Hurricane Hazel Meets Her Match

The Lost Artifact

Joyce Scammel and Mayor Mike Smith receive Trillium certificate and plaque

In 1954, Hurricane Hazel was a force to be reckoned with but in 2008, she met her match in Joyce Scammel.

Scammel had a vision that focused on remembering a tragedy written in the annals of Southampton's history and the two men who died in that tragedy.

The following is an historical excerpt from the Southampton Train Wreck caused by Hurricane Hazel in 1954.

"Hurricane Hazel began her path of destruction on October 5, 1954 in the Caribbean Ocean and continued up the  eastern coast of North America, before reaching inland on October 16 and being downgraded from hurricane status.  The heavy rains and strong winds persisted causing major flooding and damage in the province of Ontario.

For the crew of mixed train #179 and engine #1319 on schedule to depart Palmerston on October 16 on its nightly run to Southampton everything seemed to be in order except that fireman Stewart Nicholson felt unexplainably uneasy.  He hesitated in leaving his expectant wife at home but, duty called.

As train #179 approached the terminus at Southampton at 11:30 p.m., tragedy struck.  When crossing a culvert flooded by the heavy rains of Hurricane Hazel, the track gave way causing the train to derail.  The remaining cars drove into the back of the derailed engine causing it fill up with sand and dirt and causing the pipes to burst filling the cab with live steam.

Engineer Gordon MacCallum was buried up to his neck in sand while fireman Nicholson was pinned by the twisted metal of the wreck.  The remaining crew, who were unhurt rushed to the aid of the two trapped men and with great effort freed MacCallum.  Nicholson was cut free from the wreckage and both men were taken to Southampton Hospital, where Dr. Murray Flock attended at the scene and both men succumbed to their injuries.
 

(next column)

Gordon MacCallum was 58 and a 35 year employee who had only recently moved from Parry Sound to Palmerston.  He is interred in Parry Sound. Stewart Nicholson age 33 was a firefighter with the CNR (Canadian National Railway) for 10 years and resided in Palmerston having been born in Minto County.  He is interred in Hanover."

Today, June 27th, the memory of Train #179 and the two men who died, were remembered in a special dedication ceremony.  The site of the derailment has become part of what is known as the Rail Trail.  When the railway was disbanded, the land where the tracks lay, was purchased by various communities and turned into a recreational pathway for cyclists, joggers and walkers.

It's here on the Rail Trail in Southampton that a special task was undertaken by the Rail Trail Committee through the persistence of local resident, Joyce Scammell, to establish a commemorative site for the Hurricane Hazel tragedy.

At the culvert, where the train derailed on that night in 1954, a rest site has been built with an interpretive sign detailing the accident.  The site is built of hemlock acquired from Manitoulin Island and to the side of the structure is the burm of land ploughed up when the engine left the tracks.

(L) Dave Cheer, Allan Nicholson, Doug Longmire, (Observer), Joyce Scammel, Mayor Mike Smith, Bob Masteron of the Power Workers' Union

The memorial site is a result of a partnership of several organizations, including the Trillium Foundation, the Society of Engineering Professional, the Power Workers' Union, the Town of Saugeen Shores and the Saugeen Rail Trail.

The ceremonial ribbon-cutting featured dignitaries, including Mayor Mike Smith, and Stewart Nicholson's brother Allan.  "Stewart will not be forgotten," said Nicholson.  "He will be remembered in a place of new growth  There are many trails in Ontario but nothing reaches this one.   For everyone who has contributed, we, Stewart's family, are very grateful."

A special presentation of a remaining piece of the train wreck was also made by a representative of the old railway's Round House and Steam House in Hamilton to Joyce Scammel.