St. Marys (Ontario)
St. Marys is a town of 7,300 people in Southwestern Ontario, between Stratford and London. It is known as the "stone town" for its large number of limestone buildings.
Understand
History
The first settlers arrived at the junction of the Thames River and Trout Creek, southwest of Stratford in the early 1840s, attracted by the area's natural resources. At the new town site, the Thames River cascaded over a series of limestone ledges, providing the power to run the first pioneer mills and giving the community an early nickname: Little Falls.
The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway in the late 1850s increased the growth; the community became a centre for milling, grain-trading and the manufacture of agriculture-related products.
In the riverbed and along the banks, limestone was close to the surface and could be quarried for building materials. Many 19th-century limestone structures survive: churches, commercial blocks, and private homes. They have given St. Marys its nickname: Stonetown.
Get in
St. Marys is near Highway 7 southwest of Stratford. If coming from the east (Stratford and beyond), turn right on Perth Road 9. If coming from the west, turn left on either Perth Road 123 or Perth Road 120A.
By train
- See also: Rail travel in Canada
- 🌍 St. Marys station, 5 James St. North. The station built in 1907 is a heritage building owned by the town of St. Marys. It serves Via Rail trains, and also houses the St. Marys Station Gallery.
- VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates daily between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga.
Get around
See
- Heritage buildings. St. Marys contains many 19th-century buildings many built with locally quarried limestone. The Municipal Heritage Committee helps in preserving the historic stone buildings and publishes a useful brochure online, with interesting facts about those in the downtown area. Notable buildings include:
- 🌍 Opera House, 12 Water St S. The opera house is a stone building built in 1880 ans sports two castle-like towers. It is today used for apartments.
- 🌍 Town Hall, 175 Queen St E. M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM. The spired municipal Town Hall was built in 1891, and is still used as such today.
- 🌍 Public Library, 15 Church St N. M-Th 10:30AM-8PM, F 10:30AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. The stone building was built in 1904 using a $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.
- 🌍 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, 386 Church St. S, ☏ +1 519-284-1838. May-Aug: Tu-Su and holiday Mondays 10AM-5PM. The Hall of Fame moved to St. Marys from Toronto in 1994 and opened in 1998. It is dedicated to preserving Canada's baseball heritage. Since opening, 75 members (46 players, 23 builders, 2 honorary, 4 honorary teams) have been inducted. It includes professional ballplayers, amateurs, builders, and honorary members who have helped popularize the sport in Canada. The facility also includes a baseball field designed by landscape architect Art Lierman of London, Ontario. There are thousands of artifacts on display in the museum "including Fergie Jenkins and Larry Walker memorabilia, artifacts from Canada's two major league franchises, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos, a Babe Ruth collection, a large display on all the current MLB Canadians and a tribute to the Canadian women who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.". Adult/senior $12, children (ages 10-17) $10, children (ages 9 and under) free, family (2 adults/4 children) $35.
- 🌍 St. Marys Junction Railway Station (Broken Rail Brewing). This stone station, a National Historic Site, is the only original Grand Trunk station in Southwestern Ontario. Not serving any railway function, the building is occupied by Broken Rail Brewing.
- 🌍 St. Marys Museum, 177 Church St. S, ☏ +1 519-284-3556. This museum illustrates the history of St. Marys.
Do
- Grand Trunk Trail. A 3.2-km-long paved trail, converted from an abandoned railway. The railway bridge over the Thames River is beautiful. The trail leads to the St. Marys Junction Railway Station. In 2012, the Re-Purposing of the Sarnia Bridge to part of the Grand Trunk Trail was inducted to the North America Railway Hall of Fame.
- Riverview Walkway. A paved trail that runs alongside the river. Beautiful views of the river on the one side and industrial remnants of the other.
- 🌍 St. Mary's Quarry, Water St. S.. The Quarries consist of two former limestone quarries located in southern St. Marys, one of which has been rehabilitated as an outdoor swimming pool. The area became a popular swimming spot with locals after filling with water between 1930 and 1935. In 1945 the town bought the quarries along with 50 acres (200,000 m²) of surrounding land, and now manages it as a public recreational facility. The quarry is Canada's largest outdoor swimming pool.
- The Town Hall Theatre. offers theatrical productions and events.
Buy
- Pass It On Store, 31 Water Street, ☏ +1-519-284-0059. M–F 10AM-5PM, Sa (and Su in summer) 10AM-4PM. Vintage and antique store.
Eat
- Sunset Diner, 343 Queen St W, ☏ +1 519-284-1040. M Tu Sa 6AM-8PM, W-F 6AM-9PM, Su 7AM-8PM. Burgers, sandwiches, wraps, fish and chips, liver and onions, since the 1950s.
Drink
- 🌍 Parkview Creamery Bar and Grill (formerly O'Leary's Pub), 120 Parkview Drive, ☏ +1 519 284 1110. Pub in beautiful old building with a view to the water.
Sleep
- Westover Inn, 300 Thomas Street, ☏ +1 519-284-2977. Pool, free parking, restaurant, WiFi, bar, golf course. From $150.
- 🌍 Riverside Bed and Breakfast, 96 Robinson St, ☏ +1 519-284-0012, reservations@riversidestmarys.biz. All of the rooms at Riverside are non-smoking and air conditioned. Prices include a full breakfast and taxes. From $140 single or $160 double for a minimum two night stay.
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