The Woodstock Model Railroad Club invites you to come along with as together we build an empire. Stay tuned for progress updates, tips and techniques. All comments are welcome. Email ljbrinker@yahoo.ca

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Fairgrounds army camp

At the fairgrounds, next to Club Cartier building, a stone Memorial Cairn was erected by the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #55 of Woodstock, on August 13, 1995, the plaque reads:

DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE PART OF NO.11 MILITIA TRAINING CENTRE, S11 ADVANCED DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE SCHOOL, SITUATED HERE ON THE SITE OF THE WOODSTOCK FAIRGROUNDS 1940-1946.
 Map from the Woodstock Museum collection, is at the right.

" The Woodstock Fairgrounds played a very necessary role during the war effort of 1939-45. On August 8th, 1940, the Department of National Defence of Ottawa, decided to use the 15-to-20 acre site of the fairgrounds as the No.11 Militia Training Centre. Mr. Vance of James A. Vance Construction Ltd., of Woodstock, was chosen to supervise the construction of 30 buildings to house and accommodate 1,000 trainees and staff; which had to be completed on a very tight timetable A few of the buildings are still in use today: one is the renovated Club Cartier at the west end next to( Fidler Ave. and )Rathbourne Ave." 
Quoted from the Woodstock newsgroup by Paul Roberts.
Picture of vehicles is also from this article. 

For more information also see the collection section of the Woodstock Museum. 
Adam Pollard
Collection/Exhibit Coordinator

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