Having launched their fundraising awareness campaign last month, the Elgin County Railway Museum is now approaching the City of St. Thomas with a $1 million funding request.
myFMspoke with Wil Zufelt, the museum’s CEO about the request which will come before city council at tonight’s (Monday’s) council meeting.
Zufelt would like to see the public gallery at city hall jammed with supporters to impress on the importance of the museum to life in St. Thomas.
“So at 4.30 on Monday, I’m going to be on Mondamin Street at the side of city hall giving away free T-shirts. And we’re hoping people put them on and pack the upstairs gallery. By being present to show why our history matters here in town and why that building matters and why it matters to protect our railway history. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Zufelt continued, “So it’s really interesting because I’ve heard so many stories since I’ve been with the organization for the last four years. My uncle worked here, my grandfather worked here, my dad worked here and so on. You know, an engine or a train came across the properties every 40 minutes.
“It’s always going to be the Elgin County Railway Museum in that building because we have to showcase our railway history. But for the last four years, that building has housed many different events. The biggest announcement in automotive history is PowerCo coming here to St. Thomas. We’ve had weddings and birthday parties and rail events. It is becoming the heart of St. Thomas, the centre of town.
“We just can’t say we’re the Railway Capital of Canada. We’ve got to show that we are. The railway made St. Thomas. St. Thomas did not make the railway. And our railway history matters. It’s who we are.”
Written by Ian McCallum
