Ladysmith - Prior to the completion of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway (E&N) in 1886, contact between towns was mostly dependent on boats, so social and economic centres were at ports.
 
With the coming of the railway, stations were built and these became the centre of activity.
 
On holidays, the E&N ran special excursions and the stations were thronged with people.
 
Boys were waiting to carry people's baggage to hotels and here you could send and receive news and business orders by telegraph.
 
Prior to this, the telegraph office and E&N agent were housed in the parlour car "Maude", a once luxuriously furnished railway coach.
 
The original station was built in 1901 to a more or less standard pattern, where the ground level was used for railway purposes and the upper floor for the agent and his family.
 
The agent had to be available at all hours.
 
In addition to E&N traffic, coal and copper ore wagons passed through, also wagons destined for the mainland via the Transfer Wharf.
 
Nathan Dougan was engaged as the telegraph operator.
 
His duties were to receive train orders and give them to the conductors.
 
He states, "I was employed by the Colliery Company to keep records of coal shipped and handled. I was the telegraph operator, handled all freight, checked it, helped to load and unload, wait on customers in the freight shed, sell tickets, custom work as well, I had no apprentice. I first was paid $46.25 a month, this being raised later to $65.00 being divided between Colliery and Railway."
 
Records of station masters/agents are scanty, 1905-1906 George Harrison, about 1910, George Hillier, 1920's Frank Griffin, and in the 1930's Modley.
 
The Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) bought the E&N from the Dunsmuir interests in 1905, but are unable to supply names of station masters/agents.
 
Gardens were a feature of many stations, displays were encouraged by CP.
 
In 1944, agents at Ladysmith, Union Bay, and Royston were all awarded prizes for their gardens.
 
It was in 1944 also, that the building was demolished and a new one built, "a one storey cottage design completely modern in finish".
 
VIA Rail took over running the passenger side of the business and in 1984 agreed to lease the station to the City of Ladysmith for 20 years for $1.00 per year.
 
Over the last few years, the station has been the target of much vandalism.
 
Kit Willmot.