Historic Cobalt train station seeing interest from southern buyers

The current owner of Cobalt’s old Ontario Northland train station intended it for his wife to open an antique shop, before she fell ill.

Their realtor, Suzanne Othmer, told CTV News the owners are hoping someone with a vision and the finances can bring it back to life.

“If somebody wanted to have a brewery, restaurant-type or even artists,” said Othmer.

“That building in the summer is so beautiful because you open all the windows and the doors and you have a nice breeze coming in and it’s overlooking the lake.

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Undated photo of the former Ontario Northland train station in Cobalt during the summer. (Photo courtesy of Realtor.ca)”Built in 1905, Cobalt’s train station quite literally carried the town through its silver boom that made it known as the silver capital of the world.Plans for the historic train station in Cobalt dated 1909. (Photo courtesy of Realtor.ca)“In 1919, the Prince of Wales visited Cobalt and there’s pictures of him at the train station, coming off the train,” said Othmer.

Since ceasing service in 2012, the town had taken it over, using it for a military museum and an interpretation centre.

“Constructed like others of its kind at the time, it was reliable and almost all of the original architecture remains,” Othmer said.The interior of the former Ontario Northland train station in Cobalt. (Photo courtesy of Realtor.ca)Plans have been drawn to renovate the upper level into apartments, while the main floor can be used for commercial space.

The main entrance gives way to what was originally a ladies-only lounge.

“You walk into the other room, which is where the conductor would have been,” said Othmer.

“And there’s a large safe there, that’s still there.”

Then opening up to the main lobby — with vaulted ceilings, restored beams and original subway tiles reminiscent of Toronto’s Union Station, which shares the same architect, John M. Lyle.

The property has been listed for almost a year now and Othmer said it’s recently been gaining interest from potential buyers from southern Ontario, who may have the capital to renovate the building’s interior.

The exterior of the former Ontario Northland train station in Cobalt. (Photo courtesy of Realtor.ca)