Nestled between the University’s Community Garden and the Zone 3 parking lot, Theal House \u2014 and the important and innovative work that now takes place there \u2014 was celebrated during an open house held Wednesday, Jan. 22 as part of the University’s 60th anniversary<\/a> celebrations.<\/p>\n Visitors took a collective walk down memory lane, reflecting on the campus landmark’s past.<\/p>\n Theal family descendants Morley Theal and his daughter Sharla Dawn Barnes, shown with Julia Baird (far left) and Marilyne Carrey (far right), toured the building during the open house.<\/p><\/div>\n Built in the 1830s with local stone by Samuel Theal, who fought in the War of 1812 and was great-great grandfather to Flora Egerter<\/a>, the building has also housed the St. Catharines Symphony, the campus radio station (CFBU 103.7) and Parking Services<\/a>. An environmentally sustainable renovation<\/a> was undertaken when the ESRC moved in \u2014 one of many aspects of Theal House about which visitors were curious.<\/p>\n Attendees included current and prospective students of the minor, master\u2019s and PhD programs in Sustainability Science offered by the ESRC, other Brock students, staff and faculty members, representatives from the ESRC\u2019s community partnerships and many other community members who wanted to share their memories of the building.<\/p>\n Kevin D\u2019Innocenzo was the Music Director at CFBU from 1997 to 2002 and played the first song ever broadcast from Theal House. Describing the building at that time, he noted that local graffiti artists had painted the walls of the staircase and that the walls were covered in music memorabilia \u201clike a teenager\u2019s bedroom, plastered with posters and autographs.\u201d<\/p>\n Also among the guests were members of the Theal family, Morley Theal, his daughter Sharla Dawn Barnes and her husband Wesley Barnes.<\/p>\n Acting Associate Vice-President, Research Deborah O\u2019Leary and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Dawn Zinga addressed attendees alongside Director of the ESRC Julia Baird.<\/p>\n Reflecting on the event\u2019s success, Baird expressed appreciation for everyone who braved Wednesday\u2019s low temperatures to make time to visit Theal House and the ESRC.<\/p>\n \u201cOur House was buzzing with activity, welcoming many faculty, staff and students from Brock, and several members of the community, including partners and collaborating organizations,\u201d says Baird. \u201cWe enjoyed all of our conversations and look forward to future opportunities to connect with our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t ![\"Julia](\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Theal-Family-copy-896x1050.jpg\")
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