Doors Open Oshawa 2010

Celebrate Oshawa's History - Visit our Cultural Treasures

September 25 and 26, 2010   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 2010.

Doors Open Oshawa would like to thank the following sponsors:

Confirmed Sites for 2010

Download the Doors Open Oshawa 2010 brochure (PDF)

	The Robert McLaughlin Gallery Year Built: 1969 Expansion 1987 Architect: Arthur Erickson (1987) *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	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. Eleven in Motion: Abstract Expressions in Animation - Opening Reception 1 - 3pm The Toronto Animated Image Society, in conjunction with Christopher Cutts gallery, have commissioned eleven independent Canadian animators to make films inspired by the works of each member of the Painters Eleven.  Join us in celebrating the opening of this new exhibition.
	Oshawa Masonic Temple Year Built: 1928 Architect: C.C.Stenhouse *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	91 Centre Street South
	Constructed in the Art Deco style, the building is now home to four lodges and two concordant bodies.  Shrouded in symbolism, here"s a unique chance to view the Lodge Room and Library.
	St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church Year Built: 1892 Architect: Post and Holmes *Sunday Only 2 - 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, much of it made locally at the William Piano Works.
	Portraits by Goguen Year Built: 1900 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	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.
	Canadian Automotive Museum Year Built: c. 1920 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	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.
	Oshawa Community Museum Year Built: 1846 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	1450 Simcoe Street South
	Guy House and Henry House are two of the three designated historic houses that comprise the museum.  Located in beautiful Lakeview Park, these buildings stand on their original foundations and represent different architectural styles.  The museum and archives provide visitors with a good understanding of the lives of Oshawa's early inhabitants.  On display is an exhibit of locally produced Smith Pottery.
	Simcoe Street United Church Year Built: 1867-68 Architect: Gundy & Langley *Saturday Only 12-4*	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* *Sunday12 - 4*	51 Centre Street South
	St. George's opened in the same year Oshawa became a city.  Constructed of Credit Valley sandstone in the old English Gothic-revival style, this Eden Smith designed church was considered by him to be his finest work.  The buttresses and Gothic tracery are noteworthy.  The tower supports a 15-bell carillon.  The Parish Hall was an addition designed by Architects Forsey Page & Steele.
	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 Community Church Year Built: 1899 *Saturday Noon - 4* Architect: John Wilson Siddall Parish Hall Addition 1928: Gordon and Helliwell	71 Simcoe Street South
	Built as the Presbyterian Church in 1899, the building was known as St. Andrew’s United until 1999.  Now the Oshawa Community Church, this low slung Romanesque Revival gem is an asymmetrical delight.  The interior space is impressive.  Tours every half hour.
	Thornton-Dundee Community Centre Year Built: 1879 Architect: Hiram Robert Barber *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	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.  H. R. Barber was a Oshawa architect who designed and built many buildings in and around Oshawa from 1865 to 1884.  He was the staff architect for the Toronto School Board from 1904 to 1913.  Designated in 1999.
	Cowan House Year Built: 1858 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 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.
	NEW!  Regent Theatre Year Built: 1921 Architect: J. McNee Jeffrey *Saturday 12 - 2* *Sunday 12 - 2*	44-52 King St. E.
	The Regent Theatre was constructed in 1921 by Norman McLeod Ltd, for the Famous Players theatre chain, at a cost of $100,000.  The King St. façade of the theatre was modeled on Georgian architectural lines and as such the architectural features are very symmetrical.  The building is one of the few remaining examples in Oshawa of this classically inspired architectural style.  Now the home of UOIT's Faculty of Social Science and Humanities the Regent Theatre has undergone extensive renovations and restoration. Designated in 2001.
	NEW!  Chex-12 Studio Year Built: 1873 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	12 Simcoe St. N.
	Built in 1873 after a devastating fire destroyed much of this area, the building is one of the oldest remaining in Oshawa.  Built of red brick with contrasting beige qoiuns, eyebrows and brick banding, this style is representative of a mid-1800’s downtown store. The Statler Piano Studio occupied the store from 1887 selling the Oshawa built Williams Piano.  The CHEX12 studio is opening after extensive renovations.  This state of art, studio will be a have both studio and production space all in the same building.
	NEW!  Columbus United Church Year Built: 1873 Architect: J. P. Johnston *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	3285 Simcoe St. N.
	The Columbus United Church is a historical landmark in the Village of Columbus.  The Columbus United Church is beautiful in design with the body of church dressed in red brick with white/cream dressings, it is strengthened and ornamented with the buttresses and a chase spire rising to the height of approximately 125 feet.
	NEW!  Columbus Community Centre Year Built: 1859 *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	3265 Simcoe St. N.
	Built in 1859 the former East-Whitby Town Hall.  The Town Hall was used as a hall for the community of Columbus and the office and Chambers for the East-Whitby Township until 1973. Historical displays of Columbus and video of 150 anniversary memories of the Townhall.
	NEW!  Windfields Community and Teaching Garden Year Built: : c 1850’s *Saturday 12 - 4* *Sunday 12 - 4*	2951 Simcoe St. N.
	Former home and site of the Wilcockson Family and Union Hotel. The Union Hotel was one of four hotels in Columbus.  The hotel was a vital service in this busy crossroads, servicing the movement of goods up and down Simcoe Street. Windfields Community Gardens is situated on 10 acres and is divided into a community plots and a teaching garden.  It's an organic garden project design to showcase ways for planting food in a urban setting.  Planting techniques that encouraging biodiversity is an integral component of the project beautiful.
	NEW!  St. Stephens United Church Year Built: 1912 *Saturday Only 12 - 4*	1360 Simcoe St. N.
	St. Stephen's is a small old rural church that originally built as the North Oshawa Union Sunday School in 1912.  It has since been engulfed by the suburbs of Oshawa.  The congregation of St Stephen's United Church celebrates 100 years of worship, fellowship and presence in North Oshawa.  The anniversary celebration is October 24th.
	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.