Doors Open Markham 2008 Sites.


2008 Doors Open Markham Attractions

		Heritage Train Rides - MARKHAM Train Station & UNIONVILLE (old Unionville Train Station - Main Street Unionville) Take the York Durham Heritage Railway trains between the Unionville and Markham Village train stations, in a nostalgic ride through time. Tickets, $5 per person. Trains depart Unionville every hour on the hour, and Markham every hour on the half hour. A special Doors Open Markham feature, sponsored by the Main Street Unionville business improvement association.

		Double Decker Bus Rides -MARKHAM Train Station & UNIONVILLE (old Unionville Train Station - Main Street Unionville) Unique to Doors Open Markham! Enjoy rides on an authentic European double-decker bus! Guided tours wind you through Markham village - downtown Main Street Markham. See the sites from a “higher up” point of view, amidst the treetops and open air. The $2 tickets are a donation. Sponsored by the Markham and Unionville business improvement associations.

		Markham Train Station - MARKHAM Built in 1871, during Canada’s golden age of railway development, the station was restored by the Markham Village Conservancy in 2000. It now serves as a community facility and GO train station. The exterior is painted in its 1910 colour scheme. Enjoy heritage train rides during the 2008 Doors Open weekend!

		Markham Village Walking Tours Local experts lead guided tours of Historic Main Street Markham. Discover the old villages’ myths, legends and social history. These tours are always popular and a Doors Open Markham “must see,” as we all learn a bit of history. Visit www.doorsopenmarkham.ca for further details.

		Horse & Wagon Rides in Heritage Estates - MARKHAM Take a wagon ride through Heritage Estates and see Markhams historic homes restored. Rides are from 12-3pm. $1 donation per person.

		Markham Museum - MARKHAM Markham Museum unites the old and the new on this 25-acre site. Restored, relocated heritage buildings dating from as early as the 1820s are situated behind the former Mount Joy Public School. The site includes a blacksmith shop, honey house, heritage apple orchard, 1920s luxury train car and a working antique carousel.

		Markham Heritage Estates - MARKHAM This impressive showcase of 1800s domestic architecture is unique to Markham. These relocated heritage homes, each one expertly restored and set in historically inspired landscaping, were saved from demolition when they could not be preserved on their original sites. All are private residences. As an added feature this year, enjoy horse-drawn buggy rides through the neighbourhood. Self-guided walking tours available. Heritage Experts on site.

		Joshua Miller House (Private Home) - MARKHAM This classic New England saltbox House, currently under restoration, was built by Joshua Miller in the eastern part of Markham in 1824. It is the oldest house to be relocated to Markham Heritage Estates. Note the small size of the windows and the heavy central chimney.

		Henry Wilson House - MARKHAM 144 Main Street North Henry Wilson was a successful general merchant in Markham Village. This high Victorian, buff brick house was built for him in 1886, with ornate woodwork and stained glass. It serves as a restaurant, integrated into the Markham Village Lanes commercial complex.

		William Browning House - MARKHAM 140 Main Street North, Markham Now a restaurant, this Ontario Regency Cottage was constructed about 1845 by William Browning, a watch and clock maker. Later uses included a WWI recruiting office and a public library.

		St. Dimitrija Solunski Macedonian Orthodox Church - MARKHAM 201 Main Street North, Markham A modern church built to reflect the apperance of centuries old traditional church buildings in Macedonia. The interior includes an impressive series of painted icones done in Byzantine style.

		Carlton Block - MARKHAM 117 Main Street North, Markham Year Built: 1873 Charles Carlton built this double block of stores with residential quarters above in 1873, to replace an earlier building destroyed in village fi re. When he rebuilt, Carlton chose durable brick. The round-arched window openings are typical of the Italianate architectural style that was popular at the time.

		Bank of Commerce Building 91 Main Street North, Markham Year built: c.1895 The Bank of Commerce Building was built c.1895 as the Markham Village Branch of the Standard Bank of Canada. The interior has an elaborate pressed metal ceiling and the original bank vault.

		A. & H. Wideman Building A. & H. Wideman Building - MARKHAM 85 Main Street North, Markham Year Built: 1909 Brothers Albert and Harvey Wideman constructed this commercial block in 1909 to house a hardware store and a jewellery store. Since that time, it has changed very little. The simple, early 20th century design contrasts with the late Victorian architecture seen on Markham Village’s Main Street.

		John Wilson Store - MARKHAM 80 Main Street North, Markham Year built: c.1864 Saturday only A pre-Confederation village store with a classic boomtown front, this commercial building was constructed c.1864 by John Wilson, a carpenter. In its early years, Henry Tane, a general merchant, operated a store at this location.


