Social at the CASO station plus Railway Nostalgia Days into a collaborative affair which will include more to see and do than ever. 

Re-live the great railway adventure at the Elgin County Railway Museum and discover local railway heritage with interpreters in vintage costumes.

Additions to this year’s collaborative event will include classic car displays, guided tours of the CASO Station, a Strawberry Social (Saturday morning), displays of nostalgic toys and dolls, and Heritage of the Rails dramatic vignettes (Sunday).  

On the railway lands between the Elgin County Railway Museum and the CASO Station there will be antique farm machinery and equipment displays and a train-themed people mover for visitors to ride around the event!

The historic BX Tower on Moore Street will also be open for tours 10 am-4pm during Nostalgia Weekend.

Enter at the The Elgin County Railway Museum located at 225 Wellington Street or the CASO Station, 750 Talbot Street. Event admission is $7 per person, children under 12 years old are admitted free.   For more information, visit www.ecrm5700.org or call Dawn Miskelly, Museum Manager at 519-637-6284. The Elgin County Railway Museum gratefully acknowledges the Ministry of Heritage Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program for their support of Railway Nostalgia Weekend.

Here’s a unique opportunity to celebrate fathers in a way that fathers will enjoy – with a St. Thomas Beer Tasting and Historical Hotel Walk. The Father’s Day event is the undertaking of a partnership of Railway City Brewing Co and the local branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario with assistance from St. Thomas historian Steve Peters.
 
Fathers (and perhaps some of Father’s lucky friends and relatives) are invited to join in the tasting and historic walk on Sunday June 17 at 2pm. It will trek past such renowned drinking establishments as the Talbot Hotel, the John Scott and the Midtown. Many others such as The International, Union Jack, Killarney and Devil’s Half Acre will be remembered with historical anecdotes from the extensive Steve Peters repertoire.

St. Thomas is currently in the planning stages of a project designed to put the “Railway” back in the Railway City. The plan to renew the historic L&PS corridor will involve the creation of an exciting people place. It also innovatively counters some of the obstacles to building a St. Thomas “brand” and identity.