Residents of Matheson, Ontario, are rallying to prevent the demolition of a 100-year-old train station scheduled for early 2023. The Ontario Northland Railway (ONR) plans to replace the station with a modern transit shelter as part of its efforts to reinstate the Northlander passenger rail service. A community group led by Barb Cornthwaite is seeking to delay or halt the demolition, exploring options such as applying for historic site designation and launching an online petition. The station holds significant historical value, particularly its connection to the Great Matheson Fire of 1916.
Built in 1916, the train station is slated for demolition early this year as part of Ontario Northland Railway’s efforts to reinstate the Northlander passenger rail service. Barb Cornthwaite is leading a community initiative to delay or halt the demolition to preserve the station.“I was realizing by speaking to people in the community that there really is a will to save the station,” she told TimminsToday.
The group is also planning to create an online petition and is encouraging residents to send letters to local officials, including MPP John Vanthof. “There are a lot of different angles to it, and a lot of different things we're looking at right now. That's why I'm putting together this group, so we can kind of divide it up and have somebody who's taking care of an application, and making sure it's done well, and … all the different aspects,” she said.
Following the fire, the train station was rebuilt by Matheson residents along with the help of some people who worked for the ONR, Cornthwaite said. “I wasn't born here. I came here, like a lot of the people that I read about in the museum,” she said.
Train Station Demolition History Preservation Community Ontario Matheson ONR Northlander Heritage
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