Join Christina Sydorko from the Oil Museum of Canada to learn about railways that supported the early oil industry in Lambton, including the history of the station that became the Petrolia Library!
Before the arrival of the railroads, local growth and development in Lambton County was at a standstill with the marshy land not attractive to new settlers. This all changed in 1858 with the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railroad and the first commercial oil well, dug by James Miller Williams, starting production in Oil Springs, Ontario. The Black Gold Rush started attracting men from all over to seek their fortunes in the booming oil industry. Problems arose from lack of infrastructure on how to get this valuable product out of the swamps of Lambton. In this talk we will look at how the booming oil industry and railroads are intrinsically linked in Lambton County, spurring development from the building of the private Petrolia Spur line to the St. Clair Tunnel to the USA.
Please register to reserve your spot.
