PALMERSTON – A weekend-long event has been planned by community members to celebrate Palmerston’s 150th anniversary.
Dubbed the Palmerston Homecoming, the event is planned to run from Aug. 1 to 4, which is the civic holiday long weekend.
“It’s an invitation for people new and people old that have
left the town to come back, reunite, have some fun and just enjoy everything there is to offer in Palmerston,” said Chris Harrow, chair of the Palmerston Homecoming committee.
Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum
A key part of community is the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum, and it will be involved in multiple events in the Homecoming.
On Aug. 1 and 2, the museum will host a historical presen-
tation at the Norgan Theatre.
At the museum, there will be train rides and handcar experiences on Aug. 1 and 2. On Aug. 3 there will still be train rides, as well as a handcar race hosted by the fire department.
Parade
A parade to celebrate Palmerston’s 150th anniversary will travel through the streets of Palmerston on Aug. 2 at 11am (see the Community News’ separate parade story for more details).
Fun for children
The weekend will include kid-oriented attractions such as outdoor games and inflatables at Lions Park, Chuckles the balloon artist, a kids foam party at the Lions Park sports pad, and more.
There will also be a Glow Express Kids Dance, which is a ticketed event on Aug 2 from 2 to 3:30pm at the Palmerston Legion.
Open to ages four to 12, tickets are $10 per child and include free admission for one adult chaperone per family. Kids under 10 must have an adult present.
Food
breakfast and every evening has a ticketed dinner.
Tickets to individual meals are available for purchase, as well as an all-encompassing meal pass for $150, providing admission to all six meals.
Concerts
Night concerts will be hosted at the Palmerston arena on Aug. 2, 3 and 4. The concerts run from 9pm to 1am and are ticketed events open to ages 19 and above only.
The musical acts are as follows:
– Aug. 2: The Sandpipers – Aug. 3: Bradley Hale and Chris Clark; and – Aug. 4: 12th Line Band. Individual tickets are available for purchase, as well as a three-concert entertainment pass for $85.
An “all access weekend pass” is also available for $215, which includes all six meals and all three concerts.
The deadline to purchase meal tickets or any of the three passes is July 17. Individual concert tickets are available for purchase up to the day of the event.
Vendor spots are still available for $10 and those interested should email palmerstonhomecoming@gmail.com.
Scavenger Hunt
There will be food trucks, booths and a beer garden available at Lions Park at various times throughout the long weekend.
There will also be six ticketed meals. From Aug. 2 to 4, every morning has a ticketed
Tickets are available online at palmerstonhomecoming.ca/ tickets, as well as in-person (cash only) at Norsco’s and What’s The Occasion in Palmerston.
Grand Central Market
A photo scavenger hunt will be running during the Palmerston Homecoming events. The scavenger hunt is designed to help people explore Palmerston and its history.
account, and a willingness to explore.” They also reccomend participants work in teams There are two completable scavenger hunt lists. Completing and submitting each one will submit the team into a draw for an unannounced prize. The scavenger hunt will be open from July 28 to Aug. 4 at 3pm.
A variety of vendors will be open from 10am to 2pm on Aug. 4 as part of the Grand Central Market at Lions Park.
Palmerston Homecoming stated the only things needed to complete the hunt are “cell phone camera, a google
Visit palmerstonhomecoming.ca to learn about other events over the long weekend celebration.
Palmerston 150 – Kenzie Norman, a member of the Palmerston Homecoming committee, poses with the banner in Lions Park, Palmerston. Submitted photo
PALMERSTON – Chad Martin grew up with a love and passion for history, passed down to him by his father, Wayne.
From a young age, Martin was interested in Palmerston’s lore, as his grandfather worked on the railway.
He was born and raised in the community, and while he has lived elsewhere for almost 25 years, “it’s still home,” Martin said. “It’s always been home for me.”
During his younger years, Martin saw the Palmerston Railway be abandoned.
Years later rumors of the town seeking to buy the station travelled through residents.
“Nobody had seen inside it for quite a long time … it had been boarded up and vandalized,” Martin told the
Community News
Curiosity got the better of the father and son duo as they visited the station, tore back a wooden board and little Martin was hoisted inside to unlock the door for his father.
“From that moment on I was hooked,” Martin said.
His journey of documenting Palmerston’s history stayed with him throughout his education. From performing a speech about the topic in front of his Grade 5 classmates to pursuing history and museum studies in university.
“As I got older … I realized the history I witnessed,” he said.
For the past 15 years Martin has taken his research to a deeper level, focussing on the original settlement of the area.
In an interview with the Community News, he shared some of the significant moments in Palmerston’s past.
“In the late 1850s there was a wheat midge, a parasite that destroyed wheat crops … it didn’t affect southern Ontario,” he said.
At this time, many farmers had just settled on the land and had little to no money.
Due to the limited amount of wheat, prices for the crop went “sky high.”
“A lot of these farmers in the area made a ton of money, and if they hadn’t made that money, they would have never been able to afford their mortgages and stay on the land,
“They would have abandoned the land and the beginnings of the community would have never started,” Martin explained.
to make money.”
