From the Archives
Railway Scout House
The City of Vaughan’s archives house more than 600 collections dating from the 1860s to the present day. Within these files are the stories of how Vaughan evolved from the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island to the bustling city it has become.
Let’s look back at our history and share the stories of the people, places and moments that helped shape the city we know today. This month’s feature is on the Railway Scout House.
The Railway Scout House – previously known as the Kleinburg Railway Station – was the second station to be built on the tracks along Nashville Road in 1907. The station was designed by Sir William Van Horne, who was the president of the Canadian National Railway at that time.
It is believed the Kleinburg Railway Station was primarily built by the Howland Family, who, at the time, owned the largest flour mill and barrel factory between Barrie and Toronto. Their family members also served as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Reeve (present day Mayor) of Vaughan Township, Warden of York County and president of the Imperial Bank of Canada. It is rumoured that the Howlands persuaded the Grey and Bruce Railway Company to alter the train route so they would not have to transport flour from their mill in Barrie to Toronto by horse and wagon. The railway was later built close to the Howland Mills, located along the Humber River, at a curve known as the “Howland Bend.”
In its early days, the station was busy, with numerous passengers flowing through each day, including students attending Humberside Collegiate Institute. The station was also the main distribution centre for milk from farms to the dairies, transporting more than 100 cans of milk a day and carrying cows and pigs to the stockyards.
When the Howlands Mills closed, and vehicles became popular in the 1920s, train ridership declined. The station house was originally scheduled to be demolished by the Canadian Pacific Railway as it had not been in service since December 1961.
In 1976, the station was moved to a new site near the local public school (present day 10415 Islington Ave.) at the south end of Kleinburg and officially became known as the Railway Scout House. The move did not go as smooth as planned, as crews had to return to the original location to remove a section of the roof since it would not fit under the existing hydro wires. Once settled in the new location, the Boy Scouts led the restoration of the building to its former glory. Since then, both the local Boy Scouts and Girl Guides have used it for their meetings.
VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!
Looking for more information about the history of Vaughan? The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are available in the City's online gallery on Flickr:
- Archival Awareness
- Early Churches of Vaughan
- Early Communities of Vaughan
- Early Pioneers of Vaughan
- Families in Arms
- From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
- Historical Families of Vaughan
- Historical Photography
- Recollections of Rural Vaughan
- The Mary Wood Collection
- The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
- Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes
- Vaughan Lodge
- Vaughan Working Environments
- Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine, Music and Sports and Recreation
- And more!
A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database or contact the City by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.
By managing and preserving both City and community records, the City’s Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.
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