The far end of the lower level is reserved for the railroad artifacts ranging from a telegraph machine to a railroad switch. Englehart really exists today because of the railroad. Construction of the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway (T.&N.O.) began in 1902. Originally the extension of the T.&N.O. was to follow the valley of the Wabi River then swing over to follow the valley of the Blanche. In 1904 the railway's chief engineer stated that the route would have be abandoned because of the extreme curvature, which would be required. An alternate route, crossing the Blanche and following up the valley of the Boston Creek was adopted.
In 1905 the first train passed through what was soon to be a railway divisional point and bustling community named Englehart. Records show that the new station was to be named Pliny. But it was reconsidered and the name Englehart was chosen in honour of Jake Englehart, the Chairman of the T&NO Commission.
Construction of the Englehart to Charlton Branch was completed in 1908. Timbering was a thriving industry in Charlton and the train came from Englehart to Charlton once a day due to the large amount of lumber coming out of the area as well as the incoming merchandise for the fast growing community of Charlton. Before the Great Fire of 1922, Charlton's population was around 900.

Included on the wall of photographs in the Railroad display is a portrait of Jake Englehart. He is best remembered in the north for his efforts after the great bush fires of 1911. Jake Englehart worked hard organizing relief for settlers who had been burned out. The T.&N.O. carried hundreds of refugees. He spent his own money to buy food for people who had been left penniless, and tacked up a sign on the station in Englehart that read, "No one need pass here hungry". Free meals were supplied for anyone in need at the restaurant in the Englehart Station.

Complete your tour with a walk around the museum building to view the Millennium Picture Windows. These beautifully painted windows, painted by Kenny Fuller, depict historical images of our area, including Jake Englehart with his famous sign "No one need pass here hungry". Another painted picture window depicts Englehart's hero Billy Weeks, who saved 150 settlers lives with his Gray-Dort Roadster during the Great Fire of 1922.

Colourful images of pioneers hard at work, local dairies, schools, the first Red Cross Hospital in Englehart, and the 701 Steam Engine are featured on all four walls of our museum.
The steam locomotive #701 was one of the last operating steam locomotives.  It ran its last run in 1957.  In 1958 the #701 was unveiled as a memorial and now sits beside the Englehart ONR station.
 
The following poem was written to commemorate the unveiling in 1958.
 
SEVEN-O-ONE SPEAKS 
The last run, eh!  It seems like yesterday
I left the Kingston shop and headed north.
They called me One-five-eight those days.  And green!
I'd shy to hear my own connecting rods
And switch points had me grabbing at the rail
For fear that I'd be taking to the bush.
The tales those other locos had to tell
When I was making steam for my first run,
Bush fires, collisions, box cars piling up,
Were eyewash mostly, if I'd only known:
But who was I to know?  Then out I go
With Tom Muldoon's hand giving me my steam.
He knows I'm scary and he treats me fair.
Up grade and down, I know he's in control
And, when we take the bridge at Englehart,
My boiler's nearly bursting in my pride.
That's thirty-six long years ago and now
I'm making my last run--the last of all
The steamers.  What a tale we have to tell
Of pulp and paper, copper, silver, gold
That pump rich blood into the nation's veins.
No vain regrets are ours.  We did our job
And now the scrap heap looms for all of us.
They'll turn eleven hundreds into pots
And pans, steel rails and tie plates.  But who knows:
My frame may form the girders of some tower
Thrusting to Heaven, a buffet to strong winds
And boon companion of the friendly stars.
 
Author unknown

Englehart and Area Historical Museum
" A learning experience in a Schoolhouse"