Woodstock VIA train station is looking much better

The year was 1853.

The year was 1853 -- the calendar year when train service arrived in Woodstock at what today can be referred to as the corners of Victoria South, Henry and Wellington South streets. The book Bits & Bites features a small chapter called 'The Iron Horse Comes To Town.'

It was to be exact Dec. 15, 1853 or 171 years ago. It was a different time. 

What was originally called the Great Western Railway Station is now the VIA Rail station. For the past couple years the building has been draped in a white tarp twice with secret work happening underneath the curtains -- apparently sandblasting away old paint and then this year re-pointing the bricks as the rail station serving Woodstock will have a new look after the scaffolding is removed soon. 

When the first choo choo chugged it's way into The Friendly City the local member of parliament for (Upper) Canada West was also the Premier of the day, namely (pictured) Sir Francis Hincks (1807 - 1885; Born in Ireland, died in Montreal). Hincks has a significant historical background and should be remembered more locally. 

The inaugural railway would run from Windsor to Burlington Bay. Today's VIA trains are on the same track mapping as they maneuver from Windsor to London to Woodstock to Brantford to Burlington to Union Station in Toronto with a few stops along the way.  

I learned something new when reading the Doug Symons local history book that by 1881 the gauge of the tracks had been modified to be narrowed for the Grand Trunk Railway. 

This same historical collection The Village that Straddled A Swamp noted that the current train station was renovated initially in 1909, modified again in 1954 and again in 1983 (by VIA). I'm not sure on the date of the most recent interior improvements, but I would think it's safe to announce that the current exterior facade facelift would advance that timeline to 2023-24. The folks at Wikipedia suggest 1885 for the station construction by the Grand Trunk Railway. Either way, it appears it will shine once again as the beacon for track passengers departing and arriving in Woodstock. As a comparison note, the Oxford Courthouse on Hunter dates back to 1890.

In 1993 it was designated as a Heritage Railway Station under a federal government protection act to preserve these building across the country.

VIA Rail continues to be a Crown Corporation, so they lease time on tracks owned by other corporations -- most notable CN and CPKC.

The Woodstock station was designed by Joseph Hobson in a Gothic Revival style.

Woodstock's past and present would include at least 3 other railways, including tracks from Tavistock to Port Dover which no longer exist. 

On the north side of Woodstock, the Canadian Pacific tracks were moved completely in the mid-1960s when the Pittock Lake (The tale of Gordon Pittock is important to recall as well.) was created. The trains travel on the north shore of the Thames today, but originally ran on the south side of the river. This line is now CPKC which hosts the Santa Train annually on Winnett Street. When I was growing up at corner of Oxford and Drew there were still passenger trains on this service line, but they ceased more than 50 years ago.

The other clickity-clack express still steaming down the tracks is the Ontario Southland Railway. 

Depicting popularity and overall interest, this past weekend included a model train show at the Woodstock Fairgrounds. 

Local train enthusiast Ken Westcar has spoken to both Woodstock and County councils about the importance of track travel today with his thoughts on suggesting more frequent stops at both the Woodstock and Ingersoll stations. Westcar wrote opinion pieces as a proponent for additional emphasis on train travel (Including an analysis of high-speed trains) and coinciding upgrades both in the London Free Press and Woodstock Sentinel-Review. Westcar is a board member for an association called Transportation Action Ontario (TAO) and shou,ld be applauded for his research.

In the meantime, here's my round of applause for VIA Rail and its improvements to the 139-year-old Woodstock train station 

Sources:

The Village that Straddled A Swamp by Doug Symons

Woodstock Bits & Pieces by Williams & Baker

Google: The Internet

www.viarail.ca

https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=4610&pid=0

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CPR_London/history_Woodstock.htm

www.ontariosouthlandrailway.ca

Compiled By: Mark Schadenberg

Woodstock City Council

(519) 532-2068

Email: mschadenberg@cityofwoodstock.ca

Tom Hanks is my favourite actor, so combining the train theme and our season, 

here's a promo for the great movie Polar Express.

 

Salvation Army, Operation Sharing now share The Christmas Place

It's better to give than to receive

Happy Holidays to you and all your family and friends.

It's now December -- a time to recall all the happenings of this calendar and celebrate Christmas.

Whether the 'reason for the season', is a nativity scene, advent wreath and Christmas hymns on top of your holiday list; or singing carols about Kris Kringle and watching Alastair Sim in a Dickens classic are the ornaments of your season -- it can always be said that many important charities are in place to help those in need with festive food and presents wrapped in colourful paper for the kids.

Often, I like to give extra promotion and recognition to groups requesting donations which I have a closer connection to, which is why The Christmas Place (Operation Sharing; www.operationsharing.ca) and Salvation Army are the stars atop my evergreen.

I've been a member of the Lions Club of Woodstock for about 20 years and we play the role of elves for the Christmas Place annually by delivering their materials from storage and then after the event returning them to Santa's secret hideaway a few days later. It goes along with the Lions motto 'We Serve', and Peter and Carole Ewing are dedicated volunteers pulling together all the boughs and ribbons on this particular effort.  

