Residents fear pieces of Wheatley, Ont.'s history will be lost as next phase of demolitions begins

The demolition process for another round of buildings following the 2021 downtown explosion in Wheatley, Ont., will begin next week, and locals say they have mixed feelings about seeing some pieces of local history go. 

"Most of the buildings still have their contents inside the buildings," said Barry Broadbent, owner of the former Car Barn restaurant. 

"Mine especially, everything … has been there since the explosion .... It is in a pretty, pretty bad state of affairs, that's for sure."

The restaurant has been closed since the Aug. 26, 2021, blast. Now, the building is one of nine slated for demolition. 

While Broadbent has owned it for 37 years, the restaurant was around for 20 or more years before that. 

Terry Lobzun, a local historian and lifelong Wheatley resident, said the Car Barn used to be used by rum runners.

Another local activist said the building was a billiard hall, garage and bowling alley at different points in its history. 

"It's an old institution ... These buildings all have a history," said Rick Taves. 

Broadbent said the demolition will be emotional for many businesses. 

"It's going to be a tough day obviously for everybody that's involved with their businesses — you know, it's been really hard on the town of Wheatley and the folks that live in Wheatley," he said.

"It's definitely leaving a void in the town and we're hoping that … with the beginning of the demolition, there will be some prospects for the future as far as rebuilding and [getting] the town back on its feet."

Broadbent said salvage companies are currently looking at any pieces that can be saved and then he'll settle up with his insurance company. In the meantime, he's running his catering business. 

But he said he doesn't knowwhere his business is going. 

"Plans for rebuilding, we don't know. I won't know until they decide what they're going to do with that evacuation zone ...  So I don't have any real future plans for the restaurant at the moment."