Regency Cottage

This Regency style cottage was built in the 1860’s by the Burke family.  The regency style period was from the 1830’s to the 1860’s and had the romantic appeal inspired by ancient times and faraway places.  It has been described as elegant and graceful and this house is by far the finest example in the City.  This home has been lovingly cared for by the same family since the early 1900’s

Columbus United Church

The Columbus Presbyterian Church was opened march 16th 1873 by Rev Dr. Thornton.  The Columbus Presbyterian Church was the third Presbyterian church built in the Columbus area, then called English corners.
J.P. Johnson of Bowmanville was the architect
Mr. Pearson of Ashburn did the stone work
Mr, Edwards and Cameron did the brickwork and plastering
Mr Creech of Etobicoke the carpenter and joinery
Mr Marsh from Port Perry did the painting and glazing
Mr Pedlar of Oshawa provided the heating
And the Congregation provided the inspiration
The Oshawa Vindicator described the church as “Very fine and unsurpassed in this section of country for strength, neatness of workmanship, beauty of design”.

St. George’s Memorial Anglican Church

St. George’s Memorial Anglican Church was built in 1922.  The architect for the church was Mr. Eden Smith.  In a 1930 Toronto Star article, Eden Smith described this church as his finest work.  Mr. Smith was a prolific architect designing close to 2500 houses and many churches in his 33 years of practice.

St. George’s is the third church to service this congregation.  It is built of credit valley sandstone in the gothic revival style.  A parchment in memory of the solders who fought in the war was placed under the cornerstone.  The stain glass windows were donated in memory of the rectors, wardens and families who built the church.  The Cowan family donated some of furnishings and chancel.  The Houston family in memory of Edward and Rebecca Carswell, donated the church tower and carillon of fifteen bells.

St. George’s has remained a testament to the dedication of the congregation.

Second Empire Cottage

Built in 1905, on part of the original 1840 McGregor sub- division Plan. This second empire home is one of the few that remain in the City.  The second empire style dates back to the 1850’s when Oshawa boasted a number of fine homes built in this style.  The original Queens Hotel, Prospect Park, the William Thomas residence and the Thornton-Dundee school all were built in the second empire style.  Although not as a large and imposing as those others, this house has that classic Mansard roof and the wonderful proportions you see in the second empire style.

Cedardale School

Plans for building a school in Cedar Dale were announced in the Oshawa Vindicator on Feb. 20 1867.  Previous to that the children would have to go to a log school house near Lloyd and Simcoe.  With the advent of the railway station to the north of Cedar Dale and population of Cedar Dale increasing there was the need for a local school.  The plans for the new school were drawn up by a local architect Hiram Robert Barber.  The newspaper of the day reported that the plans were well drawn and were an attestment to the ability of the architect.

Mr. Barber is responsible for a number of other buildings in Oshawa.  The Wilson block and Music Hall, at present the Lovell Drug store, the Christian Church and the former Schofield Woolen Mills were his design.

After a new school was built across the street the building was purchased by George McLaughlin and donated in 1927 to be used as a church home in the community.

Alger Building

The Alger building was built in 1928 by the Alger family to house the offices of the Alger Press Company.  A fire the previous year had destroyed the smaller building on this site.  The architect Norman A. Armstrong was hired to draw up the plans for the four story building.

Mr. Armstrong was an engineer as well as an architect and was known to use the latest techniques in designing his buildings.  The Alger building used structural steel and reinforced concrete, high speed elevators in it construction.  The design, with its exterior embellishment make the Alger building a truly unique structure like no other.

   

Union Cemetery

The site of the first Presbyterian Church in the region.  Rev. Robert Thornton built the church, manse and schoolhouse here in 1837.  The Presbyterian Cemetery was also established at that time with the first interment in 1837.

In 1875 the demand for a larger cemetery necessitated an extension of the burial grounds to its present 29 acres.

In 1922 George McLaughlin presented Union Cemetery to the City of Oshawa to hold for the public good.

Oshawa House

Built in 1838 by a local merchant Richard Woon the Oshawa House was described in 1844 as the best tavern between Toronto and Kingston.  The Oshawa House was the social hub for many years.  The rear wing of the building housed a large meeting hall on the second floor where local meetings or traveling commercial troupes would entertain the local crowds.

In the 1920’s there was a shortage of housing in Oshawa and the Oshawa House was converted to apartments with commercial stores and businesses on the first floor.  In recent years we have seen the Oshawa house being transformed again into apartments.

Dayman House

In April 1856, Lewellin Dayman bought a 45 acre panel of land on what would become Harmony Road.  By the mid 1860’s the land was valued at $2000 and they were living in a one and a half story house.  Dayman house is built in the Gothic Revival style and this particular form is known as Ontario Gothic.

The Dayman house has been associated with other longtime Oshawa families, the Allens, the Lavis, the Lambert’s, and the Shuttleworth’s.

No.10 EFTS

Number 10 building of the 20 Elementary Flight Training School was built in 1941 and was used as a repair shop when the airport was a flight training facility during the Second World War.  This building is one of the few remaining buildings of the former training school.  It is currently used to house the Robert Stuart Aeronautical Museum.

Children’s Shelter

In the late 1920’s there was a need to build a better children’s home in Oshawa.  By 1929 a committee was formed and in Feb. 1929 J. D. Storie announced that he was donating the land to the Children’s Aid Society for the new children’s shelter.  C.C. Stenhouse, a local architect was chosen as the architect and plans were made.  Mr. Stenhouse was a well known architect and had completed many other projects in Oshawa.  This building was the first purpose built children’s shelter.  The building was constructed as nearly as fireproof as possible.  It provided facilities for sleeping accommodation, recreation, kitchen and dining-room facilities, administration and housing requirements for the staff and a hospital wing.

Since 1993, the building has been home to the Pinewood Centre of Lakeridge health, and underwent a major renovation and expansion to the rear, while retaining the original building.