Owen Sound station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Owen Sound
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The building in 2002
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| Coordinates | 44°34′20″N 80°56′32″W / 44.57222°N 80.94235°W |
| Construction | |
| Architect | Colin Drewitt, Canadian Pacific staff architect |
| Architectural style | International style |
| History | |
| Opened | 1946-1947 |
| Closed | passenger service: 1970, freight service: early 1990s |
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Heritage Railway Station (Canada)
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| Designated | 1995 |
| Designated | 2010 |
The Owen Sound Railway Station is an old train station in Owen Sound, Ontario. It used to be part of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This building was made between 1946 and 1947. It is a special building because it's protected as a heritage site. The station is right by the docks and railway tracks in the port area of Owen Sound.
Station History
Where the Trains Ran
The Owen Sound station was on a special railway line. This line was first built in 1868 by the Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway Company. Later, it became part of the larger Canadian Pacific system.
The railway line stretched for about 71 miles. It went from a place near Orangeville all the way to Owen Sound. The first station in Owen Sound was built in 1873.
Over time, fewer trains used this line. By 1995, it was no longer used because it wasn't busy enough. The railway tracks were removed soon after.
A Special Building
The station building you see today is a great example of how Canadian Pacific updated its buildings after World War II. They built six similar stations around this time. The Owen Sound station was one of the most modern ones.
The building still looks much like it did when it was first built. It's a long, single-story building with a flat roof. It has a cool stairwell that looks like the front of a boat! The walls are made of different coloured bricks, and the bottom part is limestone.
Inside, the station has many original features. You can see wooden panels, glass bricks, and curved walls. The waiting room has red floor tiles. There's also an old ticket window with a metal cage. Even the original lights and chairs are still there!
The station was designed by Colin Drewitt. He was an architect who worked for Canadian Pacific. He designed many of their stations after the war. The name of the station and railway on the building used a special font called "20th Century."
What Happened Next
Trains stopped carrying passengers from this station in 1970. Freight trains (which carry goods) continued to use it until the early 1990s. Canadian Pacific left the area completely in 1994.
The City of Owen Sound bought the station in 2010. Since then, they have spent money to fix the roof, windows, and doors. The city protects the building because it's an important part of history.
In 2013, the station was opened to the public for "Doors Open Days." This was probably the first time people could go inside since 1970!
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After being empty for a while, a local family had an idea in 2017. They wanted to turn the old station into a restaurant and brewery. The city agreed, and they signed a long lease.
The building needed more work inside. There were old materials like asbestos and lead paint that had to be safely removed.
In 2018, the "Mudtown Station" brewery and restaurant opened. It can seat many people inside and outside on the patio. In the same year, the restaurant won a special award for helping to preserve Ontario's heritage.
