The Old Mill Museum & Archives is opening a new exhibit on Monday, April 21, that explores how the arrival of the railway in 1859 changed the town of Wrenford. The new display, called "Iron & Timber: How the Railroad Built Our City," features photographs, tickets, and tools from the early rail years at 12 Mill Street.
Before the tracks reached Wrenford, the Tamsin River was the main way to move goods and people. The railway brought new workers, materials for building, and a steady market for the local grist mill. Visitors will see how the rail line helped Wrenford grow from a small milling town into a busy industrial centre by the early 1900s.
"We are excited to share these stories with the community," says Gwen Lachance, Heritage & Archives Coordinator. "The railway is a big part of who we are, and we want visitors to see how those early decisions still affect the streets and neighbourhoods we live in today."
Plan your visit this spring to walk through the gallery and pick up a free activity sheet at the front desk. The sheet helps kids learn about the workers who built the tracks and the trains that carried goods across the city. You can also explore the museum's reading room, where old railway maps and engineering reports are available for public review.
The City of Wrenford supports the Old Mill Museum & Archives as a key part of the Arts & Heritage portfolio. For more background on the city's early years and industrial growth, visit the History page.
