Doors Open Ontario 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 within our community - all free of charge .
The City of Owen Sound participated in Doors Open for the first time in 2003. With sponsorship assistance from community-minded businesses, twenty sites in and around Owen Sound opened their doors on June 14th and 15th, 2003. As a first year event, Doors Open Owen Sound was a resounding success drawing close to 4,500 visits through its doors and sites. Doors Open Owen Sound was not only a provincial event, but a Canadian and an international one as well with visitors from British Columbia , Nova Scotia and London , England passing through the City.
The City of Owen Sound will once again be hosting Doors Open on June 2 and 3, 2007.
This year we have some new exciting sites that you won’t want to miss.
The Owen Sound Farmer’s Market will be open Saturday morning where you can purchase fresh produce or enjoy complimentary refreshments on Saturday afternoon.
The new Grey Roots Heritage & Visitor Centre will be opening its doors so that the public may experience the $11 million attraction that is home to Grey County 's Museum, Archives and Tourism Services. The timber frame construction is reminiscent of barn construction and immediately establishes the centre's rural character. Park at Grey Roots and walk through the adjoining path to the More Estate featuring formal gardens, perennial gardens and the cedar maze.
From gardens to gables, museums to mansions, Doors Open Owen Sound provides everyone with an opportunity to enjoy the sites of cultural, historical, environmental or architectural significance in and around the City.
For more information about Doors Open Owen Sound, please contact: pbryant@e-owensound.com or 376-1440 x.256
Greenwood Cemetery, surrounded by tall stately maples and cedar hedges is situated atop a wooded ravine at the City’s south west end. The site contains a residence, one of the oldest homes in the City. A Mausoleum built in 1927 is clad in Indiana Limestone with Italian marble interior and impressive stained glass windows. Only cemetery in Canada to contain 3 Victoria Cross recipients.
The boyhood home of First and Second World War flying ace William Avery Bishop , BC , CB DSO. A well-preserved example of the Queen Anne Revival style, the house has an eclectic mix of architectural styles, featuring asymmetrical proportions, a variety of window shapes and decorative millwork. National Historic Site.
The Centre is home to Grey County 's Museum, Archives and Tourism Services. The timber frame construction recalls a barn's structure and immediately establishes the rural character of the building. Surrounded by pastoral fields, the building showcases ledge rock stone and maple hardwood found on the Niagara Escarpment. Explore the many exhibits including the Award Winning “From Slavery to Freedom”.
The Art Gallery houses the world’s third largest collection of Thomson works and is the only gallery designated as a Thomson memorial. Thomson and the Group of Seven had a distinctive approach to portraying early 20 th century Canadian landscape. Visit the gallery and celebrate the legacy of Thomson, who grew up in Owen Sound.
Built during the Queen Anne Revival, the build has a steeply sloped pavilion roof and off-set tower containing curved glass windows, a rarity which add elegance, despite their simplicity. The semi-elliptical fan transom set above a wider door is the hall mark of North American Neo-Classicism.
Highland Manor (Bed & Breakfast)
867 4th Ave. A. W.
The 7500 sq. ft Highland Manor is one of the finest examples of high Victorian architecture in Canada . To establish a mood of grandeur and history, the builders of the Highland Manor strove to obtain a visual experience. Its Roman arches, striking front edifice, windows and non-matching dormers of varying sizes adorn all of the many sides of the almost 50 foot high structure.
Other Doors Open Owen Sound Sites
Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum
Year Built: 1932
1155 1st Avenue West , Owen Sound
Located in the historic CN rail station on the City’s west harbour wall, the museum preserves marine and rail transport history and reminds us of part Owen Sound played in the opening of Western Canada. Visit the museum and enjoy the exquisite ship model displays along with rail memorabilia including a caboose.
First occupied by the Calvary Church, has been home to the Synagogue since 1946. Named for Ezekiel Cadesky, a Russian immigrant who settled here in the early 1900’s, the building draws from the tradition of simple, turn-of-the-century Georgian meeting halls. Recently added intricate stained glass windows tell the story of many member families.
The Farmer’s Market, built by a private waterworks company, was purchased in 1890 by Town Council. Designated in 1986, it is the only remaining structure of the original Market Square – the City Hall and Fire Hall having been replaced after a fire. The most prominent feature of this vernacular brick building is the centre gable with bull’s eye vent.
Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library
Year Built 1911
824 1st Avenue West , Owen Sound
The Library was founded in 1855 in Owen Sound originally as a Mechanics’ Institute. The structure was erected in 1911 with an Andrew Carnegie grant with an addition in 1972. A full service library meets the needs of the City as well as surrounding municipalities.
The Centennial Tower is built upon the foundation of Browns Lime works (Wellington Lime Company)a lime kiln and quarry. Kilns operated on this site beginning in 1887. The tower was conceived as a Centennial Projectto celebrate Canadas 100th Birthday by the students of the two local high schoolsthe OSCVI and West Hill Secondary School. In 2001, City Council worked with local residents, many of whom served on the original School Committees to restore the tower to its original condition. The project was funded by the City and through the Main Street Ontario Millenium Funding Program.
More Estate Year Built 1920
Grey Road 18, Georgian Bluffs
Built by the McCallum family in 1920, what is now the prestigious More Estate, was originally a small country cottage style home. The expansion at the rear was modeled as a reproduction of a 1870’s Regency Georgian Villa style of architecture. The gardens are of a European “architectural” style and include concrete curbs, benches, birdbaths, and more.
Wilkinson House
Year Built: 1912
903 2nd Avenue West
This century home known as the "Wilkinson House" is a landmark in Owen Sound. Recently restored, this "Arts and Craft" style house features original windows, wavy glass, tongue and groove porch ceiling, extensive wood work, stained glass and Miller work. Presently a law office.
Hibou Conservation Area
This 108-hectare park features sandy beaches, trails and beaver dams on land purchased in 1914 by businessman George McLaughlan to build a railway. Hibou is a French-Indian word meaning Great White Owl. The conservation area is named after the Owen Sound Transportation Company ship Hibou, which sank near Squaw Point in 1936, but was later raised, rebuilt and sold.
Inglis Falls
1040 2nd Avenue West
On the edge of Owen Sound in the Inglis Falls Conservation Area, the Sydenham River cascades 18 metres over the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. A grist mill purchased here in 1845 by the Inglis family grew rapidly into a complex of mills. See the water flume, grinding stones and stone building that remain.
Indian Falls
The main natural feature of this site is the horseshoe shaped waterfall, named after the Newash Indian tribe who lived in this area at one time. The 15 metre high waterfall was formed by the erosion of soft Queenston shale beneath hard Manitoulin dolomite, in a manner similar to Niagara Falls. The 0.8km rigorous trail to the waterfall follows the Indian River, providing many opportunities to view a variety of tree, fern and wildflower species and wildlife.
