HisTORY
From Whitby Junction to Station Gallery
In 1967, a group of passionate arts enthusiasts in Whitby started a community gallery, operating under the name Whitby Arts Inc. In 1969, the group, supported by interested volunteers and benefactors purchased Whitby's Grand Trunk Railway Station which had been slated for demolition. The name 'Station Gallery' was adopted to reflect the heritage building. Some of the founding names included the Irwin Family amongst others…. Through the foresight of a number of local citizens and the Town of Whitby, the 1903 Whitby Junction Station continues to serve the community, not only as an art gallery, but as a part of Whitby’s heritage.
When it looked like the quaint old Victorian station might be demolished, it was purchased in 1970 by the three-year-old Whitby Arts Incorporated for use as an art gallery. The purchase price was one dollar, but with one condition: the station had to be moved. On February 16, 1970, the station was moved across the tracks to a new site at the north-east corner of Victoria and Henry Streets. All trains on the CNR were stopped at the station as they passed over the tracks. On its new site, the station was renovated for use as an art gallery and a basement was constructed under it.
On September 26, 1970, Mayor Desmond Newman officially opened the Whitby Arts Station Gallery along with Whitby Arts President, Dr. David Epstein. More than 200 people sat down to a “Railway Supper” at the Centennial Building in the evening to honor those who saved the station and gave it a new life.
In 1974, Linda Paulocik was hired as a full-time Director and Curator for the gallery and a London and Port Stanley Railway box car was brought to the gallery for use as a print-making studio. It was later named the Nicholas Novak print studio after an artist-exhibitor who died of cancer. Monthly exhibitions of local and national interest were held at the station over the years and an active program of classes was held in the basement. The station also served as a venue for receptions and special events held by organizations in the town.
In 1980, the Whitby Arts Station Gallery was designated as a historic building under the Ontario Heritage Act and it was repainted grey and green, the original Grand Trunk Railway colors of 1903. For many years it had been painted red and yellow. A few years later, a vestibule was added around the west doorway.
The station made its second move on October 27, 2004. While the building process was underway, Whitby Arts operated out of the Centennial Building. It is an interesting coincidence that Bill Irwin, the President of Whitby Arts Inc. during its second move, was the son of Norman Irwin who paid for the initial move.
Station Gallery began a major transformation on November 11, 2005 supported by unprecedented municipal cultural commitment. The original Victorian Railway Station and Port Stanley boxcar were moved across the street to its new location on the Iroquois Park Sports Complex landscape and expanded to close to 10,000 sq. feet with increased exhibit, studio, collection storage and administrative space.
In 2020, Station Gallery celebrated its Golden Anniversary, and looks forward to the next 50 years as a community arts hub!