Thomas McDowell (Palmerston’s first mayor), Walter White, Lorne Ferguson and Dickie Root “all teamed up and convinced the railway to come to the area.”
Thompson was also associated with the group as he had purchased a large amount of land and was the father of Sarah Thompson (McDowell’s wife).
ucts everywhere, it connected you to the world,” he said.
The next big step for Palmerston was when two politicians and two people had acquired a large amount of land and “saw an opportunity
“If it wasn’t for them the railway would have likely gone to either Listowel, Harriston or Teviotdale,
The four were considered the town founders and were referred to as the “Simcoe Settlers.” A man named William
“The railway was the internet of the day, it got your prod-
According to Martin’s research, it was decided the McDowell property would become a station point on the railway in 1870. The railways were considered an “economic gold mine” with the reciprocal services
203 & 237 Main St, Palmerston
EVENT HOURS: OPEN 9-3PM SATURDAY, AUG 2ND
Tues/Wed 1-5, Thurs 1-8, Fri 1-5 & Sat 9-noon
“Supporting our Community with Every Sale!” facebook.com/blessingstoyoucentre.
Historic photographs – ABOVE LEFT: These early settlers were photographed between 1855 and 1860. ABOVE RIGHT: This photo of the Norgan Theatre was taken in approximately 1947 or 1948. Submitted photos
Train – This photo of the “Old 81” train is from 1959 or 1960.
Submitted photo SEE PALMERSTON
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW CAN BE FOUND HERE!
Stay on Track WEEKEND SCHEDULE of EVENTS
FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST
9:00AM - 11:30AM OUTDOOR PLAY @ EARLYON CENTRE
9:00AM - 5:00PM TRAIN RIDES & HANDCAR AT MUSEUM
9:00AM - 7:00PM PALMERSTON HERITAGE MUSEUM OPEN
10:00AM - 1:00PM NORWELL OPEN HOUSE - COFFEE, TREATS, MEMORABILIA, AND LIVE MUSIC FROM PAST NORWELL STUDENTS
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM YOUTH UNLIMITED DROP-IN GAMES @ ANGLICAN CHURCH
2:00PM - 3:00PM PUBLIC SWIM @ PALMERSTON POOL
5:30PM - 8:00PM DINNER @ CURLING CLUB BY GRACE FREY CATERING
6:30PM - 7:40PM PUBLIC SWIM @ PALMERSTON POOL 9:00PM - 1:00AM 12TH LINE BAND @ THE ARENA (AGE OF MAJORITY)
Palmerston Homecoming
Sponsors
ACTIVITY/SPECIFIC EVENT SPONSOR
Triton Engineering Services
Limited - Chris Clark
Norsco Stitching & What’s the Occasion?Kids Activity: Face Painting & Hand Painted Tattoos
Teenie Tiny Tots - Children’s Shop PalmerstonKids Activity: Chuckles Balloons
TG Minto Corporation:
Trackside Fun Days: Kids Sponsor
Trusscore: Kids Foam Party
Palmerston Christian Reformed Church: Trackside Fun Days: Kids Sponsor
THE LOCOMOTIVE, OLD 81 -- $5,000
Brown Insurance Brokers Inc. TG Minto Corporation
Wellington County
THE CONDUCTOR -- $2,500
Blessings To You Centre Palmerston Lions Club
Dobson Storage Solutions
THE STEAM ENGINE -- $1,000
Connell Seeds / Connell Farms Inc.
Dryden Drainage Inc.
Krown Rust Control
Snobelen Farms LTD.
Palmerston Home Hardware Mark Jennings Excavating
ARRIVAL: Friday, August 1 after 2:00 PM
DEPARTURE: Tuesday, August 5 by 10:00 AM
DETAILS: Rough camping only – no water or hydro access. Access to showers is limited Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. No pets or animals and no campfres please.
We sincerely thank the Town of Minto for waiving the camping fee for this special event. We kindly ask all campers to respect the grounds and keep noise to a minimum after dark.
McLaughlin Financial Group
Minto Cultural Roundtable Trusscore
THE CABOOSE -- $500
Craig Financial
JEMA Homes/ Metzger Electric
Kim’s Grooming Salon
Palmerston Medical Centre / Gavin Semelhago Medicine Professional Corp.
Palmerston Optometry Clinic (Kathryn Alton) Grant’s Service Centre Raynbow Signs
Palmerston native works to archive community’s history
including hotels, stores and taverns, plus the employment the railways brought with them.
“There was a time where Palmerston, with the way it was growing and the way the economy was going, it was going to become a massive industrial center,” Martin said.
There was talk about the
town rivaling Hamilton for economic power because it was central and had access to all these other places.
Sometime in the late 1870s, the Wellington Grey and Bruce Railway Company purchased
weight financially and … were all bought up the Grand Truck [Railway].
“That seems to be the shift where Palmerston went from this potentially incredibly economic power within Canada to
way went down to basic cargo and freight shipments with very little passengers.
