Roads to the Station, Barn Quilt, Station Arts Centre, 41 Bridge Street West, Tillsonburg, Oxford County, ON
Excerpt from www.stationarts.ca/history-of-the-station:
Barn Quilts Trail 'Roads to the Station'
The coming of the railroad was an exciting event! This block is located at the Great Western Railway Station (1879-1975), which today has been re-purposed to the arts-based, community involved, Station Arts Centre. The design originates from the Railroad Crossing pattern, with each arm representing a function of the Station: arts programming, galleries, in-house groups and visitor information – all coming together at this heritage site.
Members of the Station assisted in the layout and painting of several of the quilt blocks displayed throughout Southwest Oxford County.
The CN Caboose
The CN caboose originally ran on the tracks in front of the Station Arts Centre (currently known as Bridge St. W.). When the railway service was discontinued in the late ‘70’s, many of the engines, cars and caboose units were redistributed on other lines.
During the ‘90’s, the Tillsonburg Lions and Lioness Clubs raised funds to purchase the caboose with the purpose of using it as a visitor information site. Originally, the caboose was located by the Clock Tower on Broadway St. Issues arose due to lack of: water, electricity, washroom facilities and staffing. The project had come to a standstill and another concern that the footings were weakening under the caboose would cause it to move or become unstable.
The board of directors of the Tillsonburg Station Arts Centre offered to have it moved and would take on the stewardship of restoring and maintaining the caboose. As approved by Town Council, the Station, along with local businesses, relocated the caboose to its present site.
Roads to the Station, Barn Quilt, Station Arts Centre, 41 Bridge Street West, Tillsonburg, Oxford County, ON
Excerpt from www.stationarts.ca/history-of-the-station:
Barn Quilts Trail 'Roads to the Station'
The coming of the railroad was an exciting event! This block is located at the Great Western Railway Station (1879-1975), which today has been re-purposed to the arts-based, community involved, Station Arts Centre. The design originates from the Railroad Crossing pattern, with each arm representing a function of the Station: arts programming, galleries, in-house groups and visitor information – all coming together at this heritage site.
Members of the Station assisted in the layout and painting of several of the quilt blocks displayed throughout Southwest Oxford County.
The CN Caboose
The CN caboose originally ran on the tracks in front of the Station Arts Centre (currently known as Bridge St. W.). When the railway service was discontinued in the late ‘70’s, many of the engines, cars and caboose units were redistributed on other lines.
During the ‘90’s, the Tillsonburg Lions and Lioness Clubs raised funds to purchase the caboose with the purpose of using it as a visitor information site. Originally, the caboose was located by the Clock Tower on Broadway St. Issues arose due to lack of: water, electricity, washroom facilities and staffing. The project had come to a standstill and another concern that the footings were weakening under the caboose would cause it to move or become unstable.
The board of directors of the Tillsonburg Station Arts Centre offered to have it moved and would take on the stewardship of restoring and maintaining the caboose. As approved by Town Council, the Station, along with local businesses, relocated the caboose to its present site.