Local historian Robert McEachern has been recognized as the Town of Minto’s 2018 recipient of an Ontario Senior of the Year Award.
The awards are presented in recognition of a citizen’s outstanding contribution to their community after age 65.
McEachern, a retired educator and former Norwell District Secondary School principal, spearheaded the drive to save the Norgan Theatre from the wrecking ball a decade ago.
He has devoted enormous amounts of time to preserving and promoting local history and played a key role in the establishment of the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum at the former train station, which opened as a museum in 2001 and has recently been upgraded and refurbished.
“Bob, you’ve done a great job throughout your career both at the high school and with what you’ve done since you retired,” said Mayor George Bridge, who presented the award at the June 19 Minto council meeting.
“What you’re doing at the museum is amazing. We’re really moving that forward and I’m really excited about it.”
Bridge added, “As council, and myself, I just want to say, this is just a little slip of paper, but we really have you close to our hearts and you’ve done a great job for the community.
“Thank you very much for your contribution over the years.”
McEachern commended the municipality for working with the community to preserve local heritage. Earlier that day, he noted, he had students from the local high school riding handcars at the municipally-owned, volunteer-run railway museum.
“The heritage of Palmerston, and in many ways the heritage of Minto, is tied to the railway. Railway and moving (by) mass transit is coming back, so something that in many ways is old and historic is becoming modern again,” said McEachern.
“The town’s on side. The town’s doing things to bring people to the town.”
McEachern noted the museum brings people to the community, who in turn spend money at local restaurants and businesses.
“And we’ve had people moving to town that are now coming into the station, and taking a look. It’s a walkable community,” said McEachern, adding the community of Palmerston is enhanced by the work of the local Lions Club.
“It’s a marvelous place to live and I’m still here; I didn’t leave,” he added.
