Robert Saul - a Builder of Kingston's K&P Station

Robert Wesley Saul (1860-1954) was a stonemason who had a front-row stool to the building of several of Kingston's most notable limestone structures around the turn of the 20th century. In 1952 he was 92 and living in Camden East when he was interviewed by the Whig.

The Kingston & Pembroke station on Ontario Street was one of the first buildings he worked on. Built in 1885 at a cost of $12,000 and measuring 65 x 24 feet, the stone station included stone from the demolished Market Battery nearby. Designed by William Newlands, main floor wider central curved windows as well as other curved windows were crowned with coloured art glass fanlights. The bellcast roof featured six gabled dormers and a patterned slate covering topped by iron fringework. The interior was finished in natural woods. A 125-foot covered passageway led to the station baggage room. With the end of passenger service, the baggage room was demolished on February 29, 1960. In the 1920’s, large floral CPR lettering was part of the decorative station gardens. CP built a freight shed closer to the lake, and it was demolished in 1966. The station is still in use as Kingston’s Visitor Information Centre.

Robert Saul also worked on the Montreal Street armoury, and a stone railway bridge in Camden East. Somewhat controversially, he was mentioned in 1901 press reports (and before parliament!) for neglecting to pay $25 masonry union fees for two years, while working on an addition on Royal Military College. In 1912, he was working on a brick wall at the Napanee Gibbard factory. The going salary for a 10-hour day at the time was $2.00-2.50.

The Saul family firm of master masons 'Saul Brothers' (cousins William and Hugh) was well known in local masonry. Originally, the pair emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1854 to work on the Victoria Bridge abutments in Montreal. Working as far west as Ernestown, the family grew in Odessa and Camden East and over 40 of their buildings still stand here. William, who died in 1911, was Robert's father. The firm built 17 area churches:

• 1860 - Methodist Church, Westbrook
• 1861 - Episcopal Methodist Church, Sydenham
• 1862 - Wesley Church, Camden
• 1863 - Methodist Church, Camden East; Church of England, Tamworth
• 1868 - Methodist Church, Yarker
• 1869 - Methodist Church, Moscow; Catholic Church, Erinsville
• 1870 - Episcopal Methodist Church, Odessa
• 1871 - Presbyterian Church, Wilton
• 1873 - Methodist Church, Wilton
• 1875 - Methodist Church, Murvale
• 1876 - Methodist Church, Selby; Presbyterian Church, Harrowsmith; Presbyterian Church, Camden East; Episcopal Methodist Church, Westbrooke; Presbyterian Church, Newburgh.

Murray Saul, Robert Wesley's great-nephew commented on a recent Trackside Treasure blog post on the Ontario Street K&P/CP station. (Top photo- Courtesy of the Burleigh family)