PALMERSTON – In honour of Palmerston’s 150th birthday celebration, longtime community member Wayne Martin decided to create an artistic display showcasing Palmerston’s love of sports.
Martin has been involved in Palmerston sports since he began playing minor hockey at the age of five.
After hearing about the upcoming August 150th plans, he wondered what he could do to represent the history of sports in his hometown.
Martin shared his idea with the community’s sports teams and many were quick to jump on board.
“[I’m] really pleased with how it turned out,” Martin told the Advertiser at a June 18 unveiling ceremony. “I’m really impressed by the colour.”
The project took about a year to complete and cost just under $5,000. Finding the right location was a task for Martin, until the owners of Palmerston’s Foodland stepped up.
“The [people] who own the Foodland are fantastic community people,” he said.
Owners Mercedes Tersigni and Will Graham couldn’t attend the ceremony at the Main Street store last week due to prior commitments.
The display consists of 12 large placards, nine of them showcasing different sports teams or organizations. The other three focus on the property’s history.
The large sports history placards can be seen on the front of the Foodland on Main Street in Palmerston. Photo by Georgia York
Featured teams/organizations include:
- Minto Minor Ball;
- Palmerston Imperials;
- Palmerston Broomball;
- Palmerston Marlins;
- Palmerston Curling Club;
- Palmerston Skating Club;
- Minto 81s;
- Minto United; and
- Minto Mad Dogs.
According to Martin, each group paid for and designed their own signs.
The first historical sign touches on when the building was constructed (in the 1920s) and notes it served as a service station and shoe repair shop owned by Carman McKaye.
It was later purchased by Raymond McRae and used as an automobile display lot.
The second sign is a large photo of the automobile building with additional historical information.
The final sign shows Palmerston’s Imperial Hotel which sat on the eastern corner of Main and William streets, and dates back to 1873.
In 1936 the hotel was replaced by a large service station, the sign states.
“I’m from Palmerston so I feel really good about [the display],” town councillor Ron Elliott told the Advertiser.
“It’s fantastic [and] it’s been a long time coming, Wayne has been wanting to do this but could never find the spot.”
“The heart of the community is sports, it’s always been,” added Elliott.
He also spoke highly of the project’s historical component.
Elliott reminisced about when he and Martin were 19 years old and played baseball together.
He had just moved to town and was seeking a team to join.
“I believe it’s the heart of the community and Wayne recognized that,” said Elliott.
The signs were built by Palmerston-based Raynbow Signs and the historical signs were designed by Martin’s granddaughter Taylor Martin.
Those interested can visit the Palmerston Foodland at 150 Main St.
Wayne Martin addresses the crowd at the June 18 unveiling. Photo by Georgia York
