Memory Junction Museum has been an important part of Brighton's cultural and economic landscape since 1996 when Ralph and Eugenia Bangay purchased the old station and property from CN. They prevented the destruction of one of the few remaining original Grand Trunk Railway stations in Ontario. Their dedication to Memory Junction has been amazing!
Below is a sketch of the train station property and area in the early 1900s. Note the major siding off the railway that went between the station and the car shed. Also note the other siding that went across Monck St. to the loading dock on the south side of the grain elevator and fruit storage facility that is today part of Coles Building Supplies. These were busy places!
Below is a sketch of the train station property and area in the early 1900s. Note the major siding off the railway that went between the station and the car shed. Also note the other siding that went across Monck St. to the loading dock on the south side of the grain elevator and fruit storage facility that is today part of Coles Building Supplies. These were busy places!
In 2015 a Celebration of Memory Junction was organized in response to serious incidents of vandalism and the gradual reduction of volunteer support for the museum. Crowds came to Memory Junction on this day to show their appreciation to the Bangay family and to donate to the upkeep of the place. The result was a good deal of painting and renovation along with better security measures. Ralph and Eugenia were very pleased.
Then, in February 2016, the Brighton History Week event took on the theme of "Riding the Rails" with a focus on Memory Junction as well as the history of the railways. The History Guy presented railway history and RandR, a popular local musical duo, provided rousing renditions of railway songs. Ralph and Eugenia Bangay were honored at the show and the Open House as the community showed its appreciation. See the section for Brighton History Week 2016 for more.
Here is a picture taken by Anja when Dot Connolly and I were with Ralph and Eugenia at Memory Junction in December of 2015, planning for the February 2016 Open House event. Notice the heritage plaque on the station.
Here is a picture taken by Anja when Dot Connolly and I were with Ralph and Eugenia at Memory Junction in December of 2015, planning for the February 2016 Open House event. Notice the heritage plaque on the station.
Also in 2016, Ralph and Eugenia Bangay received a Civic Award from the Municipality of Brighton.
In April of 2016, Victor Schukov wrote an article about Ralph and Eugenia for his on-going column in The Independent celebrating people around Brighton. Here is the article.
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Unfortunately, the decline of Memory Junction was inevitable. For several years, Ralph's health prevented him from keeping the place open to the public. In 2017 the property went up for sale. Engine 2534 was sold and moved off the property in November of 2018. Some of the other railcars were sold as well, but not the property.
Sadly, Ralph Bangay passed away on July 10, 2019, marking the end of an era for Brighton. A Celebration for Life was held at the United Church on September 14th which saw a flood of people from the community extending condolences and reminiscing over a life well lived.
Ralph was the motive force behind the creation of a historical destination in Brighton that saw many people come from far and wide to experience the era of railways and train stations. The contribution made by Ralph and Eugenia to the historical landscape of this community remains well intact.
Ralph was the motive force behind the creation of a historical destination in Brighton that saw many people come from far and wide to experience the era of railways and train stations. The contribution made by Ralph and Eugenia to the historical landscape of this community remains well intact.
The Bangay family held an auction sale at Memory Junction on September 14, 2020 to dispose of many items that had accumulated over the years. Crowds came around and the professional auctioneers plied their trade. It was a bitter-sweet day.
By early 2021, the property was in the hands of Coles Building Supplies who have their store on Ontario Street, Activity on the site included the difficult process of removing the rails that remained, except for those directly under the last few railway cars. Lumber products and vehicles were parked on the property and a new fence was erected with a significant gate in front of the station. Word was that the station may be re-purposed as a sales center of some sort.
Bangay Collection
One happy result of all this change is that a large collection of documents from Memory Junction has been handed over to the Brighton Digital Archives by the Bangay family. Some amazing pictures have already come to the surface during the cataloging process and we should see the results on the BDA web site at some point in the future. The Bangay family maintained the integrity of the documents during the events of sale and auctions, and the community of Brighton is grateful. Thanks!
BDA Web Site: http://vitacollections.ca/brightonarchives/search
One happy result of all this change is that a large collection of documents from Memory Junction has been handed over to the Brighton Digital Archives by the Bangay family. Some amazing pictures have already come to the surface during the cataloging process and we should see the results on the BDA web site at some point in the future. The Bangay family maintained the integrity of the documents during the events of sale and auctions, and the community of Brighton is grateful. Thanks!
BDA Web Site: http://vitacollections.ca/brightonarchives/search
