We’re excited to be part of Doors Open Burlington activities slated for Saturday, October 1st. It’ll be our first opportunity to open the Burlington Junction Station to visitors, to show the progress toward restoration to an early Twentieth-century state. Mark your calendar for an enjoyable day! We’re at 1285 Fairview Street, next to the Central Fire Station (also a Doors Open location).

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Attendees heard an update from Friends of Freeman Station President Brian Aasgaard on the relocation, stabilization, restoration, and management of the Burlington Junction Station — a project already several years in the process, with about a year to go before opening on 1 July 2017.

Audience shared memories of early Twentieth-century rail travel and life in the hamlet of Freeman. Those who worked and traveled through the Freeman Station in Winter laughed that it was almost as cold inside the building as on the platform! (We’re fixing that with HVAC and gas heat!)

Our intrepid cadre of Saturday Volunteers would like you to join them as the “painting party” continues on June 25th from 8 AM to mid-day. Whilst the object is to get the paint on the walls, an occasional mis-dab is acceptable…

Which one of these Whinstones is yours?

You can donate a Whinstone in your family’s name or that of a loved one. Donations are 100% tax deductible, and the name(s) you designate will go on a permanent display on the restored 1906 Burlington Junction Station.

Whinstone donations are $ 100 and can be arranged on-line. See our “Donate” page for details.

Whinstones are the solid granite blocks, quarried in Scotland, which were re-installed to form the facade around the base of the Station. This is what they looked like before temporary removal for the Station’s relocation:

Recently our mason completed installation of Whinstones on the back side of the building. They look great; here’s a snapshot just after the job was done:

Many folks tell us they’ve got fond memories of railway travel through the Burlington Junction Station, and of the daily cacophony of steam locomotives (more than 40 a day!) coming and going through Burlington in the early Twentieth Century. So we’re holding a “nostalgia workshop” on Tuesday, June 21st from 1:30 PM - 3 PM at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre. Come and share your stories with the group. Free admission, register at the donor, donations toward the cost of restoring the Freeman Station gratefully accepted.

Offered as part of Burlington’s “Live and Play” month.

Our busy week started with our intrepid cadre of volunteers putting in another stellar Saturday Volunteer Work Day at the Station. The grass got cut, some painting got done, and we installed several panels of protective Lexan on the exterior windows. It was surprisingly hot — a record-setting day.

Then on Wednesday June 1st FOFS took the traveling model railway exhibit to the Tansley Woods Community Centre in support of the month-long “Stay ‘n Play” Seniors’ Month put on by Burlington’s Parks and Recreation Department. A good time was had by all, and the demonstrations included our vintage model steam locomotive and Grand Trunk Railway passenger train, an Emmet Kelly, Jr. autographed circus train, and — best of all, Thomas the Tank Engine and friends. The latter to the sheer delight of the youngsters.

Finally, on Sunday, June 5th we supported the Appleby Street Festival (Car Free Sunday) with an information booth. We met lots of folks and a good time was had by all until — surprise! — a rain storm hit about 3:20 PM and brought the festivities to a watery end.

Thanks to everyone who helped with these events - Brian, Gerry, Ken, Bob M., Ruth M., Karen, Gord, Dave, Denny, John, Cody, Larry D, Joel, Alan, Ed, and Joe.

A gorgeous day on Saturday, May 28th as our stalwart Friends of Freeman volunteers put in a great effort. The grass got trimmed. We got the windows washed and the Lexan cut and fastened onto 5 more windows. A number of visitors came by and were amazed at how far the project has come - remembering when it was a derelict on skids behind the fire hall. Thanks to Brian, John, Gord, Alan, Gerry, Cody, Larry D., Bob M., Denny, and Joe for your efforts.

Nostalgia… and fun! — will be the order of the day when the Friends of Freeman Station travelling model railway exhibit is displayed at the Tansley Woods Community Centre in conjunction with the City of Burlington’s Parks and Recreation Department kickoff of Seniors’ Month — — Wednesday, June 1st from 9:30 AM to 4 PM.

Nostalgia… “I remember travelling by train from the Burlington Junction Station…” Young-at-heart Burlington seniors recall fondly their experiences, as we re-create the era of steam power. You’ll see a model steam locomotive and passenger train, arriving and departing from the Burlington Junction Station just as it happened in the early Twentieth century. A beautifully crafted 1/24 scale model of the Station will be on display as well.

Fun! “Look, Grandma! It’s Thomas the Tank Engine!” Bring your grandchildren to see a rare demonstration of Thomas and friends Percy, Annie, Clarabell, Troublesome Truck #1, and Troublesome Truck #2 running on our scale model railway.

We’ll be there… to share the amazing story of the relocation and restoration of Burlington’s 1906 Grand Trunk Railway Station, slated for completion in 2017. There, on the Lower Level, we’ll be constructing a historic model railway diorama depicting early Twentieth-century life in the hamlet of Freeman, now a part of Burlington.

Donations gratefully accepted, with tax receipts issued for amounts of $ 25 or more; Friends of Freeman Station is a 100% volunteer organization -no one is paid — relying entirely on private and corporate donations to fund the costs of restoring the Burlington Junction Station under an agreement with the City of Burlington.