Railway Heritage panels have appeared in recent months over the east-side windows of the MCRR locomotive repair shops in St. Thomas – the makeover which has attracted appreciative attention is just a hint of the transformation planned for the building in the next five to ten years.
It has been an exciting twelve months for the Elgin County Railway Museum (ECRM) which is based in the shops, with the 25th anniversary of that organization last year and the MCRR shops 100th anniversary celebration on September 20th, 2014. The evening included hors d’oeuvres, special guest speakers, music and silent auction along with some significant announcements.
It has been an exciting twelve months for the Elgin County Railway Museum (ECRM) which is based in the shops, with the 25th anniversary of that organization last year and the MCRR shops 100th anniversary celebration on September 20th, 2014. The evening included hors d’oeuvres, special guest speakers, music and silent auction along with some significant announcements.
Volunteers and staff, including Museum Manager Dawn Miskelly, who have helped make these milestones possible were the focus of recognition by museum president Jeremy Locke at both events. It wasn’t long ago that the viability of the MCRR shops which serve as storage for rolling stock and artifacts, display space for visitors to enjoy, and work space for many of the volunteers, was in question. The sky (or at least the roof) was falling, along with a long list of other problems which would demand extensive restoration.
The building’s significance, however, was not in doubt:
The building’s significance, however, was not in doubt:
The railways played an integral role in the foundation, and growth of the City of St. Thomas, both economically and in population. In its railway heyday, St. Thomas was interchangeable with the term “Railway City” or “Railway Capital of Canada” as it was a North American railway hub with at least five different railroads steaming their way through the city. The MCRR Locomotive Repair Shops were constructed over a period of a year between 1913 and 1914. An article from the St. Thomas Daily Times – March 28, 1914 with the headline “M.C.R.’s New Quarter Million Dollar Shops Nearly Completed”, demonstrates the significance of this building and the impact it has on the community – “The completion of these works places St. Thomas among the leading railway divisional centres, in point of equipment, on the American continent and no effort has been spared either by the Michigan Central Railway or the contractors to make both the buildings and the equipment the most up-to-date possible to obtain.” This new industrial building also impacted the community economically, employing more than 400 workers at its peak. The Elgin County Railway Museum has been housed in the 52,000 square foot building since its incorporation in 1989, and purchased the property in 2010.
From the Elgin County Railway Museum Website
That significance inspired some major deliberations as to whether saving the building was possible. After a great deal of consideration and study, ECRM members determined that, with a well thought out plan of action, restoring the MCRR shops was indeed feasible. The 100th anniversary event was an opportunity to showcase all the positive happenings of the past year and to look to the future.
President Jeremy Locke outlined some of the organization’s recent accomplishments:
President Jeremy Locke outlined some of the organization’s recent accomplishments:
- published and adopted a 6.1 million restoration plan that was developed by heritage architect Ed van der Maarel
- this spring applied a $50,000 grant from the city of St. Thomas to perform track repairs, begin the work to install an appropriate climate control system in the upper floor of the artifacts building, and complete the installation of the breath-taking banners on the east side of the building (Jeremy recognized Joan Rymal for the donation which allowed ECRM to install the first banner.)
- partnered with the Downtown Development Board to make over their historic coach, “a great ninety foot billboard advertising the benefits of downtown St. Thomas”
- welcomed almost 20,000 visitors to Day Out with Thomas, with most coming from the GTA and contributing to the city 1.9 million dollars of economic benefit
- partnered with Hit Entertainment and the Make-a -Wish Foundation to help make a little boy’s dream to meet Thomas the Tank Engine come true
- welcomed the Iron Horse Festival to its new home on the grounds
- partnered with the NARHF, On Track and the Iron Horse to offer a unique experience to a number of job creation participants
- started brickwork restoration with a $5,000 Colchester fund (Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation) grant
Jeremy Locke Continuing on that positive note, he announced, “Tonight it’s my pleasure to officially launch the Elgin County Railway Museum “Full Steam Ahead” capital fund-raising campaign; it will raise the 6.1 million dollars required to fully restore the MCCR locomotive repair shops … we have divided our plan into realistic achievable projects that will be completed over the next five to ten-year period.”
“The first major part of the project is to repair the three sections that comprise the middle level of the roof. Once it is completed it will increase our accessible floor space by about 35%, providing direct benefits for the museum and visitors in the community; increased floor space to bring more visitors, raising the museums revenue to sustain its operations; rail fans will be delighted to be able to access rolling stock that is currently off-limits. It will also allow us to offer the historic building for rental to local businesses, organizations and individuals.”
“The first major part of the project is to repair the three sections that comprise the middle level of the roof. Once it is completed it will increase our accessible floor space by about 35%, providing direct benefits for the museum and visitors in the community; increased floor space to bring more visitors, raising the museums revenue to sustain its operations; rail fans will be delighted to be able to access rolling stock that is currently off-limits. It will also allow us to offer the historic building for rental to local businesses, organizations and individuals.”
Jeremy Locke and Mayor Heather Jackson Breaking the project down into realistic pieces looks to have been an effective strategy for winning financial support. Two important grants were announced on Saturday evening. Mayor Heather Jackson presented a cheque on behalf of Green Lane Trust and Jeremy revealed that they have also received a $25,000 anonymous donation.
With 1,504 panels in the centre roof section, 201 panels have already been sponsored. It is hoped that this kind of momentum will help to encourage the public support required to match the grants. To that end, the museum has created a program for friends of the museum which is easily translated into “concrete” and visible results – for each $375 donated, one roof panel can be replaced.
To find out more about the museum, volunteering or donating, visit, www.ecrm5700.org.
With 1,504 panels in the centre roof section, 201 panels have already been sponsored. It is hoped that this kind of momentum will help to encourage the public support required to match the grants. To that end, the museum has created a program for friends of the museum which is easily translated into “concrete” and visible results – for each $375 donated, one roof panel can be replaced.
To find out more about the museum, volunteering or donating, visit, www.ecrm5700.org.
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