Hours of Operations
Daily Admissions
CLOSED for the Regular Season. To book a private or self-guided tour please call: 705-858-5050 or email [email protected]
Adults: $14.00
Seniors (55+) / Students: $10.00
Children 5 to 12: $5.00
Youth Under 4: FREE
Become a Member
Individual Adult: $25.00
Seniors (55+) / Students: $20.00
Family of 4: $50.00
Lifetime Access: $200.00
Board of Directors
Executive
President – Stu Thomas
Stu joined the museum in 1998 and has served in various leadership roles on the board. Stu was a member of Capreol’s town council prior to Capreol’s amalgamation with the City of Greater Sudbury. Now retired, Stu was employed as a secondary school teacher and worked in the insurance sector. Stu has also contributed to a number of local boards and committees including the Trinity United Church, Capreol Minor Hockey, the Capreol Business Association and Sudbury District Insurance Brokers.
Vice President – Robert Michelutti
Robert has been active on the board since 1995. He retired from Falconbridge Ltd. as the Superintendent of Envirnomental and Health Services. He was actively involved in Greater Sudbury’s re-greening efforts and has served on a number of local board and committees such as the Sudbury Regional Development Corporation and St. John’s Ambulance. Robert is also a visual artist working in a variety of mediums.
Treasurer – Vacant
Secretary – Frances Michelutti
Frances joined the board in 1995. She is graduate of Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology (Honours). Currently, Frances opreates Michelutti Designs, a custom framing business in Capreol. Frances oversees exhibit development and tends to the extensive gardens and floral displays at the museum. Fran also assists the town’s Communities in Bloom committee.
Directors
Eileen Thompson is a charter member of the museum and joined the board in 1993. Prior to the establishment of the museum, Eileen served on Capreol’s Heritage Committee. She is a life long resident of Capreol and her husband worked for the Canadian National Railway Co. Eileen is responsible for helping with research, curating exhibits and maintaining the museum gardens. Eileen is a former President of the Capreol Horticultural Society, was a director with the Trinity United Church and is actively involved with the local quilting club.
Dr. Albert Melanson has been an active director on the board since 2012. He is a retired doctor and an avid railway enthusiast. Albert is an active member of the Sudbury Railroad Modellers Club and has been instrumental in helping the museum to establish a number of exhibits including its HO scale layout at the Heritage Centre and the G Scale layout in Prescott Park.
Jacqueline Melanson joined the NORMHC board in 2012. She is a retired school teacher and actively participates in school tours and programming at the museum. Jacqueline assists NORMHC with bilingual programming and translation services. Like her husband Albert, Jacqueline is a talented railway modeller and helps to maintain the layouts at NORMHC.
Brian Yensen is a past President of NORMHC and has been an active member of the board since 2012. Brian is a Captain with the Capreol Volunteer Fire Department and represents the museum’s interest with the Capreol Firefighter’s Club. Brian is a designated care taker for the town’s antique Gotfredson Bickle Fire Engine and helps to oversee a number of restoration projects at NORMHC.
Jeannie Kilgour joined NORMHC in 2019. She also sits on the board of directors for the Northern Credit Union. Jeannie assists with a number of museum and community projects. Jeannie’s late husband, David was a former councillor for the City of Greater Sudbury and was the last serving mayor for the Town of Capreol prior to ammalgamation.
Dale Wilson joined the board in 2001. He is a retired secondary school teacher and a local historian. Dale has published a number of books on the region’s railway heritage through his publication company, Nickle Belt Rails. He is a member of the Sudbury Railway Modellers and oversees the museum archives and reference library, which has been named in his honour.
Ken Reiss has been a member of the NORMHC board since 2015. A Computer Science gradute from Laurentian University, Ken is employed in the field of process automation. An avid railway enthusiast, Ken assists with a number of projects and has represented the museum at national railway conferences.
Cody Cacciotti joined the board in 2020, previously serving as the museum’s Operations Manager. He is currently working in applied research at Cambrian College. Cody graduated from Laurentian with a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Arts (History). He leads Capreol’s Communities in Bloom Committee and is a director with the Sudbury Regional Competitive Soccer League. Cody has served on a number of committees and chaired the town of Capreol’s Centennial Committee.
Frank Madigan is a long time director for NORMHC. He is a retired Major in the Canadian Forces Reserves and a member of the Irish Regiment Old Guard. Frank is also retired from VIA Rail. Frank’s father, J.G. Madigan was a Rules Instructor for the Canadian National Railway Co. Frank assists the museum with event development and has represented the organization at several conferences.
Paul Parent joined the museum in 2019. Now retired, Paul worked as an retail associate with Canadian Tire. Paul is an active member of the Sudbury Railway Modellers and assists with special events as well as repair and restoration projects at the museum.
Gary Gray is a long time director and has previously served as the museum’s treasurer. Retired from Canadian national Railway Co., Gary worked as a section man / track maintainer. Graduating from Laurentian University’s Geology program, Gary also worked as an exploration geologist.
If you are interested in joining the board, please send a resume and a letter of expression to
[email protected]
Timeline
Mayor Harold Prescott secures a “Mountain” type steam engine, CN #6077 for display in Capreol. The area becomes known as Prescott Park.
