Ottawa Valley Associated Railroaders
Celebrating 50 years of railroading!

Founded on April 16th, 1961  the OVAR organization remains very much what its founders had in mind -- an informal social club in club in Ottawa for model railroad aficionados.

Most of the original 7 started gathering regularly in Joe Thomas's basement in Alta Vista to run trains in the late 1950's.  On April 4 th. 1960they met at Joe's house to discuss the idea of forming a model railway club.  In attendance at the meeting were Ken Chivers, Bob Craig, Adrian French, Bob Hare Jack Rous, Joe Thomas and Graham Stremes.  They talked about a visit that Adrian and several others had had paid to the Southern tier Railroad Club of Endicott N.Y.  It published a club magazine and also had a map that noted railroads modelled by its members.  Sound familliar?

The Gang of 7 decided that Ottawa was ready for a similar venture: THE INTERCHANGE  was born and a map of the member layouts was printed. Extra copies of those early THE INTERCHANGE where distributed to local hobby shops. Later in the year a meeting was held at the old YMCA on Laurier to see how much interest there would be in such a club.

The response was strong enough to convince the 7 to sponsor a dinner at the Prescott Hotel on April 16th, 1961 with Bob Craig as chairman.  It is this session that is considered as the first OVAR meeting and those who attended it were considered among the OVAR charter members.  Sixteen newcomers showed up that session including a number of gents who are still OVAR members today.