The Blue Water Bridge under construction in May of 1938. John Rochon Collection Kip Cuthbert During my daily community perambulations in search of Sarnia’s unspoken history a story from ages ago continues to rear it’s ugly head from some of our old-timers. It’s about a man who was accidentally buried [...]
THEN: Sarnia’s first oil refinery was built by Charles Mackenzie, who lived in this house on Christina Street at London Road. The home’s demolition was already underway when this scene was captured on July 7, 1963. Visible behind the home is the stack of the old Sifto Salt Works, which [...]
A commissioner from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Marie Wilson, will be meeting elders and others at the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Community Centre on Oct. 20. The commission crossed the country to gather accounts of those affected by the legacy of Indian Residential Schools and released a report [...]
Sarnia has rescinded the heritage designation protecting this house at 166 Brock St., which was built around 1867. Journal Photo George Mathewson The future of a “classic” Ontario farmhouse built in the 1860s of logs and local brick is in limbo after city council quashed its heritage designation last week. [...]
The “Tunnel Station” was built in 1891 by Sarnia’s George Proctor. Glenn Ogilvie George Mathewson VIA Rail is acting quickly on a promise to repair Sarnia’s historic train station. Fences went up last week and workers have begun addressing a number of structural issues, including eroded brickwork and roof repairs. [...]
The Sarnia Historical Society is gathering research for a book on the 175-year history of the Sarnia Fire Department. “Firefighting in Sarnia dates back to the 1840s, beginning with volunteer bucket brigades called out by the church bells of St. Andrew’s,” said Society member Ron RealeSmith. Anyone with information, photos [...]
Cathy Dobson Editor’s note: The Journal and Sarnia Historical Society have teamed up to produce a special 40-page publication called Sarnia: Then and Now. The free collector’s edition is being distributed separately this week to coincide with the launch of the Society’s website. Three local history buffs have spent [...]
Sarnia: Then & Now Whether we’re young or old or somewhere in between, we all love a good story. At The Sarnia Journal and the new Sarnia Historical Society, we remember the words of Rudyard Kipling, who said if history was taught in the form of stories, it would never [...]
The iconic old cannon in Canatara Park known as “Big Tom.” Glenn Ogilvie Journal Staff Now that the mystery of the old cannon in Canatara Park has finally been solved a scheme is afoot to move it. City council has endorsed a tentative plan to relocate “Big Tom” from the [...]
Sarnia is being asked to provide space for a war memorial, in part to honour the lives of two Lambton County residents lost in Canada’s Afghanistan Mission. The 1st Hussars Association is recommending a light armoured vehicle, known as a LAV III, be erected in Centennial, Germain or Victoria parks [...]