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Official Website of Ontario's Only Surviving

Horse Drawn Ambulance

(and perhaps the oldest in Canada)

This is the original ambulance used in the oil town of Petrolia, Ontario. It was built in Febuary 1908 by the Petrolia Wagon Works Company and was used until it was replaced with a motorized ambulance about 1919. It is owned by the Lambton Heritage Museum in Grand Bend, Ontario and can be seen on display during the museum's regular hours of operation. A group of Paramedics employed in Lambton County have undertaken a project to raise funds to give the one hundred year old ambulance the restoration that it deserves. The siding on the ambulance has suffered from damage by the weather as a result of improper storage years before the museum acquired it. A faithful restoration is the goal of the fund raising effort. Preservation of this ambulance will ensure that the citizens of Ontario and all of Canada will be able to see how the sick and injured were brought to hospital so many years ago.

Petrolia Ambulance 1908

The ambulance was originally commissioned by the Town of Petrolia and was used to bring the sick and injured to the hospital. It was kept with the fire apparatus at Victoria Hall. The men working in the oil industry surrounding Petrolia were particularly vulnerable to injury in such a dangerous occupation. The ambulance was needed to go out into the oil fields around town to retrieve injured workers and transport them in relative comfort. We have been told that the driver in the photo may be a gentleman named Henry Gillespie.

Petrolia Ambulance horse drawn parade The ambulance in a parade in Petrolia. The men following the ambulance have armbands on as you can see with red crosses. Hopefully someone can confirm if these fellows are Petrolia's original ambulance attendants. The uniforms are similar to the driver. This is only a very small portion of the original photo which is quite good.

View the Original

The picture below demonstrates the damage that being exposed to the rain and sun has caused to the 3/8' basswood siding. Although this is the most damaged side the back doors and opposite side have also suffered from neglect. The result has been that the thin basswood is cupped, split and has pulled away from the ash frame. There is also some dry rot to some of the lower boards.

Look and Listen to the Original Bell

Heritage Day at Victoria Hall in Petrolia, Ontario

Lambton Paramedic Jon Cann receives the cheque for $500 from the Petrolia Heritage Committee member Jean Bradshaw and Petrolia Heritage Committee Chair Martin Dillon. Lambton Paramedics Grant Purdy and Bill Garrett from the Petrolia station were on hand to answer questions and greet the visitors on Heritage Day.

Progress Report August 2009

We have received two very generous donations. The first to be received was from the Paul Patterson Memorial Fund. Paul Patterson was killed in the line of duty in 2007 while working as a Paramedic in Chatham-Kent. Paul also was employed as a Paramedic here in Lambton County. The next update will include a page about Paul and details of the plan to honour his memory in September 2009.

The second donation to be received was from the Association of Municipal Emergency Medical Services of Ontario. We are very pleased to be the recipients of this generous donation which allowed us to begin the restoration without further delay in May 2009.

Coming Soon: Photos and Details of the Work in Progress (check back this weekend)

The restoration is well under way at Shadow River Boatworks in Grand Bend, Ontario. Master Boat Builder Skip Izon is utilizing his knowledge and skill bringing this century old ambulance back to life.

How can I help with this project?

Our Sponsors

Corporate and Organization Sponsors

The Paul Patterson Memorial Fund

Association of Municipal Emergency Medical Services of Ontario