“The town was essentially forced to accept the railway wasn’t its primary economy,” he said. “I often argue agricul-
maintain itself without the railway,” and vice versa, he said.
Martin is a big advocate “that the more you know about your community, the more you appreciate and the more you will do for it.”
also worked with historical groups in England.
“The community history is very spread out and that’s part of my goal … getting all that information pulled together,” Martin said.
He hopes to gather most of Palmerston’s history and place it into an archive so “everybody
Palmerston decorated in red, black, white for 150 celebration
Public School colours,” she said.
PALMERSTON – The community’s big 150 birthday celebration is around the corner and committee officials have begun showing their colours.
The Palmerston Homecoming committee members are working on the finishing touches for the event which includes decorating.
“We’re putting all the bunting on the town buildings tonight like the Norgan [Theatre] and the [Palmerston Railway Heritage] Museum,” committee decorator Trish Norman told the Community News
According to her, members and volunteers have been spending their nights crafting four-foot-long bunting and bows for locals to purchase.
“Everyone is welcome to decorate their homes them-
Residents can expect to see red, black and white decorations around street poles, houses and buildings along Main Street.
selves with their own ideas, as long as they stick in the red, black and white colours,” Norman said.
The Palmerston Homecoming is scheduled for Aug. 1 to 4, with a variety of activities for all to enjoy.
Another aspect of the decor will be red and white flower planters the town bought last year.
“We just stuck with those colours because it’s Norwell [District Secondary School] colours and it’s Palmerston
“It’s easy to get material and plastic in those colours.”
The role of decorator came easy to Norman as her family owns Norsco Sports and What’s the Occasion, a store specializing in all things from custom embroidery to seasonal sporting goods.
Those interested can visit the store at 295 Main St. W., for all Palmerston 150 decorating needs and themed merchandise.
The bunting is available for
$20 tax included and two bows for $5.
Event signs will also be available.
The Palmerston Lions Heritage Park won’t be decorated until a week before the event “because of vandalism.”
“We’re just leery of doing the park too soon because we don’t want to have to redo it,” she explained.
Norman noted, the committee isn’t making any revenue from selling the decorations, “we’re just covering our
costs because we want people to do it.”
On July 2, members and volunteers decorated Main Street by wrapping poles and hanging new railway and town-related designs.
“I just hope people are getting more excited about the event now that it’s finally July,” she said.
For more information about Palmerston Homecoming, or decorating ideas visit the event website at palmerstonhomecoming.ca
Decorations – The Palmerston Homecoming committee has been hard at work decorating for the community’s 150th birthday celebration. ABOVE: Kristine Wanless, Sue Yungblut (pink tshirt on a ladder), Chris Harrow, and Michelle Harrow are decorating poles at the Foodland corner. LEFT: Scott Norman used a stencil to spray paint the sidewalk.
Submitted photos
Saturday parade planned for Palmerston 150
OWEN STARLING REPORTER
PALMERSTON – A parade will be held as part of the Palmerston Homecoming event, celebrating the community of Palmerston’s 150th anniversary.
The parade is set for Aug. 2 at 11am and is organized with help from the Palmerston Agricultural Society.
“We are trying to make a memorable experience for those coming home to Palmerston, and to new residents on what Palmerston is all about,” said society spokesperson Susan Yungblut.
She added organizers are looking for businesses, sporting groups, service clubs and families to participate in the parade and have “their time to shine in the community.”
Longtime resident, business owner and former mayor Keith Askett is set to be the parade grand marshal.
“It’s time to show off Palmerston as present and past,” said Yungblut. “The essence is just to bring the past and the present into one big parade.”
The parade will assemble at 10am at the Palmerston Community Centre.
For more information or to join the parade, email palmerston.parade@gmail. com.
Anyone who shows up to the community centre before the parade begins can join in.
Palmerston parade - A map of the parade route for the Palmerston Homecoming parade, celebrating the community’s 150th anniversary. Submitted image
Trackside Eats
Please note: Vendors and schedule are subject to change.
FOOD TRUCKS & BOOTHS AT PALMERSTON LIONS PARK
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST (5:00 PM - 10:00 PM): Crazee Kernels, Palmerston Traditional Scouting Food Booth, S.W.A.T.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2ND (11:00 AM - 4:00 PM): BeaverTails Mobile KW, Big Jerk, Dulce Heaven Cookies & Scoops,
Mapleton’s Organic, Palmerston Traditional Scouting Food Booth, S.W.A.T. (until 3 pm) SUNDAY, AUGUST 3RD (11:00 AM - 4:00 PM):
Big Jerk, Berlin 95 BeaverTails Mobile KW, Crazee Kernels, Dulce Heaven Cookies & Scoops, Mapleton’s Organic,
Palmerston Traditional Scouting Food Booth, S.W.A.T.
MONDAY, AUGUST 4TH (11:00 AM - 4:00 PM): Big Jerk, Berlin 95, Crazee Kernels Dulce Heaven Cookies & Scoops, Mapleton’s Organic, Palmerston Traditional Scouting Food Booth, S.W.A.T., BeaverTails Mobile KW
