At Musée Auberge Symmes

Historical ticket booth restored to glory

 

Queen’s Park Road is named after the railway station by that name where, at the beginning of the 20th century, there was a permanent park and a ferris wheel. Queen’s Park attracted thousands of visitors every summer weekend, most from Ottawa, via the local railway. The only surviving structure from that era is the newly restored ticket booth that was unveiled, June 11, at the opening ceremonies of the Musée de l’Auberge Symmes,  celebrating its 30th anniversary.
 
This classic booth was rescued from demolition by an Aylmer resident and then acquired by the Museum in 2006. Local company Lumbec did the restoration of the booth’s exterior. The interior displays historical photographs and descriptions of Queen’s Park in its glory. The project cost a total of $35,000, and the fully restored booth is now installed for public viewing outside the museum.

The museum has also opened its temporary exhibition on the Church family dynasty, telling the story of four generations who practiced medicine for over a century -- all in Aylmer.     
(AR)