The Old Mill Museum & Archives is opening its doors to a new winter exhibit, "Tracks to the Falls," on November 15. Located at 12 Mill Street, the exhibit explores the history of the railway that helped build Wrenford and the workers who kept the trains moving through the Tamsin Valley.
The display features original blueprints, station master logs, and photographs from the city archives. Visitors can see how the first trains arrived in 1859 and how the rails shaped the downtown grid along Mercer and Tamsin Streets. The museum also shares stories of the local communities that grew up around the railway yards.
"We are thrilled to bring this piece of our city's past to life," said Gwen Lachance, Heritage & Archives Coordinator. "The railway connected our mill town to the wider world, and this exhibit shows how those tracks still influence our neighbourhoods today."
The exhibit is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission is free for Wrenford residents with a valid library card, and a small fee applies for visitors from outside the city. Families are encouraged to bring their curiosity, and guided tours can be booked in advance through the museum's front desk.
While you are downtown, take a walk along Mill Street to see the restored 1834 grist mill that started it all. You can also pick up a self-guided map of the Mill Street Memories Walking Tour to learn more about the area's industrial roots.
The museum is currently accepting donations of railway-related items for future displays. If you have old tickets, tools, or photographs in your attic, please contact the archives team at [email protected].
For more information on local history and upcoming cultural events, visit the Arts & Heritage section of the City website.