This year, the Christmas Place is combining its 'wish list' with the Salvation Army (519 539-9345). You can call it one-stop shopping or you can realize it's best practices that these two organizations combine their toy collections and food drive under one Santa work shop roof -- and that location for The Christmas Place is Huron Park Baptist Church on Berwick Street.

Operation Sharing continues its dedication to The Inn (Old St Paul's Church with its 55 over night beds), and at College Ave church (Wilson and Peel) with programs ranging from the Sharing Table (lunch meals) to Coats For Kids, Food For Friends (public's monetary donations at food store cash registers), and wrap-around services for homeless. 

The charitable group Cycles Of Life is also an affiliate, and support is received from countless companies, grocery stores, and individuals and the United Way of Oxford.

Salvation Army at 769 Juliana continues with many of its collection projects, and certainly is heard every December with its kettle campaign at various local retail outlets. The monies you donate in Woodstock are for Oxford County services. I have volunteered many times in this capacity and there's an ad her to help you join the kettle brigade.

A big Santa Ron thank-you goes out to Heart FM for its annual stuff-the-bus promotion and many many groups bring in donations such as the Woodstock Fire Department. 

Like the song says: 'It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year', (Andy Williams, 1962) and it should be for everyone. 

()()()()()()()

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be much mistltoeing

And hearts will be glowing

When loved ones are near

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow

()()()()()()()

OTHER IMPORTANT GROUPS -- THINKING OF OTHERS

There are at least 3 other associations which should be promoted.

At 887 Dufferin Street you will find the Family Church (519 533-1777), which is accepting items for its 'toys for tots' for what they call Harbour House.  

Harbour House is gathering up new unwrapped toys, but also invite the donation of gently used toys for small children and baby items. The actual Toy & Tot event is Dec. 17. 

The Family Church is hosting a Christmas Dinner on Dec. 22 at 5 p.m.

Another group to consider is the church Increasing Faith Fellowship (519 539-3179) at 50 Finkle as they coordinate an on-going Clothes Closet year-round accept donations.

There is also the Hunter Weston memorial toy drive and collection.

I'm sure this is just a partial list of charities to support around Christmas. This is also the season for shopping local, visiting church bazaars and craft shows, watching parades, enjoying turkey dinner, and simply being kind.

May you have a great holiday season and a wonderful 2025.

   

  

Terell Lloyd is a former Knight; now a Golden Hawk

Woodstock basketball player has compiled impressive resume 

Very quietly, Woodstock has developed a top OUA basketball player. He's quite good, but receives very little recognition.

Terrell Lloyd is an athlete from Woodstock you should know more about.

The College Avenue Secondary School grad has been considered one of the top post-secondary basketball players in Ontario for the past few years. I note it to be post-secondary as the previous college hoops star at Conestoga is now playing for Waterloo’s Laurier Golden Hawks in the OUA.

Lloyd is a 6-foot-3 guard and his stats prove that he knows how to find the rim, including 22 points in his most recent game, an 85-78 loss at Lakehead on Nov. 29 (Last Friday). Lloyd was 9-for-13 shooting in 26 minutes of floor time, leading his Laurier team in rebounds with 15.

Lloyd’s Laurier squad is just 3-8, but the Woodstock player has had a strong season so far – averaging 12.3 points / game. His top offensive game was 23 in a home loss to Carleton.

In the 23-24 season, Lloyd was an OUA rookie, but not really a freshman as he had transferred from college basketball (OCAA) and the Conestoga Condors.

In 21-22 and 22-23, Lloyd led the entire OCAA West in scoring, and in both years was a second team all-star selection. Points per game as a rookie were 24.3, and then 25.1 in second year. The 25.1 stat tied him for 2^nd in the entire CCAA. His season-high in 21-22 was 42 points versus Canadore Panthers (23 points in second quarter). He also led the league in steals with 20. A Condors’ press release suggested that Terell Lloyd and Ladera Ujullu-Obang were the top teammates in CCAA in 22-23.

Since Google is my friend, I noticed that the CASS Knights were WOSAA ‘AA’ senior bronze winners in 2019 with Lloyd. The Cory Smith penned (Stratford & Sentinel-Review reporter), noted that the Knights were 31-8 overall and unbeaten in Oxford league play for coaches Drew Symons and Jerry Kleiner. In 2019, Lloyd was Captains-Veterans City MVP and also won the slam dunk competition.

In the spring of 2018, Terell Lloyd was invited to represent Oxford in the Tri-City Top 40 high school talent as sponsored by Adidas. The event was at RIM Park in Waterloo.

Going back to 2017, Lloyd was already on every radar screen as he was the City MVP for CASS in the Captains-Veterans showcase with 24 points.

While at the home of the Knights this past Saturday for the Street Mayor Classic 3-on-3 event as organized by Why Not Us (See their info at www.whynotus.ca), I noted a trophy case recognizing many athletic grads from CASS  and naturally Terell Lloyd was part of the display. 

I certainly hope he gets all the credit he deserves for accomplishments on the hardwood.