Stationmaster John Mellow prepares to “hoop up” a train order to the engineer in the soon to arrive westbound passenger train; while relief engineer David Vollick, and passengers Alan Harrington and Paulin Grondin wait to board the train when it stops at Burlington Junction Station.
photo credit to Bob Chambers and Don Tweedle.

Wednesday March 11, 2020 at 7pm, held at the station.  All are welcome!

Sponsor a BENCH $500.00

Sponsor A Large PLANTER $250.00

Each of these will bear a stainless steel plate with a commemorative inscription…
…And they will all add much needed funds for the continuing restoration of Burlington’s historic Freeman Station. Just mail a cheque to Friends of Freeman Station, PO Box 91536, Roseland Plaza, Burlington. ON, L7R 4L6; or click on the “Donate” link in the header.

Click Book on the History and Restoration of Freeman Station

We’ve been working with local families to capture their stories  about life in the village of Freeman and early Burlington.  The first of these are now published under the “Families of Freeman/Stories” link above (or click here) and include “A.D. McMillan, Fruit and Vegetable Grower,” “Memories of Freeman,” “The Freeman Family and the village of Freeman,” “The Smith Family (Smith’s Funeral Home),” and the life story of “Theo Bullock.”  There are many more family histories and anecdotes which could be added to this collection, and we’d very much like to hear from you, to add your family’s memories.  Just drop us a note to info@freemanstation.ca and we’ll work out the details.

Leslie Dawe and her Mother arrived at the Burlington Junction Station from England by ship and train in 1956.  To celebrate the 60th anniversary of that occasion, Leslie invited 35 of her closest friends and relatives to meet her at the Freeman Station.  The rest, they say, is history.

She was greeted this time by the Mayor of Burlington, Rick Goldring, and Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed-Ward. Greetings were also read from Hon. Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington, and Hon. Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington.

The family presented Leslie with a Whinstone named in her honour, and Friends of Freeman Station endowed her with a Lifetime Honourary Membership.  “I remember arriving at the Station warmly dressed in fur-lined coat and boots, expecting to step out into a cold Canadian November,” Leslie said.  “That’s what Grandma had prepared us for.  Instead the temperature was in the 60’s, and we were sweltering!”

Well, Leslie, we couldn’t quite replicate that day’s weather for you, but we did pretty good:  temperature around 45 degrees F and partly sunny, so really a nice day.  So congratulations and thank you for thinking of Burlington Junction Station as the venue for your 60th commemoration!

P.S.  If you, dear reader, or someone you know would like to come past the Freeman Station on your nostalgic occasion, we’ll be happy to accommodate you.  Just send us a note to info@freemanstation.ca and we’ll arrange it.

John writes, ” last Wed., Thurs., and Friday Ken Brooks and I completed the remaining installation of clapboard siding on the oval-window wall, plus the areas above the triple windows on either side of the oval window wall.  Denny and Ken finished the exterior painting in these areas except for some narrow trim that can wait until Spring. This area is now all buttoned up for winter and really looks good. Thanks to everyone who helped out in this area over the last year.”

And thanks to Bob M., Gord, and Denny, who worked under Ken Brooks’ tutelage to carefully remove the 110-year-old inside wall planks in the baggage room, thus enabling insulation and wiring to be installed.  Another section of the building moving toward completion…