2012 Date Announcement

As one year draws to a close, we can begin we look forward to the coming year and what that brings.  With that, we are pleased to announce that the 3rd annual Doors Open Clarington will take place on Saturday June 9th, 2012 from 10am-4pm. We are bringing this exciting event to FIVE new communities this year. They include Courtice, Mitchell’s Corners, Enfield, Solina and Hampton. At this point we have eight sites already confirmed for the tour with more to come! Stay tuned for more news in the new year.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Doors Open Clarington!

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Site Profile: Orono Weekly Times

Newspaper publishing in Orono dates back to the 1850’s. In 1856 Ebenezer Thorne began printing the “Orono Sun”. This was a weekly four page paper that covered a wide area. It’s sub-title was, “Newcastle Garland” and “Clarke and Manvers Advertiser”. Mr. Thorne also printed a temperance paper called the “Canadian Visitor” and the “Day Dawn” for the Bible Christian Church.

In 1861 John and James Cuttle came to Orono and opened a printing shop. John’s son Sam established the “Orono News” in 1885. In 1899 he moved to the current location for the Orono Weekly Times and the building became known as the “News Block”. It was always a popular newspaper and local merchant C.G. Armstrong was quoted as saying, “Next to the Bible, people would rather have the ‘Orono News’ to read every week.”

In 1935 the “Orono News” was purchased by M.A. James and Sons in Bowmanville. They are the same James Family who successfully ran the Bowmanville Statesman newspaper from 1878 to 2000. The “Orono News” ceased publication in 1936. A year later, to fill this void, Roy A. Forrester began the “Orono Weekly Times”. His son, Roy C. Forrester carried on the newspaper for many years. He was heavily involved in many community organizations and projects and is still fondly remembered by local citizens. His contributions to Orono and newspaper publishing is recognized by a bronze plaque on the exterior of the Orono Weekly Times building today. In 1995 Troy Young purchased the newspaper. Marg Zwart purchased the newspaper in 1997 and under her guidance continues to publish this newspaper each week.

For more information on all of the 2011 Doors Open Clarington sites, please visit the tab located at the top of the webpage.

Site Profile: Kendal Orange Lodge

In 1870 a parcel of land was purchased from Theron Dickey for the price of $50 for the purpose of a New Connexion Methodist Church. The church was registered in the Township of Clarke on the 11th day of May 1874 with trustees Thomas Stanton, shoemaker and John Lyness, carpenter.

On February 10, 1881, the Church was sold to the Kendal Loyal Orange Lodge #915 for the sum of $200. In 1927, Enniskillen Orange Lodge Hall, which was located north-east of Kendal, was moved to the village and half of it was added to the existing hall. Today this portion of the building is the present day stage. The other half of that building was added to the United Church across the street, and is now the Sunday School room. The move was made possible by the efforts of both Lodges and interested citizens of Kendal.

There was originally a balcony above the entrance to the hall, which has since been covered in and is where the furnace now sits. In 2005 a project was undertaken by the members of the lodge during which the floor of the stage was removed and a new floor was constructed, level with the floor of the main hall. Bathrooms and a kitchen were built on the new floor and for the first time Kendal Hall was equipped with running water. A platform was constructed at the front of the main hall for the Master’s chair to sit upon and it was constructed using wood recovered from the original stage floor and walls.

For more information on all of the 2011 Doors Open Clarington sites, please visit the tab located at the top of the webpage.

Site Profile: St. Mary’s Cement

St. Mary’s Cement will be hosting an open house of its facilities, in conjunction with Doors Open Clarington.  Take Waverly Road south from 401.  Visitors will be asked to park at the truck depot on the left side of the road.  Signage and hosts will be there to assist you

From there you will have the opportunity to take a bus tour down into the quarry.  Prior sign up is not required.   Once the bus tour is finished, there is still lots to see and do.  Visitors can grab a bite to eat, take on the rock climbing wall, listen to bands and learn about the plant’s history.  There is lots to do for the kids as well.  They can get their face painted, get a temporary tattoo, hop in the jumping castle and look at all of the big equipment.

The address is 400 Waverly Road South, Bowmanville.  The site is open from 10am-4pm with Plant Tours being open from 10am-2pm.

For more information on all of the 2011 Doors Open Clarington sites, please visit the tab located at the top of the webpage.

Site Profile: Bowmanville Zoo

Doors Open Clarington is giving you the opportunity to take a special behind-the-scenes tour to see first hand how the Bowmanville Zoo produces such amazing spectacles as Animals Gift.  For visitors that wish to see the rest of the Zoo, you will be required to go through the main entrance and pay regular admission prices.

As the oldest private zoo in North America, the Zoo has established itself as an important voice in conservational education and the promotion of viable captive populations of endangered animals.

Maintaining the largest stable of trained animals in North America, Bowmanville Zoo has become a leading supplier of animal talent to the television, movie and entertainment industry. While concentrating upon the large feline predators and elephants, Bowmanville Zoologocal Park has enjoyed great success with a wide array of mammalian, reptilian and avian species.

While the development of appropriate animals for the feature film and television market remains one of the major activities of the zoo, it is a smaller part of the principal ongoing efforts to educate and instil stewardship ethics of our planet in visitors to the zoo.

For more information on all of the 2011 Doors Open Clarington sites, please visit the tab located at the top of the webpage.

Doors Open Ontario wants to hear from you!

In honour of Doors Open Ontario’s 10th anniversary, they want to know from you what are your favourite Doors Open sites from around the province over the last 10 years, the link is

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DoorsOpenOntarioFavouriteSites

Two Doors Open Clarington sites are listed in the survey: Camp 30 (2010) and the Bowmanville Zoo (2011)

Have you seen our video yet? Do you follow us on Twitter?

Not quite sure what Doors Open Clarington is all about?  Have you seen our Youtube video yet?  If not, check it out by clicking on this link http://youtu.be/AEjwGsIBua8?hd=1

Are you on Twitter?  Well we are and you can follow us @DOClarington to get the latest updates about Doors Open Clarington!

New date set for Doors Open Clarington 2011

The date for the 2nd annual Doors Open Clarington has been set for Saturday June 11th, 2011.  The move from a Sunday event to a Saturday event will allow us to open more exciting heritage buildings to the public that would not be available to us with a Sunday event.

We are busy organizing and preparing our list of sites that will be open to the public for 2011 and will begin unveiling them soon so check back often!