DAIRY WAGON TAKES ONE LAST RIDE DOWN WELLAND ROADS

MUSEUM NOW HOUSES HISTORIC VEHICLE

The Sunnyside Dairy wagon No. 24 took one last ride through the streets of the Rose City before returning to its home at the Welland Museum.

Traditionally, people would have heard the clipclop of hooves as the wagon would have been drawn by a horse. Instead, the historical piece was towed to the museum via Greg D'Amico's Jeep.

"We made sure it was road worthy and we went down Niagara Street with drivers in the front and behind it. We thought we would give it one last relic ride on Welland roads," D'Amico said.

The chair of the Welland Museum's board of directors said the wagon was returned to the museum June 15, where it will be put on permanent display.

This wagon was found in Wainfleet, in a barn owned by Bill and Mary Podolyak, and was gifted to the museum in 2018 after a successful GoFundMe campaign. Plans were initially made to restore it, but a decision was made to instead preserve the wagon as is for its historical value and significance.

D'Amico said the wagon was previously housed at the Seaway Mall before it made its way to the grounds of the Niagara Regional Exhibition and he expressed his gratitude for those that allowed the wagon to be stored in both places.

The wagon is a hallmark of a simpler time in Welland's history, a relic of a close-knit community, and one of a fleet of such horse-drawn wagons owned by the Sunnyside Dairy, which was founded in Welland in 1932. The wagons delivered dairy products to Welland's citizens until the 1970s when grocery stores rendered them obsolete. Back in the day, however, they were a vital part of the community.

D'Amico said the project wouldn't have been possible without the support and funding provided by Heritage Canada, the Trillium Foundation and the City of Welland. The

money the museum received was used to update the museum's space and construct a door in the basement large enough that the wagon could enter the building.

Curator Emily Hodgson said the wagon will be featured as part of a new display, which will highlight the wagon's history, it's significance to Welland as well as showcase old milk

tokens, glass milk bottles, and other items.

"The display should be ready by the end of June, just in time to be open for Canada Day," Hodgson said.