Doors Open Ontario

General information
Community information
BECOME A VOLUNTEER

September 28, 2013

This year, Doors Open Markham is happening in conjunction with Culture Days, a perfect fit with the Ontario Heritage Trust's Doors Open Ontario theme of Cultural expressions.

We'll be featuring both public and private art galleries in our heritage conservation districts as well as other places of historical and architectural interest.

The York-Durham Heritage Railway has returned for 2013, offering a vintage train ride between Markham Village and Unionville. Ticket price is $9 per person. Everybody loves the train!

Markham is known for being a community of communities.

Canada's most diverse city, known as a hub of high-tech industry, takes pride in its historical villages that have been designated as heritage conservation districts: Thornhill, Markham Village, Unionville and Buttonville. Markham's unique Heritage Estates is a showcase of restored, relocated heritage houses that have attracted international attention.

Volunteers are needed for the Doors Open Markham event day to act as site hosts, tour guides, and to keep track of the visitor count. A training session will be held one or two weeks before the event. High school students can earn volunteer hours.

Interested? Please contact the Doors Open Markham Volunteer Coordinator at bayne@rogers.com.

Parking

Cultural expressions

Eckardt-McKay House

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
197 Main Street Unionville, Ontario	Year built: c. 1850	Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This circa 1850 house is a distinctive example of Ontario vernacular architecture, and features dramatic Gothic revival and classic revival detailing. The exterior cladding is mostly board and batten, and the rest coarse stone. Group of Seven artist Frederick Varley lived here in his later years and had a studio in the basement. See his work in the nearby Varley Art Gallery.

Parking

Full wheelchair access

Markham Farmers' Market

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
Robinson Street and Main Street North Markham, Ontario		Saturday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Located in the centre of old Markham Village, the Markham Farmers’ Market offers local produce as well as other fresh and seasonal goods. A walk through the market will take you back to a time when markets were an essential part of many Ontario villages.

Parking

Guided tours available

Markham Heritage Estates Walking Tour

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
Meet opposite 11 Heritage Corners Lane Markham, Ontario		Saturday: Guided tours at 10 a.m., Noon and 2 p.m. only

Markham Heritage Estates, a subdivision of relocated and restored heritage homes, has captured the imagination of would-be house restorers since its establishment in the 1980s. It's a must-see destination for anyone who dreams of rescuing a historic treasure and bringing it back to its former glory.

Parking

Full wheelchair access

Washrooms

Markham Train Station

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
214 Main Street North Markham, Ontario	Year built: 1871 Building type: Transportation	Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Built in 1871 during Canada’s golden age of railway development, the station was restored by the Markham Village Conservancy in 2000. Today, it serves as a community meeting space and waiting room for the GO train. The exterior has been restored to its 1910 appearance.

Parking

Partial wheelchair access

Cultural expressions

Tangerine Gecko Art Gallery

www.tangerine-gecko.com

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
107 Main Street North Markham, Ontario Telephone: 905-209-0303	Building type: Commercial	Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tangerine Gecko Art Gallery in the heart of Markham Village is a vibrant, innovative fine art gallery that supports more than 100 local, national and international artists. The gallery showcases paintings in every medium, as well as art pieces in wood, metal and glass.

Parking

Cultural expressions

The ONE Gallery

www.theonegallery.ca

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
190 Main Street Markham, Ontario Telephone: 416-859-3337	Building type: Commercial	Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The ONE Gallery, famous for its poetic art creations, features the work of William Ho, an artist of international renown. His art has been exhibited and installed in international museums, galleries and public venues, including in the headquarters of the United Nations and on Canada's Parliament Hill. Mr. Ho is the founder of the "One Heartbeat around the World" movement.

Parking

Partial wheelchair access

Washrooms

Self-guided tours available

Thornhill Village Library

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
10 Colborne Street Markham, Ontario	Year built: 1851 Landscape type: Garden Style: Neoclassical Building type: Library	Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The building that now houses the Thornhill Village Library was originally the home of Ellen Frizzell Ramsden, who is said to return to visit from time to time. This excellent example of classical revival architecture and adaptive reuse was restored under the direction of B. Napier Simpson, whose architectural office was next door.

Parking

Full wheelchair access

Washrooms

Unionville Train Station

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
7 Station Lane Unionville, Ontario	Year built: 1871 Building type: Transportation	Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Unionville’s train station, built in 1871 for the Toronto and Nipissing Railway, is one of Canada’s oldest. Restored by the Town of Markham, the station is a popular community meeting facility. Nearby is the Stiver Brothers’ Mill, another local landmark, awaiting restoration.

Parking

Full wheelchair access

Washrooms

Cultural expressions

Varley Art Gallery

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
216 Main Street Unionville, Ontario		Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Situated at the top of Unionville’s historic village core, the Varley Art Gallery is an excellent example of postmodern architecture. The gallery, named after Group of Seven artist Frederick Horsman Varley, is home to a fine collection of the artist’s oils, watercolours and drawings.

Parking

Washrooms

Guided tours available

Warden House

CONTACT INFO	ARCHITECTURE	DATES/HOURS OPEN
8840 Warden Avenue Markham, Ontario	Year built: c. 1860 Style: Gothic revival Building type: Historic landmark	Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Warden House is a community facility that incorporates a heritage farmhouse into its structure. The eastern part of this board-and-batten, Gothic revival building was constructed around 1860 as the home of William and Susan Stiver. Additions made to it are in a style similar to that of the original house.