
Remembering Hornepayne’s Station Murals
By: Linda Joyce Ott
Tags: Canadian National Railway, community arts, historic building, Hornepayne Ontario, murals, wall murals
Category: Architecture, Buildings, Canada, Creativity, Culture, foto, fotographia, Good News, Inspiration, paintings, Photo Art, Photography, Photos, Trains, Travel
| Aperture: | f/8 |
|---|---|
| Focal Length: | 35mm |
| ISO: | 100 |
| Shutter: | 1/0 sec |
| Camera: | Canon EOS REBEL T5i |
Before the former Canadian National Railway station in Hornepayne, Ontario was demolished in 2020, its boarded‑up windows held something extraordinary: hand‑painted murals created through a community arts project. These vibrant panels transformed the brick station into a living gallery.
Hornepayne was born of the rails, and for decades the station stood as the town’s beating heart. The murals, layered with weather, time, and the touch of many hands, captured that spirit. They were stories painted in public view – scenes of nature, work, history, and imagination – each one a reminder of how art can anchor a place even as the world shifts around it.
I’m grateful to have photographed these murals before the building disappeared. Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing close‑ups of each panel: the textures, colours, brushstrokes, and small details that might otherwise have been lost. This series is a celebration of community art, a tribute to a vanished landmark, and a way of keeping Hornepayne’s creative legacy alive.
To see my books & recent photo art portfolios, go to Amazon. For my photos & art, check out my website, my YouTube channel & my Photo Art Portfolios at MagCloud. Selected works for sale through Saatchi Art. I’m on Instagram. Follow me, if you like!
My Optimism of Color Blog
Every Tuesday and Friday, I post a photo or piece of art that I’ve created that reflects what I call the Optimism of Color. Through vibrant colors and bold visceral forms, these works shout out my joy at being alive, and my good fortune at being able to continue to make art after surviving five cardiac arrests in one night in 2011.
Each of the images I post brings a smile to my face. I hope they bring you similar joy and laughter through the Optimism of Color.
All photos © Linda Joyce Ott 2026
Links may be used provided that credit is given to optimismofcolor.com.


The murals are wonderful! 😊
Thank you! I’ll be posting individual close-ups in the coming months. Linda