Uncovering a piece of Norfolk County history

The first Norfolk County Velodrome was built in 1939. 

Alex Hunt

Advocate Correspondent

Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre’s year-long exhibit spotlights Delhi’s cycling roots

The Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre is showcasing Norfolk’s Golden Era of Bike Racing with a year-long exhibit exploring the history of the county’s cycling connection.

The exhibit, which opened Nov. 8, will stay as a semi-permanent feature at the museum as artifacts will slowly be returned to the original donors over the course of the showing. 

“There was a golden era that started in the 1930s, and later that decade, Belgian immigrants wanted to bring their passion for bike racing to Norfolk County,” said Andrew Moore, museum curator. “They petitioned the local governments to purchase a gravel pit and build a velodrome, which was very similar to the ones they rode in Belgium.” 

Norfolk’s first velodrome was built in 1939 by Jules Schelstraete, Gerard Vanden Bussche and Henry Catry. A parade was held at the grand opening, and the ceremony drew in 2,500 people on the first day.

“These racers would whip around this velodrome at high speeds at 50 to 80 kilometres an hour; it was the thing to do,” said Moore.  “When the war started, it tailed off at that point. There were bigger concerns in Canada, and many men were off to war.” 

The sport was revitalized in 1974 by Jules Schelstraete’s son, Albert Schelstraete-Coulier, who petitioned the local government to build an indoor velodrome, which would be a hotspot for local and international racers in the 1970s.  

“It was cool to think that Delhi held the international footprint for bike racing,” said Moore. “Albert’s son Ron Schelstraete came to the museum with items from that era, and we built the exhibit around his father and the history of bike racing that took place here.

“Part of our mandate is to focus on the local community, and I thought this exhibit was the perfect way to highlight Delhi,” said Moore. “I love that it’s a chance to show something different about the town that people might not have known, and it’s amazing to see how a smaller community can have such a big impact on an international audience.”

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Light up the season Dec. 6 at the museum, 3-6 p.m., at the Delhi BIA Christmas Party. Admission by donation.

Santa will be at the museum 3-5 p.m. then will leave to prepare for the annual Delhi BIA Christmas parade starting at 6 p.m. The parade starts at the Delhi Soccer Club, moves along Main Street to Church, then to Queen to William Street and back to the soccer club.

MITTEN TREES

Delhi BIA Mitten Trees can be found around town, including the Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre. Drop off mittens, gloves, hats and scarves at the museum until Dec. 20.

Other locations include Delhi Flowers and Gifts, Little Miss Busybody, and Delhi Pharmasave, which will accept donations until Dec. 23.

Donations are hung on the Mitten Trees available to anyone needing them.