Avonport Station

Avonport Station

Mile 43.45 from Windsor Junction on the Halifax Subdivision (Mile 59.26 from Halifax)

Description & History

The village of Avonport initially had a small 9' x 12' shelter and a 10' x 100' platform. The station was first located on a sloping hill at Avonport where the No. 1 Highway crossed the tracks. The shelter was replaced by standard W&A style station with a waiting room, operator bay and small baggage room in 1888. About 1911-1912, the station was moved down the hill, closer to the river where two brick yards were located and where trains could stop on more level ground. In 1911, Minnie Brooks was appointed full-time station master. She was one of the first female station agents in Canada. She served during the busiest years of the station, selling tickets, assisting passengers, supervising mail pick-up, receiving and sending express and co-ordinating freight cars for the apple warehouse and two brickyard spurs. However when the last brickyard closed in the mid 1930s, there was no need for a full time-station agent. Minnie Brooks was transferred to the Grand Pre Station and Clarence Holmes was appointed part-time station, followed by his son Clarence Holmes Junior. After his death, the station was closed and Avonport became a flag stop. In 1955 the station was sold to E.J. and L. D. Carey Limited who moved it back from the mainline to the Avonport spur where it was used as their storage shed and office.

Gallery

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  Avonport old station and station flagstop sign, November 18, 1962.

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  Avonport old station side view of west end moved to siding as storage shed, November 18, 1962.

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  Avonport Station trackside view of old station moved to siding, November 18, 1962.

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  A derelict Avonport station in 1977 in what appears to be the same location as 1962.

References & Footnotes

• 1969 Memorandum of General Information