Canada 1958

Canada 1958
Presented by Ken Spengler

Friday, October 23, 2015
7PM, The Lake Room

University Center

525 S. State Street

In the summer of 1958, six Chicago CERA members embarked on a two-week trip to Canada, circling Lake Erie with a side trip to Toronto.  Since none of them had much money, they stretched their dollars by spending nights in campgrounds.  Their dwelling was a large wall tent.  Meals were prepared on a Coleman stove by lantern light.  Other conveniences included outhouses and cold showers. 

 They photographed the London and Port Stanley, Grand River Railway, Lake Erie and Northern, and the Niagara, St. Catharines, and Toronto.  The latter city was - and still is - the streetcar Mecca of North America.  PCCs were everywhere, but Peter Witts ran in rush hours.  A high point was a red carpet tour of Hillcrest Shops.  The Yonge Street subway was still new, sporting red cars made in England.  On the way home they stopped in Cleveland to ride Shaker Heights and the new Cleveland Rapid Transit. 

Later they presented their adventure to CERA at the Western Society of Engineers on Randolph street.  If you missed it then, you now have another opportunity to see it!