ST. PAUL – Musée St. Paul Museum is one step closer to bringing another historic railway station to town after council approved expanding its leased property to accommodate the building and additional railway artifacts.

During its October 26 regular meeting, council directed administration to enter into a land lease agreement with the People’s Museum Society of St. Paul for additional Town-owned land.

The expansion will allow the museum to pursue the acquisition and installation of the historic Abilene railway station, a railway speeder, tracks and related artifacts.

The approval follows a presentation by museum representatives on October 13, when the society requested more space beside its existing railway exhibit.

Another railway station could be coming to St. Paul

The museum already features the historic Willingdon Canadian Pacific Railway station, relocated to the property in late 2023 and now open to visitors.

The society hopes to add the smaller Abilene station, which Veronica Wilson and her late husband, Bob, previously moved to Owlseye.

The building contains Canadian National Railways artifacts and historical photographs documenting the region’s railway history.

Museum representatives have negotiated with Wilson to acquire the building, its contents and accompanying railway equipment, including a speeder, trailer, rails and railway ties.

A November 2025 appraisal valued the building and artifacts at $24,700.

The proposed addition would complement the Willingdon station and help the museum tell the story of how railway transportation contributed to the development of St. Paul and surrounding communities.

What land is being added?

The museum requested an expansion of approximately 16.2 metres to the south and 10 metres to the east of its existing leased area.

The additional land is Town-owned property located behind the existing railway station.

Under council’s October 26 decision, administration will prepare a lease agreement for the requested property, identified as Roll #1768.

The agreement will restrict the additional land to the acquisition and installation of the Abilene station, speeder and related items.

Council also required the museum to complete a legal survey and prepare a survey plan documenting the boundaries of the expanded lease area.

The Town’s existing agreement with the museum, established in 2019, provides for an annual lease payment of $1 and runs until September 30, 2044.

Council discusses impact on rodeo grounds

Before approving the request, councillors questioned whether expanding the museum’s leased area could affect neighbouring activities.

Administration explained that the additional land is not currently leased to another organization, although the local agricultural society has used it during rodeo events.

Councillors asked whether the agricultural society had been consulted about the potential change.

Administration confirmed that it had not had a separate discussion with the agricultural society.

However, museum representatives had previously indicated that they believed the impact on rodeo operations would be minimal.

The proposed expansion is located immediately behind the existing station and would not extend across the entire width of the property.

After the discussion, council voted to direct administration to proceed with the lease agreement, subject to the required survey.

Preserving more local history

Established in 1988, the museum collects and preserves historical artifacts from St. Paul, the surrounding district and across Alberta.

In addition to the proposed Abilene station relocation, volunteers are developing a model railway display depicting the historic rail journey from Edmonton to Heinsberg.

The display will include miniature railway stations, grain elevators and other buildings representing the region’s past.

Museum representatives believe expanding the railway exhibits will provide additional educational opportunities and attract more visitors to the community.

With council’s direction now in place, the next steps include completing the legal survey, formalizing the expanded lease and continuing arrangements to acquire and relocate the historic station.

The Abilene station has not yet been relocated to St. Paul.