Celebrate Oshawa's History - Visit our Cultural Treasures

September 20 and 21, 2008    Noon - 4:00 p.m.
(unless otherwise noted)

Doors Open is a province-wide celebration of community heritage designed to create access, awareness and excitement about our heritage.  Doors Open provides residents and visitors with a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy sometimes hidden and always interesting places and spaces in our cities, towns and villages - all free of charge!  Call 905.436.5636 x 2108 or email us for more info.  

Volunteer for Doors Open Oshawa 2008.

Download the 2008 brochure (PDF)

Pilots, check for Oshawa fly-in information at www.copa70.com

Confirmed Sites for 2008

	The Robert McLaughlin Gallery Year Built: 1969                Expansion 1987 Architect: Arthur Erickson (1987) Guided Tours at 12 and 2 each day, otherwise self-guided	72 Queen Street
	This remarkable building, designed by noted Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, houses varied collections and celebrates the vitality of Canadian art. View works by the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, Painters Eleven and others.  Of special local interest is The Thomas Bouckley Collection of Historical Photographs.
	NEW!  Durham Region Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society	1000 Stevenson Road North
	Housed at the base of the Airport Control Tower, the Durham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will assist you in discovering your family heritage. "Ask a Genealogist" questions about the society, starting a search and resources.
	NEW!  General Motors Centre Year Built: 2006	99 Athol Street
	Situated in the heart of Oshawa , the newly built General Motors Centre has two ice pads and has hosted major concerts and special events. The complex is home to the Oshawa Generals and houses the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame and Prospects Bar & Grill.  Tours every 30 minutes will explore the 5,400 seat arena, executive suites and behind the scenes.  Meet at Gate 1 for tours.
	NEW!  Sports Hall of Fame	99 Athol Street
	Located in the General Motors Centre, the Sports Hall of Fame is comprised of 3,600 square feet of exhibits.  The impressive collection includes sports equipment, photographic and written materials such as flyers and brochures, jewelry, glass ware, trophies, plaques and banners.
	NEW!  Rogers House Year Built: 1924	494 King Street East
	This Colonial Revival residence, built during Oshawa ’s automotive boom was home to the prominent Rogers family.  Now a bed and breakfast is it at the eastern end of a grand avenue of homes dating from the 1880’s to 1920’s.
	NEW!  St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church Year Built: 1894 *Sunday Only 12 - 4*	194 Simcoe Street North
	Built at the end of the 19th century in the French Romanesque style, this impressive structure sits across the road from Parkwood, the R.S. McLaughlin Estate.  The interior was recently restored and the pews, communion rail and pulpit were all made locally at the William Piano Works.
	NEW!  Durham College/UOIT	2000 Simcoe Street North
	Green Building.  Canada’s largest geothermal heating and cooling system and the second largest in North America is situated beneath the campus quadrangle.  A portion of each academic rooftop is “green”.  Glass used in the buildings windows have been coated to allow heat to remain inside during the winter and keeps Rooms cooler in the summer.  Enter off Simcoe at Founders Gate and Park in Founders Lot 2.  Meet at the link between the Science Building and the Campus Recreation Centre for tours every hour.
	Portraits by Goguen Year Built: 1900	191 Centre Street South
	An excellent example of adaptive reuse, this delightful Second Empire was built as a residence and is now used as a commercial art gallery.  Note the Mansard roof, ornate porch, dormer and cupola.  One of only two Second Empire houses in Oshawa.
	Church of Saint Peter (Anglican) Year Built: 1961 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 1 - 4*	1175 Cedar Street
	Although built in 1961, this church is a repository of artifacts from previous churches dating back to the 1850's.  Victorian and Art Nouveau items adorn the interior including a statue from Walsingham England, stained glass windows, carved wood pulpit and altar pieces.  View an exhibit of vestments and sacred vessels.
	Canadian Automotive Museum Year Built: c. 1920	99 Simcoe Street South
	Established in 1961 and housed in a 1920's car dealership, the museum showcases the development of the automobile with approximately 65 vehicles dating from 1898 to 1981.  The building has an original freight elevator and other historical items relating to the periods of the cars.
	Alger Building Year Built: 1928 Architect: N.A. Armstrong	35-37 King Street East
	A landmark building in downtown Oshawa, this 1928 commercial property was designed in the style of Modern Classicism.  The building incorporates ornamental cast stone such as date stone cartouches, and cornucopias with fruit.  Ornate windows and doors add to the magnificent structure.  Visit Brushtrokes to view the restored interior.
	Oshawa Community Museum Year Built: 1835 and 1846	1450 Simcoe Street South
	Located in beautiful Lakeview Park, the museum depicts local history through the interpretation of three restored historic homes.  All stand on their original foundation, are provincially designated and provide a greater understanding of the lifestyles of Oshawa’s earliest inhabitants. Featured this year will be the Dutch Colonial Robinson House and the Classical Revival Guy House.