		Thomas F. Wootten House - MARKHAM 69 Main Street North Year built: c.1870 This Ontario vernacular house, with a classic Georgian form, is clad in the vertical tongue and groove siding typical of old Markham. It was constructed for Thomas F. Wootten, a shoemaker, c.1870, who later operated a livery business.

		Wedding Cake House - MARKHAM 48 Main Street North Year Built: c.1870 A book on early Ontario buildings called this ornate frame house a carriage maker’s dream and a painter’s nightmare! Now a restaurant, this unique architectural icon was built by James Speight about 1870. Speight operated a large wagon works, planing mill and sash-and-door factory in Markham Village.

		Markham Farmers’ Market - MARKHAM Robinson Street at Main Street North Saturday only until 1:00 p.m. Located in the centre of Markham Village, the Markham Farmers’ Market offers local produce and fresh seasonal goods sold by the farmers themselves. A tour of the market is a reminder of a time when a market was the focal point of every village.

		John Lane House (Private Home) - THORNHILL 111 John Street, Thornhill Year Built: c1842, east wing 1870s Saturday only The earliest part of this picturesque Thornhill house was built as a millworker’s cottage, in the Georgian architectural tradition. A wing with arched windows was added to the east end of the house by John Lane, a local cooper, at a time when he was Markham’s deputy Reeve.

		Ramsden Double House (Private Home) - THORNHILL 26 Colborne Street, Thornhill Year Built: c.1851 Saturday only Now a single dwelling, this Colborne Street house was originally constructed as a double mill worker’s cottage by John Ramsden, head miller at the Pomona Mills on the Don. A graceful porch was added to the west end of the house by the present owners, to overlook the naturalized garden.

		The Cabin (Private Home) - THORNHILL 166 John Street, Thornhill Year Built: 1951 Saturday only This secluded house was built in 1951, with hewn logs salvaged from a 19th century barn near Woodbridge. It original owner, Elsa Neil, was a noted collector of Canadiana and was instrumental in the establishment of Black Creek Pioneer Village. The north portion is the original part of the house.

		Thornhill Village Library - THORNHILL 10 Colborne Street, Thornhill Year built: 1851 Open all day saturday Open sunday until 3:00 p.m. The library, a fine example of the Classic Revival style, was constructed as a home in 1851. In the 1970s the building was restored under the direction of Napier Simpson Jr. Be sure to ask about the resident ghost!

		Unionville Train Station & Stiver Mill - UNIONVILLE Heritage Train Rides - every hour 10am-4pm Double Decker Bus Rides - every half hour 10-4 7 Station Lane, Unionville Year built: 1871 One of the oldest remaining train stations in Canada, the 135-year-old Unionville Station was once the economic heart of the village. Its history is highlighted in a display of archival photos. Heritage train rides to Markham Station, Unionville Double Decker Bus Rides and a historical walking tour depart from this site. Lunch Stop: Brought to you by the Unionville Villagers’ Association

		Historic Main Street Unionville Walking Tours Starting location: Unionville Train Station at 12 noon & 2:00 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday Guided tours of Historic Main Street Unionville. Uncover the myths, legends and social history of the old village, presented by volunteers from Heritage Unionville and The Unionville Villagers’ Association.

		William Eckhardt House (Private Home) - UNIONVILLE Year Built: c.1856 124 Main Street, Unionville This white-painted house of locally- produced brick is a landmark heritage building in historic Unionville. It was built c.1856 by William Eckhardt, a prominent local entrepreneur. The Gothic Revival window in the front gable is an exceptionally fine architectural feature.

		Varley Art Gallery - UNIONVILLE 216 Main Street, Unionville Year built: 1997 Situated near the southern edge of Toogood Pond, the Varley Art Gallery is an excellent example of Post Modern architecture. The gallery is home to some of the most important oils, water colours and drawings by the Group of Seven’s F. H. Varley, Canada’s greatest portrait artist. Varley was a resident of Unionville in his later years.

		Eckhardt-McKay House - UNIONVILLE 197 Main Street, Unionville. Year built: c.1850 This icon of Ontario vernacular architecture features dramatic Gothic Revival and Classic Revival detailing. The exterior has recently been painted in original colours. The studio of Group of Seven artist Fred Varley was located here during his later years.

		Plein Air Art Event - UNIONVILLE Various Doors Open Sites Artists work will be displayed at site #5 Eckhardt- McKay House all week and up until the Unionville Heritage & Big Band Festival, held on September 1 It takes a unique blend of talent and courage to take on the challenge of a Plein Air Event. Gifted area artists situated outdoors at the many Doors Open sites will create works of art inspired by these storied locations. Finished works will be offered for sale at the historic Eckhardt-McKay House from August 23 to September 1.