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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!