	The Robert Stuart Aeronautical Collection & Camp X Exhibit Year Built: 1940	1000 Stevenson Road North
	Part of a collection of buildings devoted to military history and situated on the South Field of the Oshawa Airport, this collection of military memorabilia is one of Canada's most comprehensive.  Housed in two original Second World War huts, there is also a 1,000 sq.  ft. display of authentic Camp-X artifacts- a significant allied wartime military secret.
	Simcoe Street United Church Year Built: 1867-68 Architect: Gundy & Langley *Saturday Only*	66 Simcoe Street South
	Built in the year of Confederation for a Methodist congregation, this church is a fine example of the Gothic Revival style.  Lancet-arched openings and a polygonal spire with pinnacles and dormers embellish the exterior.  A Casavant organ, 36' ornamental timber arches and a pressed-tin ceiling dominate the interior.
	St. George's Memorial Church Year Built: 1924 Architect: Eden Smith *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 1 - 4*	51 Centre Street South
	St. George's opened in the same year that Oshawa became a city.  Designed by Eden Smith, the famous Arts and Craft architect, it is constructed of Credit Valley Sandstone in the Old English Gothic Revival style.  The buttresses, gothic tracery and lancet-arched windows are noteworthy.  The tower supports a 15- bell carillon.
	Camp X Tours Year Built: 1941 Tour at 1:00 pm each day	Intrepid Park, Boundary Road
	Join renowned author Lynn Phillip Hodgson for an hour and a half long tour of Camp X at 1:00 both Saturday and Sunday.  Meet at the monument and explore the former top secret WWII spy training school on the shores of Lake Ontario.
	Oshawa Guide House Year Built: c. 1859 *Saturday Only*	121 Simcoe Street South
	Once used as the parsonage for Simcoe Street United Church, the building was renovated and deeded by the McLaughlin family to the Girl Guides in 1948, almost 100 years after it was built.  Features display of Girl Guide Archives.
	Union Cemetery Year Built: Established 1837 Guided Tours at 12:00 and 3:00 each day or self-guided.	760 King Street West
	Many famous people from Oshawa's and Canada's past are interred in 'Thornton's Burying Ground'.  Today, the site covers 29 acres and includes private mausoleums and a Gothic Revival chapel.  The Mausoleum was built in 1924 and features an ornate marble interior and hand-painted stained-glass windows.
	Thornton-Dundee Community Centre Year Built: c. 1880	210 Thornton Road North
	Oshawa's oldest remaining schoolhouse, Union School No. 5, operated here until 1954.  Second Empire in style, it is richly decorated with dichromatic brick, large wooden brackets and capped by double chimneys with an oculus design.  Designated in 1999.
	Cowan House Year Built: 1858 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 1 - 4*	39 Athol Street West
	Cowan House is a Georgian style dwelling with Italianate properties- seen in the bracketed eaves and portico elements.  It was home to businessman and Mayor W. F. Cowan and his family.  Today, it serves as offices and meeting rooms for St. George's Memorial Church.
	Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens	155 Arena Street, Oshawa
	The first phase of the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens is nestled beside the historic banks of the Oshawa Creek.  Enjoy the unique blend of naturalized creek banks juxtaposed against formal gardens.  Hardscaping includes a stunning bridge and an amazing gazebo with metal work by artist James Pronk.  Experience Oshawa's natural history as you stroll along a winding trail that leads to Lake Ontario.
	Cedardale United Church Year Built: c.1857 *Sunday 12 - 4*	824 Simcoe Street South
	Built as the public school for Cedardale, one of Oshawa's first residential settlements, this structure has served the community for over 160 years.  Bought from the city in the 1920's by George McLaughlin it was donated to and continues to serve as the Cedardale United Church.
	The Colonel R.S. McLaughlin Armoury Year Built: 1914	53 Simcoe Street North
	The Ontario Regiment, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, was constituted in 1866 and moved its headquarters to Oshawa at the beginning of WWI.  One of many standard armouries built at the time, the Officers' Mess is still located in the Romanesque building in downtown Oshawa and displays military memorabilia.
	Oshawa Aeronautical, Military and Industrial Museum	1000 Stevenson Road North
	Commemorating the self sacrifice of our armed forces the museum showcases the largest collection of running and otherwise operational military equipment in Canada.  Apart from vehicles there are uniforms, weapons medals and artifacts from the 1850's to the present. Ontrmuseum.org
	Airmen Park	1000 Stevenson Road North
	Airmen Park's focal point is a war surplus Sabre aircraft.  The Park also contains plaques and other commemorative relics.

Doors Open Oshawa would like to thank the following sponsors:

Doors Open Ontario
Ontario Heritage Trust
Heritage Oshawa
The City of Oshawa
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Jane Hurst, Blue Cat Realty
CKDO
Oshawa This Week
Rogers Television
Oshawa PUC Networks Inc.

Doors Open Oshawa is made possible through the support of many community volunteers, the partnership of heritage organizations, public and private sponsors and The City of Oshawa.

Doors Open Oshawa 2008
905-436-5636 x 2108
doorsopenoshawa@yahoo.ca
www.oshawa.ca
www.heritageoshawa.ca

c/o Heritage Oshawa
7th Floor
50 Centre Street South
Oshawa, ON
L1H 3Z7