The Shellbrook museum, former home of a CNR station, sits at the end of Main Street. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

SOLD!!!

Shellbrook man explains why he bought the old CN station

Mar 13, 2023 | 5:00 PM

A piece of Shellbrook’s history will remain in the town after being awarded to the highest bidder.

The historic CN rail station in the town was put up for auction with the final bid closing on Sunday.

The man who eventually bought the old station is Ken Hamilton, whose family has been a part of the community for more than a century.

“My grandfather was a contractor that built railroad grades throughout the country and came to Shellbrook somewhere around the turn of the century to build some of the railroad grades from Shellbrook to Big River,” he said.

Hamilton’s grandfather eventually bought a quarter of land outside the town. Eventually another family, the Sterlings moved nearby. His grandfather married one of the Sterlings and raised their family in the town.

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

12 Best Tips to Spend Less at Christmas

Nov 18, 2025

Cybercrime response

Prince Albert Police Service 'limited in scope' to properly investigate fraud crimes

Nov 17, 2025

READ MORE: Future uncertain for Shellbrook CN rail station

When asked why he was motivated to bid on the train station, Hamilton chuckled adding his wife asked him the same question. In the end, it was a part of history that he didn’t want to see torn down.

“The railroad had some bearing on how we arrived here. It was sentimental reasons,” he said.

Hamilton said he’s been following the train station for many years, even as it faced financial trouble and was in danger of being demolished.

“If it comes to that point, I wouldn’t be able to see it demolished because it has too much history.”

His plan for the station and museum is to move it to the site of his family’s original home, hoping to keep it as a museum with various artifacts from the years.

Construction of the old CN rail station was completed in December 1909 and is one of the town’s earliest buildings. In 1988, the property was a designated Municipal Heritage Property and a group of dedicated volunteers have been helping to keep it running as a museum.

In 2020, town council discussed the possibility of repealing that historical designation as the cost of maintaining the building was becoming too much.

At the time, then-Mayor George Toporowski explained the $500,000 cost needed to refurbish the building was just no longer feasible for the community. Council then discussed tearing it down completely but the vote was put on hold as a number of various community members came forward with plans to save it.

—

derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock