Welcome to the Oil Heritage District Driving Tour. The goal of this historic tour is to guide you to twelve different sites that trace the evolution of oil from its humble 19th century beginnings, through its 20th century growth into its current stages, and into the future of energy production and innovation in the 21 st century and beyond. Plan to spend a relaxing 2 - 3 hours (depending on your length of stay at each site) experiencing oil history as you drive approximately 100 kilometres through Sarnia-Lambton and into Chatham-Kent. The tour can be started at any of the sites listed on the tour.

SARNIA

Sarnia start: Proceed south on VIDAL ST from Sarnia, and after crossing over the Donahue Bridge into the Chemical Valley, watch for CLIFFORD ST and turn right, then right again onto CHRISTINA ST SOUTH.

Stop Number One: on the tour is located at 602 CHRISTINA ST. SOUTH, the Administration Building of Imperial Oil, one of the first companies in the area’s petrochemical industry. In front of the building, you will find the Imperial Oil Commemorative Plaque explaining how the petro-chemical industries in the Chemical Valley to the south of you, came to be here. Take time to read the plaque.

On to Stop Number Two: the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts: Continue heading NORTH on CHRISTINA ST SOUTH. Cross CONFEDERATION and DEVINE STS, travelling through some of the oldest areas of the City of Sarnia. After about 1 minute, and approximately .5 km, you will reach WELLINGTON ST. On the Northwest corner of the intersection of WELLINGTON and CHRISTINA STS, at 127 CHRISTINA ST SOUTH, stands the Lawrence House, originally owned and occupied by members of the family that once operated a major lumber company in Sarnia. Do visit the Lawrence Centre for the Arts to learn more about its amazing creative programs for artists and art enthusiasts of all ages. Depending on the time of year, you may see artist workshops in progress, or one of the ever changing exhibits that highlight local talent. Ask one of the very knowledgeable and ever-willing volunteers to guide you through the house, a fine example of Victorian architecture.

On to Stop Number Three: the Imperial Theatre, 168 Christina St. North: From the Lawrence House, Go WEST on WELLINGTON ST toward FRONT ST. The beautiful St. Clair River will be directly ahead of you. When you are reach FRONT ST. if you glance to your LEFT you will see a landscape of pipes and stacks that comprise many of the industrial plants in Sarnia’s chemical valley. Oil has played and continues to play a significant role in the lives of Sarnians. Wars have been fought over this precious resource and you are currently looking at the places where it was first refined into the products we use today. Turn RIGHT onto FRONT ST. You will see the lovely expanse of the St. Clair River and where it connects with the north western section of the St. Lawrence Seaway - still one of the busiest trade routes in North America. Follow FRONT ST for an e stimated 2 minutes, approximately 0.40 kilometres, passing CROMWELL ST. There are many lovely, locally owned shops along this stretch. You will see a municipal parking lot on your RIGHT.

Feel free to turn in here and see the mural depicting the CN Rail Tunnel under the St. Clair River. (More information on the tunnel can be found at www.firstoilwell.com) Directly ahead of you, on the opposite side of the parking lot is stop number three, the Imperial Theatre, at 168 Christina St. North.. The Imperial Theatre is one of the only live performance theatres wholly owned and operated by the local amateur theatre company. Founded in 1927, Theatre Sarnia, as it is now known, is one of the oldest continuously running theatre companies in Ontario. Go inside to experience the fully refurbished Art Deco interior. Check with the box office for upcoming performances and plan to take in a show. Theatre Sarnia has been honoured with many awards and you will not be disappointed.

On to Stop Number Four : the University of Western Ontario Research Park : After visiting the Imperial Theatre, return to Front St., turning RIGHT.(North) Follow FRONT ST. passing GEORGE ST. On your RIGHT you will see Sarnia City Hall and the Kenwick building. The Kenwick building’s unique ‘boat shape’ showcases views of the river from every apartment. Follow FRONT ST. until you reach LONDON RD. Turn RIGHT onto LONDON RD, Stay on LONDON RD. for the next 5 km. This street was historically the most northerly boundary of the City of Sarnia. As you follow along LONDON RD. on both sides of the street you will see stately old homes, many of which were oringinally built by oil barons of the day who made their fortunes in the oil fields of Lambton County. As you follow along LONDON RD you will see some of Sarnia’s newer commercial areas.After passing the Lambton Mall, continue following LONDON RD; the road will curve to the LEFT. Follow it. Go straight through the light at EXMOUTH ST which will take you directly to HIGHWAY 40 SOUTH. Follow HIGHWAY 40 SOUTH also known as MODELAND RD SOUTH, turning LEFT at the first traffic light into the UWO Research Park. ( Total Estimated Time from Front ST: 10 minutes; Total Estimated Distance: 7 kilometres) The Research Park is a world leader in innovation and when industry and the Park work together, great things happen. This past year, staff launched over 60 industry projects. One of the Research Park’s current projects is the creation of a fast pyrolysis unit, which converts hay, tobacco and other agricultural materials into bio-oil. The UWO Research Park is at the cutting edge of new energy-focused technologies that will serve society far into the future. The Park is continually looking toward the future to keep Sarnia-Lambton competitive industrially, especially in the use of innovative alternative energy sources.