Caboose #77526 is donated to Prescott Park by Canadian National Railways.
A Heritage Committee is formed by a small group of volunteers eager to preserve the history of the town. They start collecting pictures, newspaper clippings and artefacts related to the history of the town and the railway.
The Heritage Committee attempts to obtain a School Car but are given a Rules Instruction Car. The car is displayed as a school car.
The Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (NORMHC) is incorporated as a non-profit organization with it’s own Board of Directors. Prescott Park is donated to NORMHC by the Town of Capreol. The Town of Capreol celebrates it’s 75th Anniversary.
During the months of July and August, the caboose is open to the public with a display of railroad memorabilia.
The house at 26 Bloor Street, formerly the home of the first CN Superintendent in Capreol, is purchased by the Town of Capreol to be used by NORMHC as a Museum.
Grand opening of the Museum House in July.
Science North donates the slag pot car to NORMHC.
Prescott Park becomes home to INCO Electrics #101 and #116 as well as former CNR Snow Plow #55208, steel caboose #79231 and baggage/warehouse car #60049. NORMHC completes the restoration of its rules instruction car.
The museum, with assistance from the Prescott family and several community volunteers, repaints CN steam locomotive #6077. Capreol is inducted into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame.
The museum opens its boxcar home exhibit. NORMHC hosts its first ever gold panning event on the Vermilion River. The museum completes its strategic plan.
The museum opens its section man shed showcasing a variety of maintenance of way equipment.
NORMHC opens its new mining exhibit with the arrival of a hot metal car from Vale. The display also incorporates a variety of underground railroad equipment used in Falconbridge Ltd. operations. The museum completes its Garden of Life to help promote and raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. New wrought iron perimeter fencing is also erected to protect the garden and enhance the look of the property. The Terror Train #6077 Halloween event is launched.
The museum acquires a 1907 steam locomotive (#219) originally belonging to the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway. The museum acquires the former Capreol Fire Hall and Town Centre as an annex to the existing museum, to act as its Heritage Centre. The new building houses displays related to the regions social history as well as a 1928 Gotfredson Bickle Fire Engine. NORMHC constructs a G Scale train layout in the Garden of Life.
The museum adds a locomotive themed playground to Prescott Park. With the help of Hite Services, the museum restores the historic nose cone on steam locomotive #6077. In cooperation with the Capreol Community Action Network and the Capreol Business Association, the museum begins a significant re-greening project throughout downtown Capreol. The project was made possible with funding from CN EcoConnexions, Day Construction, the City of Greater Sudbury and the Capreol Lions Club. Hite Services donates former CNR crane #50392 for display in Prescott Park.
NORMHC welcomes former Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railways steam locomotive #219 to Prescott Park on April 8th. With funding from the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Sudbury Community Foundation and the Healthy Communities Initiatives Fund, walkways and a wheelchair ramp are constructed through Prescott Park and into the museum house improving accessibility for visitors. The museum acquires a 1955 Dodge Town Panel for the recreation of Capreol’s first police vehicle, a “paddy wagon.” NORMHC receives a 2014 Community Award from Greater Sudbury Emergency Services.
A new cab is fabricated by Hite Services for T&NO steam locomotive #219. The original jail cells at the Capreol Fire Hall, now the museum’s Heritage Centre, are opened to the public for viewing. Vale donates a wooden pump car for display. Volunteers complete a railway themed mural on site with funding from Project Impact.
The museum begins construction on its new model train layout and forms a partnership to become the new clubhouse for the Sudbury Railway Modellers. A new permanent sports display is unveiled at the Heritage Centre location in time for the museum’s May opening. Canadian Pacific Railways donates a miniature ride-on train to the museum for special events. The museum completes the restoration of retired INCO Hot Copper Car #5 thanks to a significant donation from Atlas Copco Canada and the support of numerous local businesses. The museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the museum house, originally constructed in 1916.
The museum partners with the Capreol Volunteer Firefighters Association to acquire former Capreol Pumper No.4, a 1986 Ford Superior, recently retired from service with Greater Sudbury Fire Services. The cab is salvaged to create an interactive exhibit for visitors.
The town of Capreol celebrates its centennial celebrations and the museum celebrates its twenty-five year anniversary. Centennial celebration highlights include a visit from the Stanley Cup and the RCMP Musical Ride. The town of Capreol works with the City of Greater Sudbury to complete a $1.2 million waterfront restoration in the downtown core and the museum completes the restoration of retired Temiskaming and Northern Ontario steam locomotive #219. Al Quiring, from the Discovery Channel’s Highway Thru Hell, attends the Big Truck Meet Up as a special guest.
The museum unveils a new locomotive bell display in Prescott Park and hosts a new “Tool Shed” exhibit featuring its collection of antique chainsaws. A fan built Optimus Prime replica opens the Big Truck Meet Up Event while the museum launches two new events, Harry Potter Day and the #219 Candy Cane Express.
The museum works with the town to bring back the Capreol Winter Carnival. The Terror Train #6077 is re-imagined as a drive in style haunt adhering to COVID-19 protocols. The museum completes the restoration of steel caboose #79231, expands the sectionman shed and places a new roof on the boxcar home.