Greetings from St. Thomas by Steve Peters
83rd Annual Elgin County Alumni Dinner Picnic WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025 Hosted by Dr. Ian Begg, BA’68 St. Thomas, ON Cost: $45 per person To RSVP and for more information, contact Mary-Ellen Bolt at 519-633-6435 or Email lightningbolt@rogers.com Must RSVP by Thursday, June 12, 2025
Port Stanley became a popular summer vacation destination in the 1870s. The London and Port Stanley Railway offered area residents easy access to water fun and cottage life. In 1909, a group of local business leaders decided they were going to turn Port Stanley into the “ConeyIsland of the North”
A large dance hall, “The Casino,” was built, and a Boardwalk was created offering food, games, and different activities. The two most popular attractions were the wooden roller coaster and the Incline Railway, which carried you to the top of Picnic Hill.
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Dixie Tackle Shop
The London and Port Stanley Railway opened in 1856, and it was electrified in 1915. Regular passenger service on the line ended in 1957.
51 St. Catharine St., St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V9 519.631.1220 • www.dixietackleshop.com Convenience store with lottery, phone cards, and selected spirits and beer! Soft Serve Ice Cream, Sundaes, Milkshakes, Dixieburgs, Bag Tags and much more! MNR licenses and full line of Tackle
The first Incline Railway was built in the late 1870s. It was later upgraded and carried thousands of passengers up and down the hill until 1966.
Now under new ownership
st.thomas@mollymaid.ca
SALES AND SERVICE
24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE
Left: The famous figure-eight wooden roller coaster was located west of the Incline Railway. It was removed in the late 1920s. Right: popularity about 1930. Take note of how much larger the beach is today! Beginning at the left of the postcard is the London and Port Stanley Dance Pavilion that opened in 1926. It became known as the Stork Club in the 1950s. The next large building was the Bath House and Cafeteria, built in 1915. The Boardwalk can be clearly seen, ending at the Casino Dance Hall, which burned in 1932.
519-619-1928 www.tkheatingandcooling.ca
Hometown St. Thomas • May 2025 • Page 35
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