A local group screwed up the Sound of Music - don't let the same thing happen to Freeman Station

By Pepper Parr

December 11th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

One spending item got some attention at the Regional Budget debate earlier this week; that had to do with the decision to get out of the Heritage business and shut down the department and either auction off the items in the Heritage Collection or pass them along to the municipalities – let them deal with the stuff.

During the discussion, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward told Councillors that Burlington had three museums: the Brant Museum, Ireland House and the Freeman Station.   What Meed Ward didn’t say was that the Station hasn’t been used for the past two years.

A lot of hard work went into getting the Freeman Station to the point where it was a part of the city’s cultural landscape. Now they are talking about moving it – at a cost that will exceed $3.5 million.

Joe Gatean did an excellent piece on the situation (link below) where he wrote about the dismay, disappointment and frustration on the part of the men and women who rebuilt that station.

They raised all kinds of money and turned it over to the city.  Something they now regret.

City Council decided that the Station should be added to the properties Museums of Burlingon operates.

I turned to the Museum’s site and gathered the names of the Museum’s Board of Directors.

I then looked at the Strategic Plan – It was dated 2023, a concern in itself – not a word about Freeman Station.   That might be because the Strategic Plan currently on the Museums of Burlington website is dated 2023, which in itself is a concern.

I looked at the Annual Report for 2024 – not a word about Freeman Station. There was a short paragraph: “The Museums of Burlington have a small but mighty team who work tirelessly to ensure that the programs, events, exhibitions and visitor experiences are memorable and impactful.” Are people paid to write this kind of drivel?

It is fair to ask: What do they plan to do with the structure?

Is there someone responsible for the building? Does someone drop by every couple of weeks to ensure there are no leaks or broken windows?

Most people know it as the Freeman Station – even though officially it was the Burlington West Junction station.

The Museum organization wasn’t all that interested in the Freeman Station to begin with. The city had to do something once the Friends of Freeman Station dissolved their organization – they had done their job.   The Museums Association was seen as the only option.  Councillor Sharman liked the idea of moving it to the Ireland Farm site.

The Museum did say that” there are opportunities for additional programming to be developed and delivered onsite as occupancy would not be a barrier. These program opportunities could include increased school trips, additional day camp programs and large-scale community events. Shared resources, staff and programming could reduce some costs.

When the refurbishing of the Brant Museum site was complete (A federal grant paid for most of that work) the City decided to create Museums of Burlington and put the administration and marketing of the two locations under one umbrella. When the city accepted Freeman Station from the not-for-profit Friends of Freeman Station, they tucked it under the same umbrella.  There was no budget attached to the location – the result?  Nothing got done.

The options given to Council by Staff, when they were asked what the choices were in terms of where the station could be put, if it had to be moved.

Option 2 (a): Move Station to Ireland House, 2168 Guelph Line

The $3.5 million price tag to move the Freeman Station to Ireland House should be enough to take that idea off the table.

If it is determined, following a structural review of the Station (Staff have performed a cursory inspection of the Ireland House)  that it can be moved, Ireland House has land to accommodate the structure to continue as a museum.

Option 2 (b): Move Station to a City Park

In 2010, staff thoroughly examined options for relocating the Station, identifying numerous obstacles. They evaluated 16 locations against various criteria, shortlisting . However, Council decided against pursuing any of them. Prior to 2010, over 20 other locations were also investigated. Staff now anticipate difficulty in identifying another suitable location for relocating Freeman Station. If this option is chosen, the base cost to move the Station to a proximate park will have similar financial implications as Ireland House minus the cost for duplicating the current foundation and basement.

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The railway displays in the basement, paid for by a teacher’s association, would be lost if the structure were moved.

It is crucial to assess and potentially address any trees in the vicinity that may obstruct the relocation process. This could involve pruning, trimming, or even removing trees to create a clear path for transportation. Additionally, if any of the trees are deemed purebred and subject to protection regulations, additional costs may be incurred for measures such as creating protection zones.

Total initial Capital investment to relocate the Station to Ireland House is approximately $3-3.5 Million. In addition to this, Museums of Burlington would also require an operating budget to cover program and facility expenses in addition to resources to operate, maintain and offer programming in the space. These additional resource requirements would be further developed in a business case through the 2025 budget process if this option is preferred by Council.

The City Administration now spends quite a bit of time on “risk analysis? What, if anything was done looking at the risks in putting the station where it is now?

The site is very close to the Fire Department – that department is not going to get much smaller. There is some land to the east of the station that could be used for parking.

If you’re getting your picture taken – of course you take your dog with you.

Breaking ground for the current site was another photo op

When the building was officially opened, the “dignitaries” were lined up to be included in the photo op.

The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada built The Freeman Station in 1906.  When the discussion arose in 2010 as to where to relocate the Station, the tall roof posed a major challenge.  It is too tall to fit under any railway bridges along the QEW – requiring it to remain south of the QEW.

A suggestion was made to remove the roof, however the roof and its large overhang supported by rafter tails is the structure that holds the walls and whole thing together.  Just moving the roof separately, it would probably still be too tall.

Another idea was to haul it to the lake and launch it on a barge to a destination unknown?

The only way to escape north of the QEW intact – is along the level crossing at Burloak  – which means going east along New Street to Burloak then north on Burloak over the tracks and QEW.  This would require stopping the trains from running along past Burloak.   Not easy with GO trains running each way every 15 minutes.

That option will not exist as a result of the grade separation at Burloak.

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Theoretically – the route in pink to arrive at Ireland Park. It means moving power lines, telephone + cable wires. traffic signals. Police escort. Existing rail lines are in yellow; the route from the current location to Ireland Park is in pink. The blue/green is where the move from the original site on the Grand Truck Railway line to the current site. The station was never very far from its home.

When the station was moved originally – it was on the May 24 weekend of 2005 –  19 years ago along the green route.  Cost estimate was $25,000

When it moved again in 2014 it was about 75 yards along the blue route and cost estimate was again $25,000.

To move it from the current location would probably mean slicing it up into smaller pieces and reassembling it at the destination.  A move would include the signal mast, stonework around the base and the two rail cars – caboose and a boxcar.

Rail track and switches would have to be moved as well.  The poured concrete basement would need to be ripped up and sent to a landfill.

Quite often, when buildings are torn apart – with the expectation to be rebuilt in a new location, the rebuild gets delayed and never happens.

A lot of damage was done to the building while getting it mounted on the float during the 2005 Victoria Day weekend move.  Basically, the floor was destroyed, and a completely new floor had to be installed.  The brickwork around the base was removed for transport – and had to be put on afterwards.

It is theoretically possible to move the Station to Ireland House intact – but the cost including insurance would be astronomical.  Add to that the cost to reinstall all the electrical, gas heating, plumbing, sewer and flooring – there are better uses in the community for such funds.

The current site is the best option, the only option really.  The foundation was built to last.The site has the potential to be a very significant destination. There are literally thousands of model railroad organizations, people that rebuild old steam engines and have huge model railroad set ups in their basements.  These people love to go to new train set ups.  They are a natural draw for Freeman Station.  Add a feature film on a steam engine that has been rebuilt and feature it at the Performing Arts Centre – and you have a winner.

It will take some marketing imagination and a little hustle on the part of a group to make this happen. The Burlington Economic Development and Tourism Corporation is the group to get this done.

First step is for City Council to apologize for dropping the ball to the men and women who did the work and to take another look at the Museums of Burlington leadership.

A little ‘giddy up’ is needed over there.

Related news story

So what about Freeman Station