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To many, Talbot St. has long been the heart of St. Thomas. The landscape may change over time, but the mission of the Downtown remains the same; To cultivate a community of all downtown property and business owners and residents, while advocating, beautifying and actively promoting our businesses and authentic heritage in Downtown St Thomas. This street has been host to many businesses and residences throughout its long history. Over time, the economic demands have changed and therefore, so have the businesses located on Talbot Street but our Historic Downtown holds some great stories from the past and is busy forging ahead with new experiences to be had! Below is a look at a few different buildings on Talbot Street and their entrepreneurial histories.
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The community of artists in St. Thomas is passionate about their art and diverse with their talents. Every February we celebrate our local art scene with the Railway City Arts Crawl but these local creators are dreaming up and bringing art to life all year round. We recently caught up with Grayden Laing of Laing Studios to learn a bit more about his art and where to find it!
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In 1926, Port Stanley opened up what would become the largest and most famous dance hall in Ontario at the time, measuring 13,000-square-feet. The club was originally named the L&PS Pavillion, but renamed the Stork Club in the early 1950s. It was located at the other end of the boardwalk from Hopkin's Casino and built partially out over the water on pilings. The Stork Club opened its doors to the public on July 29th, 1926, with over 6,500 people in attendance to dance to The Vincent Lopez Band.
Being known as the “Coney Island of Canada,” Port Stanley’s beach offered several dance clubs, a Ferris Wheel, two carousels, a bowling alley, two theaters, restaurants, a swimming area with water slides, a penny arcade, miniature golf, and numerous games and refreshment stands along the stretch of boardwalk that led right to the Stork Club, where almost everyone would end up each night. The Stork Club was the place to be on hot summer evenings as the building’s large windows overlooking Lake Erie were usually open to let in the cool breeze. The focus in the creation of the Stork Club was to create exciting night life as a compliment to the sun, sand, and water activities that were popular at the time.
Being known as the “Coney Island of Canada,” Port Stanley’s beach offered several dance clubs, a Ferris Wheel, two carousels, a bowling alley, two theaters, restaurants, a swimming area with water slides, a penny arcade, miniature golf, and numerous games and refreshment stands along the stretch of boardwalk that led right to the Stork Club, where almost everyone would end up each night. The Stork Club was the place to be on hot summer evenings as the building’s large windows overlooking Lake Erie were usually open to let in the cool breeze. The focus in the creation of the Stork Club was to create exciting night life as a compliment to the sun, sand, and water activities that were popular at the time.
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The Old St. Thomas Church’s name is fitting, as it is in fact one of the oldest buildings in the city. As a staple of St. Thomas for almost two centuries, it is one of the most historically significant sites as well. There is history to be discovered in every corner of both the church and its graveyard, full of hundreds of incredible stories passed on from generation to generation. Some of the stories are fact, while some are legend and lore. Each have a place in our history, and they all make up why the church is such a fascinating and important spot in St. Thomas. Here is the history of the Old St. Thomas Church, along with just some of its stories that live on today.
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Gathered is home to a collective of local artists. The business is in a unique and beautiful heritage designated building located in the heart of picturesque and historic Sparta, Ontario. Joseph Sawicki and Heather Robinson purchased the heritage-designated Hiram Smith building in 2017 and are passionate about preserving and restoring its many heritage details while renovating and updating it.
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The arts scene in St. Thomas is constantly expanding. Through events like the Railway City Arts Crawl, spaces like STEPAC and the many studios in the city we see increased exposure to a variety of visual art styles and a growing awareness in our community about this thriving population.
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The railway has been part of St. Thomas since the completion of the London and Port Stanley Railway in 1856. It made a significant impact on the completion and success of the city due to the provision of employment and income to sustain the community.
With the development of the Canada Southern Line through the city in 1872, St. Thomas was transformed into what was known as the “Railway Capital of Canada.” Due to the location of St. Thomas being placed almost directly between Buffalo and Detroit, and a convenient shortcut between New York and Chicago, this offered a more direct route between these destinations.
With the development of the Canada Southern Line through the city in 1872, St. Thomas was transformed into what was known as the “Railway Capital of Canada.” Due to the location of St. Thomas being placed almost directly between Buffalo and Detroit, and a convenient shortcut between New York and Chicago, this offered a more direct route between these destinations.
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Barn quilts are large wooden squares painted to resemble a quilt block that has significance for the location in which it is found. They are usually hung on the side of barns by the land's owners, who create the design based on the properties’ heritage. When there are many quilts in the same area, they become a trail which you can follow, discovering each location’s depiction of their history. The purpose of these barn quilts are to tell a story, draw attention to unmarked historical places, make a themed trail, and lead visitors from one site to the next.
Elgin County is home to its very own barn quilt trail consisting of many barn quilts, all of which depict a different story about Elgin’s history. Here are the locations and stories of some of these barn quilts, which you can visit yourself to learn more!
Elgin County is home to its very own barn quilt trail consisting of many barn quilts, all of which depict a different story about Elgin’s history. Here are the locations and stories of some of these barn quilts, which you can visit yourself to learn more!
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The fifth annual Railway City Arts Crawl was held February 23 & 24 at venues around the city. With over sixty artists participating and hundreds of visitors through each of the pop-up gallery locations, the 2018 crawl provided a window into the incredible amount of talent the St. Thomas art community possesses.