On May 18 the sound of a train whistle was once again heard in the waiting room of the Barry’s Bay Railway Station. The Station Keepers blew handcrafted wooden whistles to start the ceremony that officially re-opened the Station. Shown above are the Station Keepers surrounding guest of honour Greta Bloskie. Joanne Olsen, Station Keepers Chair, welcomed everyone explaining that the approaching “125th anniversary of the coming of the railway coincides with 125th anniversary of first school teacher coming to Barry’s Bay on May 14 1894.” She said,
Despite all that has happened in our world over the past 125 years this little station remains standing… certainly the last one of such stations that J.R. Booth built in the middle of the 1890s as he forged a ribbon of steel through Barry’s Bay with his Ottawa Arnprior and Parry Sound (OAPS) railway.
Rather than pay tribute to the endurance of painted lumber or rusty nails, Olsen said they were assembled to recognize “the unique spirit that this station has come to represent for so many of us who grew up here or who have more recently arrived.” She commended the genuine decency and determination of people in the community.
Before calling on Greta Bloskie to cut the ribbon, Olsen spoke of her as a very special teacher in the area. She said that Bloskie was
always there to remind us that it was not with steel or steam that places like Barry’s Bay get built, or endure. Greta retired from teaching in 1989 after a long and distinguished career — in fact teaching many of us here today. What you may not know, however, is that Greta, although a fine teacher, was never to be outdone by any train service, be it steam or diesel. Even before she officially became a teacher she somehow managed to get a taxi licence when she was just sixteen years.
After the official ceremony, Mayor Kim Love thanked the volunteers and said that Council is very pleased with the relationship they have with the Station Keepers. All members of Council attended, apart from Councillor Shulist who was in Europe.
Olsen acknowledged the support of the Township in supplying refreshments for the opening and made special mention of the hard work done by Barry Conway since the Station Keepers began. She reminded the audience they could buy $20 memberships to the Station Keepers that would entitle them to discounts on merchandise and free entry to programs and events. Click HERE for information about the area’s first schoolteacher and the Station Keepers’ programming plans.
Awesome job, everyone! So happy to see this reopened. If the Station Keepers need more help I’d be very happy to join their ranks.
Congratulations to the Station Keepers and their efforts in reopening the Station. You’re efforts are greatly appreciated.