Courtesy of Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (2015) Sarnia-Lambton’s Refining and Petrochemical centre has its roots in the oil fields of Lambton County. In 1857 the discovery of crude oil at Oil Springs, just south of the Town of Petrolia, led to the establishment of several refineries. The presence of a large [...]
by the Sarnia Gazette (1970) When General Ulysses S. Grant stayed overnight in Point Edward [Editor’s Note: in 1865] he had a choice of six hotels…one of which was the Holder’s Hotel on Michigan Avenue…still going strong today as a popular oasis for village and other beer drinkers. Built in [...]
by Jean Elford for the Sarnia Gazette (1971) When a small ship flounders in a Great Lakes storm, there is generally not a sailor left to tell what happened. In a tragic loss of the Kate Bully on October 4, 1869, however, four of the crew of ten survived the [...]
by George Mathewson for The Sarnia Journal (2014) It’s been climbed on, posed beside and rendezvoused at by half the people in Sarnia at one time or another. But the origins of the cannon in Canatara Park, and how it got there, have long been a mystery. Now, two men [...]
by R.W. Ford (1987) Stretching for over 30 kilometres along the St. Clair River from the southern tip of Lake Huron to the village of Sombra lies the largest concentration of petroleum and chemical industry in Canada. Some 25 kilometres inland ancient oil wells grudgingly yield a few barrels of [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer He built modern Sarnia. Those four words probably best sum up the achievements of William C. Nelson, the City's 59th – and longest serving – Mayor at that point in time. Born in 1885, he attended Durand Street School and Sarnia Business College. [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer If Sarnia Sting fans thought the club's home rink was inadequate, they can thank their lucky stars that Carlyle W. Hipple was in the Mayor's chair half a century ago. That's because under his guidance the City began planning for construction of the [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer Sarnians who think there's a shortage of hospital beds in the community can thank their lucky stars that John T. Barnes was elected Mayor in 1940. That's because the community's 57th Chief Magistrate played a key role in getting St. Joseph's Hospital built. [...]
by Phil Egan (2015) A key part of Canadian rail history is being lovingly repaired and renovated thanks to the dedication of a group of steam engine enthusiasts and the support of city council. Peter and Paul Whitfield, Chris Wiley, Dwayne Ross and Brandon Freuth originally met with the city [...]
by Charles Phelps (1980) From the 1870s the Blackwell Sideroad was the dividing line between School Section Three (Bright’s Grove School) and School Section Six (Clark’s School at Murphy Road). The children from Blackwell Sideroad east went to S.S. No. 3 and the children from Blackwell Sideroad west attended S.S. [...]
