Coming Of The Railroad

33.5 x 5.6 mtr (110 x 15 ft) First design as submitted by artist. It is probable that Sussex Station would have been located at Sussex Vale, the current Sussex Corner. A story tells however, that its most influential citizen, Hugh McMonagle, raised objections to the railway crossing his farmland and racetracks. When after a re-survey, the train stop was made 3.5 km west of Sussex Vale, it brought about the birth of a new village, later to become the Town of Sussex, while the growth of the Vale came to a standstill. A less likely place for the site of a future town could hardly have been found. The lower part of the village site was a swamp overgrown with willow and alder bushes, and over-run with little brooks ending here and there in stagnant ponds. The whole area was subject to flooding during the spring and fall freshets and at this time there were only three houses in the general vicinity of the train stop. The first sods for the railway were turned in September 1853. The mural shows the arrival of the first train on Nov. 10, 1859, which was a great and memorable event in the lives of people and hundreds came to Sussex, all eager to see the train arrive. The occasion affords a glimpse of different modes of transportation, as well as a panorama of the young town. The artist: Fred Harrison has been a successful mural artist for twenty years, mainly painting in the London, Ontario area for private homes and businesses. His last major project was in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, restoring the Roxy, a 1930 atmospheric theatre, where he was responsible for the décor and where he added two small murals to the lobby area as well. He loves the challenge that large-scale work gives him and the fact that it is constantly interacting with the public.