PETROLIA

On to Stop Number Five : Victoria Hall, Petrolia, ON : From UWO Research Park at 1086 MODELAND RD, Turn LEFT and follow MODELAND RD (HIGHWAY 40 SOUTH) for 4 kilometres to PLANK RD (COUNTY RD 20). and turn LEFT. PLANK RD owes its’ name to the fact that is was originally built to transport oil from Enniskillen Township and was laid with planks to make the trip smoother. It is one of the only roads in Lambton County that does not run on an East-West or North-South grid but, rather, cuts a swath across the County at a 45 degree angle. You are, for all accounts, now travelling back into history. Follow PLANK RD (COUNTY RD 20) for approximately 18 km until it intersects with PETROLIA LINE (COUNTY RD 4). Turn LEFT onto PETROLIA LINE. Follow PETROLIA LINE for 19 kilometres to Canada’s Victorian Oil Town of Petrolia. Follow PETROLIA LINE (COUNTY RD 4) until you reach the intersection of PETROLIA LINE and GREENFIELD ST. As you Turn RIGHT, you will immediately see Victoria Hall on the right side. ( Total Estimated Time: 29 minutes Total Estimated Distance: 30 kilometres)

Victoria Hall has stood on this same site since 1889. In the past, it has housed an opera house, government offices, and jails. On the eve of its 100 th Anniversary, a devastating fire gutted the building and its future was uncertain. The community rallied around this historic structure, completely rebuilding and refurbishing it to now house municipal offices for the Town of Petrolia, as well as the Victoria Playhouse. The Playhouse, known familiarly as VPP, features a varied selection of professional performances every season. Stay for a show, or if you do not have time now plan to come back soon; they will be pleased to have you in the audience.

On to Stop Number Six : Petrolia Library, formerly the Grand Trunk Railway Station. (this next section can be done on foot) From 411 GREENFIELD ST, return to the intersection of GREENFIELD ST. and PETROLIA LINE. You will be directly in front of the Library. Rail became an important mode of transportation for the early oil producers. At one point during the oil boom, the population of Petrolia exploded and rail was one of the main means for people and supplies to reach the town. Without the railroad, it would have been very difficult to transport all the necessities of this bustling community, still rich in Victorian architecture. The library stands as a testament to this time and is still in use today in support of the Town of Petrolia, through the Lambton County Library System. Step in and step back in time, you will not regret it.

On to Stop Number Seven : Van Tuyl and Fairbank Hardware Store : From 4200 PETROLIA LINE walk or drive to the back of the Library, turning RIGHT onto STATION ST. On the LEFT is the Hardware Store. Unlike the big box stores of today, Van Tuyl and Fairbank definitely provides a true slice of history. In continuous operation since opening in 1867, and owned by the same family, it still supplies the local oil industry with implements that can be found here and here alone. The original jerker line system and electrical rig systems employed during the oil boom in the late 1800’s are still in use today and replacement parts would be virtually impossible to locate, were it not for this unique store. In addition to implements used in the 1860’s, modern day equipment is also offered for sale. For those interested in the technical workings of the early ‘hard oilers’, stop number eight will awaken the imagination. (You will now need to return to your vehicle if you have visited these sites on foot)

On to Stop Number Eight: Baines Machine and Repair Shop: From 394 STATION ST. Turn RIGHT onto PETROLIA LINE (COUNTY RD 4) . Follow PETROLIA LINE to CENTRE St. Turn RIGHT onto CENTRE ST. Follow CENTRE ST. until you reach JAMES ST. and turn LEFT. You will see the shop ahead of you on the LEFT. (Estimated Time: 1 minute Estimated Distance: 0.32 kilometres) Baines’ machine shop is definitely a ‘living time machine.’ When you walk in to this family-run business you will be amazed to see machinery that has been in use for over fifty years. Some pieces have been in use for over 80 years! Look up, look way up and see what is happening on the ceiling; it is unlike any space you have ever experienced. Baines is still a working shop and it specializes in custom made parts for old oil machinery that is still in use today. Some of this fascinating machinery can be seen in working, ‘pumping order’ at stop number nine.

