11 Heritage Corners Lane, Markham Heritage Estates, Markham Year Built: c. 1835
Dates/Hours Open:
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Ambrose Noble House, built around 1835, is a magnificent example of the vernacular Georgian architectural tradition and one of the largest buildings to have been relocated to Markham Heritage Estates. At one time, a tannery operated from the house’s original site, and the tannery’s office was in the south end of this building.
In the late 19th century, Markham Village earned the epithet “Birmingham of Ontario,” for the prominence of manufacturing enterprises located here. The carriage makers, foundries and textile mills have long gone, but Main Street’s historical homes, commercial buildings and churches remain. Relive Markham’s glory days with guided walking tours of this heritage district.
The picturesque village of Unionville traces its history back to the arrival of William Berczy’s German settlers in 1794. Take a guided tour along its distinctive winding main street to savour the architecture of Victorian Ontario. Unionville is renowned in the Greater Toronto Area as a destination for fine restaurants and one-of-a-kind shops.
101 Town Centre Blvd., Markham (905) 477-7000 www.markham.ca Architect: Arthur Erickson with Richard Stevens; Year Built: 1990
Dates/Hours Open:
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The late renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, along with Richard Stevens, designed this iconic modernist building to serve as Markham’s municipal offices. Opened in 1990 and officially known as the Anthony Roman Centre, the civic centre is dramatically mirrored in an artificial lake.
Robinson Street and Main Street North, Markham Village
Dates/Hours Open:
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.
Heritage Corners Lane and 16th Avenue, Markham (905) 477-7000 www.markham.ca
Dates/Hours Open:
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
People come from all over the world to visit Markham’s renowned heritage subdivision of 33 relocated historic homes. Guided and self-guided walking tours of this showcase of heritage conservation and architectural styles may inspire you to rescue and restore an old house of your own.
The Markham Museum, showcasing Markham’s history, is located on a 25-acre site just north of historic Markham Village. More than 20 restored heritage buildings dating from the 1820s to the early 1900s tell the story of the community’s 200-plus years of development.
214 Main Street North, Markham Village Year Built: 1871
Dates/Hours Open:
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.
In the 1970s, Napier Simpson Jr., one of the first Canadian architects to specialize in heritage restoration, oversaw the restoration of the Ramsden House, now the Thornhill Village Library. The library is an excellent example of the classic revival style and adaptive reuse. Simpson’s office was in the historic house next door.
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.
