'Stunning anchor point': Restoration project planned for historic Aurora GO station

Landmark building to get facelift, innovative photo history project, Metrolinx says

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 7, 2020
Lisa Queen

It was from Aurora’s train station that soldiers during the Second World War left for battle, savouring their last glimpse of town before heading off to combat, some never to return, history buff Dave Heard said.

It was the place where a Morse code message announcing the end of the war came in, sending the station master running downtown to tell the postmaster.

The postmaster dashed to the bell tower, ringing the bell to draw in crowds and share the news with residents, Heard said.

It was from the train station that Aurora goods, such as the Fleury plows and Sisman Shoe Company footwear, were sent across Canada and around the world, he said.

The landmark, at Wellington and Berczy streets, was designated a provincial heritage building in 1971 and a federal heritage railway station in 1990.

From the time the station opened in 1853 as the destination of Ontario’s first steam train between Toronto and Machell’s Corners, as Aurora was then known, to its present day role as a GO Transit station for throngs of commuters, it has played a central part of the town’s history, Heard said.

“It’s massively important because it’s definitely one of the anchors, without question, of the history of our town. Aurora wouldn’t be what it is without the arrival of the railway,” he said.

That’s why he is pleased provincial transit agency Metrolinx has announced a $363,222 restoration project for the station building, with the contract awarded to Brook Restoration Ltd.

At the same time, the station is part of an innovative photo history project from the Aurora Museum and Archives and On This Spot, a Canadian app at onthisspot.ca that provides guided history tours of locations across the country, Metrolinx said in a statement.

“Like many communities throughout the country, the local train station provides an anchor to the past and is a vital conduit for modern day public transit,” Michelle Johnson, collections and exhibitions co-ordinator at Aurora Museum and Archives, said.
To ensure the rail stop remains in good shape for years to come, Metrolinx is in the process of awarding a contract for the rehabilitation of the station building.

Work will include, but is not limited to, exterior paint repairs to wood cladding, trim and decorative elements as well as any necessary wood repair to facilitate painting.

The budget and timeline of the project will be determined once a contractor is chosen, Metrolinx spokesperson Fannie Sunshine said.

Work is slated to start as early as next spring.

While maintenance is important for all GO stations, there’s a special duty when it comes to stations of historical significance, like the Aurora GO Station, Metrolinx said.

“It’s important to maintain all of our stations to ensure they are safe and reliable for our customers,” senior manager for facilities, operation and maintenance, Phil Pengelly, said.

“But when it comes to heritage buildings, ongoing maintenance plays an important role in preserving a piece of history so future generations can continue to enjoy them.”

The project is not just a makeover but also includes the Aurora Museum and Archives adding the visual touch, Heard said.

“It’s essential. We have to keep these stories going because I believe it’s not just our heritage but it’s stories that I believe people are going to want to hear,” he said.

“It’s due and, even more so, it will be a stunning anchor point for people to arrive in our town. When they get off the train, what is the first thing they’re going to see? A station and it’s going to be beautiful.”

The station is a tie to Aurora’s past and can serve as inspiration for its future, Heard said.

“People forget that Aurora was a powerhouse when it came to industry and commerce in the late 1800s and early 1900s,” he said.

“We can be reminded of our industrial roots during a time when we could use some industry. There’s a lot of empty space in our town now. Hopefully, that will serve to help us restore that.”

Aurora resident and commuter Laura Atkins agreed.

“The station is a historic gem and a connection to our past as well as the future of transit for Aurora,” she said.

“Metrolinx has done a great job keeping this landmark functional and I’m happy to hear that it’s being restored after a few years of seeing peeling paint.”