Wanstead (ghost town)

Wanstead began in 1858 with a hotel, post office a few businesses and a sawmill. In 1887 a fire destroyed the entire town. The people here rebuilt it and were instrumental in helping the survivors of a horrific train crash December 26, 1902 here until help came. The 'Chicago Flyer' slammed into the rear of a frieght train in the middle of the night during a violent blizzard. Thirty-eight died [other reports 31 died 35 injured] as the frieght train didnt reach the siding tracks in time to get out of the way. [Follow Link for complete story]Wanstead was named after suburban village of London, England and dates back to the time of the Saxons and mean's "Woden's Place." Wanstead, Ontario Train Collision, Dec 27 1902

Unofficial list of identified dead:
ALEXANDER STEWART, Petrolia, Ont.
MRS. ALEXANDER STEWART, Petrolia, Ont.
A. RICKETTS, fireman No. 5, Sarnia Tunnel.
J. GILLIES, engineer freight, Sarnia Tunnel.
MRS. J. TROTTER, Petrolia, Ont.
MR. H. B. LAWRENCE, Watford, Ont.
F. S. FREEMAN, Oil Springs, Ont., or Hensall, Ont.
NICHOLAS JEFFREY, London, Ont.
GUY DE RENIER, ticketed to La Crosse, Wis.
DR. PENNWARDEN, ticketed for Petrolia, Ont.
MRS. DR. PENNWARDEN.
J. H. BROCK, Brucefield, Ont.
O. B. BURWELL, Port Huron, Mich.
WILSON MORTON, Chicago.
MISS LOTTIE LYNCH, Port Huron, Mich., died in the hospital.
MR. and MRS. CLEM BODLEY, Port Huron, Mich.
EDWARD BOYCE, Prescott.
J. H. BROCK, Brucefield, Ont.
VIOLET BROCK, aged 11 years, Chicago, formerly of Brucefield, Ont.
GEORGE BURKHOLDER, Sarnia, Ont.
ALEXANDER CAMERON, Strathroy, Ont.
EDWARD DE BEAUS, Prescott, Ont.
ARCHIE DOUGLASS, Alvinston, Ont.
MISS NELLIE GEDDES, Sarnia, Ont.
WILLIAM JOHN LUCAS, Strathroy, Ont.
GLEN ROALGY, Port Huron, Mich.
D. SMITH, trainman.
GEORGE STACEY, Sarnia, Ont.
ROBERT STEVENSON, of Wyoming.
MRS. JULIA BARNES, Woodstock, Ont.
The Injured:
ALEXANDER M. STEWART, Wingham, Ont.
MRS. J. J. CULBERSON, Port Huron, Mich., fractured jaw.
MISS FLOSSIE CULBERSON, Port Huron, Mich.
JAMES P. RAMPLIN, Toronto, Ont.
MRS. SAMUEL CUMMINGS, Port Huron, Mich.
HATTIE NORBEY, Peterboro, Ont.
JAMES B. NORBEY, Peterboro, Ont.
NELLIE COOTE, Chicago.
THOMAS COOTE, London, business address Chicago.
FRANK E. BAKER, London, Ont., dislocated shoulder.
WILLIAM M. MORSE, wife and child, Sarnia.
ROBERT JACKSON, Petrolia, Ont.
HOBART STEWART, Oshkosh, Wis., fractured hip.
JAMES BARNES, Woodstock, Ont.
GEORGE STACEY, Wanstead, Ont.
EDWARD D. EVANS, Prescott, Ont.
DR. BASIL HARVEY, Chicago.
MRS. J. M. STEWART, Oshkosh, Wis., fractured jaw.
RUSSELL QUINN, Chicago, burns, considered serious.
BEATRICE GEDDER, Sarnia, Ont.
JOHN BIRD, Chicago, fractured arm.
J. A. LAMONT, Wyoming, Ont., fractured leg.
MRS. W. GOTT, London, Ont.
MARGARET GOTT, her daughter, London, Ont.
J. S. LAWLER, Strathroy, Ont.
W. H. COLE and wife, Flint, Mich.
R. K. McDONALD, Strathroy, Ont.
MRS. P. M. BYRNES, Sarnia, Ont.
ANNIE SINCLAIR, Komoka, Ont.
MRS. PUGSLEY, London, Ont.
EARL STEWART, Oshkosh, Wis., broken arm and collarbone.