The York Street Train Station is owned by J.D. Irving Ltd. The holes in the roof are gaping. The grounds are cluttered with falling timbers, garbage, and discarded shopping carts.
In 2006, the station was named one of Canada’s Top 10 Most Endangered Places by the Heritage Canada Foundation.
This contrasts with the recently renovated Hart Shoe Factory (c.1898) across the street. Its owner says that the York Street Train Station can be restored by his construction team for $300, 000 and 2 months.
Italian Canadian stonemasons built the foundation and decorative tapestry brick design work of the York Street Train Station. The respect and care for their craft insured that the foundation and double brick walls are still strong today, more than 83 years after the building was completed.
This station represents an important part of New Brunswick role in Canada’s Confederation. The original 1869 wooden station was the most northern end of the Fredericton Branch Line, a railway built between 1867 and 1869, one of the oldest in New Brunswick. This Branch Line originated from the need to encourage links with Central Canada in the hopes of reducing the threat of anti-Confederation factions in New Brunswick. Not only was this line built for regional economic and industrial development, but for the civic pride and direct route into Fredericton for visiting dignitaries (see picture the welcoming ceremony in 1951 for Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip). The brick station which exists today was built in 1923.
When J.D. Irving Ltd. bought the York Street Train Station it was already a Federally-protected National Heritage Site. Mayor Brad Woodside confirmed in public statements that J.D. Irving Ltd. refused an offer by investors to purchase and renovate the Train Station. The investors wanted to restore the Station and include a restaurant in the front half of the building.
New Brunswickers are leaving this province in record numbers. It is up to all of us to show our young people that we care about our history and our communities; our young people are looking at the owners of this building to do the right thing.
“Neglected but not forgotten”,
York Street Train Station, c. 1923
10 comments:
As a railroad buff and interested person. I wonder how long the building would be allowed to sit in that condition if a small business person owned it. I was there in December and took a few pictures, its a shame and a discrace to the see that building sitting there like that. The Mayor of Fredericton should exproperate the land and restore that site, it is a big part of Fredericton's history as you said.
It wasn't all good news, the railway was one of the biggest things that killed maritime industry early in confederation. Central canadian businesses bought maritime businesses in droves right after confederation, and the rail line enabled cheaper ontario goods to be shipped in to branch plants, which put New Brunswick companies out of business.
When the depression hit, most of those branch plants were downgraded or closed, with many of the rest of them closing during the second world war.
Railways aren't all good news for the maritimes, however, part of history is part of history. It would be funny to see Fredericton City Council take on the Irvings. Municipalities can expropriate land, but only for specific purposes. They can enforce heritage laws that would force Irving to either sell it or clean it up within a specific time frame.
You know, it ios too bad that we have to let that station stay the way it is I hope that it is restored to its former status and glory I love old train stations and would like for this station to be restored so we can have something to boast about we need to find out where photographs are that were taken when this station was at it's best and original condition, so we can properly restore and re-ferbish it to its original conditio. Why should we have to go somewhee else in the world to appreciate history when we could have old buildings like this one restored and appreciate it and other artifacts of our history.
If it is correct that Fredericton heritage laws can force Irving to do something about this building, we should start a petition. Or, has this already been attempted?
You and I never would be allowed to ignore this problem this long without be taken to court or sent the bill for demolition. Law for the rich and the rest of us.
Disgusting and they don't need assistance; they are billionaires or better and they get enough grants and every deal going. Enough is enough.
Please it is not because they are the Irvings I make this statement. It is wrong wrong wrong. Laws are made to protect them but charge us. Our politicians say nothing and whoever is suppose to police the bylaws they turn a blind eye.
No one in NB stands up for our rights or for their neighbours rights. Very disappointed in our so called culture! Raise taxes, invent new taxes, include hidden taxes and I could go on but I will cross the line or lose it.
You and I never would be allowed to ignore this problem this long without be taken to court or sent the bill for demolition. Law for the rich and the rest of us.
Disgusting and they don't need assistance; they are billionaires or better and they get enough grants and every deal going. Enough is enough.
Please it is not because they are the Irvings I make this statement. It is wrong wrong wrong. Laws are made to protect them but charge us. Our politicians say nothing and whoever is suppose to police the bylaws they turn a blind eye.
No one in NB stands up for our rights or for their neighbours rights. Very disappointed in our so called culture! Raise taxes, invent new taxes, include hidden taxes and I could go on but I will cross the line or lose it.
You know one way to get a billionere where it hurts, is in their billfold or wallet. We as a Province need to not only send a Petition to have the Old York Street Railroad Station restored but we need to make sure that they are not able to demolish it out of spite or, malice. This is a time I used to hear that K.C. Irving was a reasonable Man to talk to, however, these three Son's Smokey, Greasy, and Oily, are not capable of reason. They are in for the dollar and they will not do anything unless they get the credit for it. but that is the way it is with a lot of filfthy wealthy corporations not only the Irving Corporation.
The Heritage bylaw is in place to control what can be done to properties and areas deemed "Historical". They are there to prevent anyone (business, companies or individuals) that owns such a property from making structural changes that would destroy the historical nature of the building or area. So in fact they can regulate what you do to your property but they can't make you do something if you choose to do nothing. If you owned a 150 yr old home in a historic area the city can't come to you and say "we are going to force you to restore your home to its original appearance" but they can prevent you from making changes to it and..(as with the train station) they can prevent you from demolishing it.
The Irving's purchased the property for the "property". They obviously had no use for the old train station which has been vacant for years and which is in fact worthless. If they had there way I am sure it would have long since been bulldozed to the ground and hauled away. Like any business Irving would probably be more than happy to renovate it or even sell it...if the price was right of course.
The building has been there and unused for a long time. While there might well be more than one group or organization out there that would like to see the structure renovated the fact is none had or have the money to either buy it or for that matter rebuild it. For the most part they all want either government to kick in the cash, tax breaks or a combination of both, just like the Irving's would want.
Thank you J.D. Irving for that last message. Instead of giving us a lecture, the Irvings should tell us why they would rather demolish this National Heritage site than sell it to serious businesspeople who wanted to refurbish it back to a centerpiece building in Fredericton.
History, culture, and community building are not "worthless" but are in fact economic indicators how robust a city is at attracting the "creative class" of entrepreneurs, knowledge workers, and other job creators to their community. Do your homework before you torch an old building!
Actually "heritage is worth saving", that's not called a lecture they are something called "facts". Obviously a foreign concept for you but something you could benefit from. Before one opens their mouth they really should at least know what their talking about. It saves them looking the fool. Mind you, sometimes nothing can help. So "heritage is worth saving", tell us who are these serious business people. I mean the ones with the money to actually buy the place? Now remember that's not those ones that want US to buy it for them and US to pay for the renovations, the up keep, the taxes and pick up the inevitable losses when they don't make enough to even cover their bills. I mean those real big and to this point silent investors just ready to put their own money into this worthy investment.
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