On to Stop Number Nine: Petrolia Discovery. On JAMES ST go EAST towards CENTRE ST. Turn RIGHT onto CENTRE ST. Follow CENTRE ST until you reach PETROLIA LINE. Turn LEFT onto PETROLIA LINE (COUNTY RD 4). ( Total Estimated Time: 3 minutes Total Estimated Distance: 1.03 kilometres) Turn LEFT into Petrolia Discovery and Bridgeview Park. This is a lovely spot for a picnic. Here at the Petrolia Discovery awaits a memorable experience. You will be transported back in time to see how a real oil field worked in the 1860’s. This full sensory experience will show you the sights, sounds and even smells of the oil industry. Take a guided walking tour; the memory will stay with you for years. This heritage site still produces oil today. Learn how the product ‘black gold’ truly revoluntionized life in the late 1800’s, and provides the means to enjoy modern conveniences as well.

OIL SPRINGS

On to Stop Number Ten: Oil Museum of Canada. From Petrolia Discovery Turn LEFT on to PETROLIA LINE (COUNTY RD 4), following it to the traffic light at OIL HERITAGE RD. Turn RIGHT onto OIL HERITAGE RD (COUNTY RD 21), proceeding south through the village of Oil City and into OIL SPRINGS. TURN LEFT onto GUM BED LINE, and follow the signs to enter the OIL MUSEUM OF CANADA site. ( Estimated Time: 12 minutes Estimated Distance: 8.51 kilometres) This National Historic Site is home to the first commercial oil well in North America. In fact, 2008 is the150 th Anniversary of this oil discovery and Lambton County is proud to share that heritage with the world. Since oil plays such an important role in our lives it is important that we learn how that came to be. The museum has a wealth of displays and interactive exhibits to help you travel back in time to 1858, when the quest for oil became a reality and changed the face of the world forever. Feel free to mention that you are off to the Fairbank property next; the museum staff will be pleased to offer you more information on that site.

On to Stop Number Eleven: Fairbank Oil Properties Ltd. From the OIL MUSEUM OF CANADA, turn LEFT onto GUM BED LINE. On this property you will find metal sculptures depicting life of the men who drilled for oil here in the 1860’s. Oil is still produced on this site using the same methods John Henry Fairbank invented back in 1862. Stop, turn off your vehicle, roll down your windows and listen to the jerker line system. Its distinctive sound reverberates through the air as it did way back in the 1860’s. You may even experience the smell of oil in the air. Follow GUM BED LINE to GYPSIE FLATS RD and turn LEFT. Keep your eyes open to both sides of the road for more sights to see. Follow GYPSIE FLATS RD to OIL SPRINGS LINE, and Turn LEFT onto OIL SPRINGS LINE. In less than 1 km (at Lions’Club Playground), TURN LEFT onto DURYEE ST. and follow it into the Fairbank Oil Properties. In front of you you will see a barn with the Fairbank logo that used to be the logo for the Hardware store.

For more complete descriptions of the aspects of the Fairbank Properties please refer to our website at www.firstoilwell.com.

BOTHWELL

On to Stop Number Twelve: Bothwell-Zone Museum. From The Fairbank Properties, TURN LEFT onto OIL SPRINGS LINE, and proceed to OIL HERITAGE RD. (COUNTY RD 21) Turn LEFT and follow for about 2.8 km. to BENTPATH LINE (COUNTY RD 2) TURN LEFT onto BENTPATH LINE and follow it for about 19 km through the village of OAKDALE to CAIRO RD (COUNTY RD 79). Turn RIGHT onto CAIRO RD. Follow CAIRO RD which will end at MAIN LINE (COUNTY RD 16 in Chatham-Kent), turn LEFT. Almost immediately, TURN RIGHT onto ZONE RD 7 also known as CONCESSION 7. Watch for the “Oil Museum” signs. In approximately 3-4 km , just south of the railroad tracks, TURN LEFT into the Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum site. (Total Estimated Time: 40 minutes Total Estimated Distance: 60 kilometres)

The Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum is the last remaining example in Canada of the power source that serviced 60 oil wells at one time during the oil boom of the 1860’s. The 1896 original building and contents is Chatham-Kent's only industrial heritage site. The primary search for oil was to find a new, economically viable product to illuminate homes and businesses, as the ocean’s whale population had almost been depleted and worldwide need for lamp oil was ever-increasing.

We hope you have enjoyed your trip throughout the Oil Heritage District of Lambton County, the birthplace of the modern commercial oil industry. The best way to appreciate where we are heading in the future is to examine the successes and failures of the past so that we can continue to progress without an irrevocable toll on the natural environment and ourselves. Please come again since these sites are continuously adding to their collections with new and innovative exhibits. If you enjoyed the tour, please tell others! Our accompanying website is a source of further information on the Oil Heritage District; please visit the detailed story of Canada’s oil history in the days ahead at www.firstoilwell.com