HISTORY (1885-1999)
In 1885, surveys were made for an “Air Line” between Smiths Falls and Montreal. The “Air Line” would be a straight and fast railway line that would head dead east to Montreal rather than via Carleton Place and Ottawa. Construction of the line began in 1886 which included a new yard facility and station at Smiths Falls to replace the former facilities built by the Canada Central Railway. In 1887, the first passenger train arrived at the newly-completed station
Special trains with important people such as the vice-regal cars of the Governor General and funeral trains carrying the late Rt. Hon. Sir John Alexander Macdonald and Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, CPR’s General Manager, stopped and passed by the station
With the pressure of the aircraft and automotive industry, CPR shed the money-losing passenger service in 1966 finishing off 79 years of CPR passenger service and concentrated on freight. The very next day, the Canadian National Railway (CNR) operated its Ottawa-Brockville passenger train #45 and 46 through Smiths Falls to Brockville.
In 1977, the Federal Government regulated passenger service in Canada by creating a government-owned subsidiary called VIA Rail. VIA continued to use the train station for its passenger service until 2011, when it opened its new station on Hwy 15.
HISTORY (2000 +)
In 1999, CPR and VIA each offered $50,000 if the municipality would work to refurbish the then dilapidated structure. Otherwise, it would be pulled down and replaced with a small bus transit-like shelter. The station was widely regarded as a real eyesore and yet, as one of the oldest buildings in Smiths Falls, losing it would have been a greater tragedy.
The idea of converting the run-down CPR station into a permanent home for community theatre quickly became a dream then a goal. CPR sold the station to the town of Smiths Falls for one dollar, and contributed $50,000 towards its retrofit as did VIA. The official turnover was December 7, 1999.
With the help of fundraising, many local businesses and service groups who donated funds and materials, town council support and volunteers, “an eyesore was turned into a jewel”.
After ten long years, the theatre opened with its gala event in 2010 with the lobby and stage complete.
From 2011 forward, volunteers finalized the Green Room with ceiling, walls and washroom, converted the space above the auditorium into costume storage and workshop, and cleaned up and dried out the basement where the stage properties are stored.
Covid quashed the ten year anniversary in 2010. However the theatre will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary in 2025.
Board Member Tom Foulkes delivers a brief history of the conversion of the CP Station to the Smiths Falls Station Theatre to the annual Ontario Heritage Conference in May 2016.