Back to SearchPlease note the following changes to this year's Doors Open event:
- Riverside Bed and Breakfast and Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home are no longer participating
- Peter Rice will be exhibiting at Riverwalk Commons
- Monika Herten will be exhibiting at the St. Marys Museum
- Town Hall will be open but the elevator is out of service
The media release has been updated to reflect these changes.
On Saturday, September 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., visitors can travel through time by exploring several historic sites in St. Marys. Sixteen properties will be welcoming visitors as part of Doors Open, a province-wide event that highlights Ontario’s architectural treasures.
New to this year’s event is Riverwalk Commons, located at 84 Water St. S. This 1850s limestone commercial block was recently restored and now offers a space for intimate gatherings and events, small group workshops, retreats and co-working opportunities.
Next is Riverside Bed and Breakfast, located at 96 Robinson St. This designated heritage property was the childhood home of world-famous violinist, Nora Clench. Owners Marie and John Stevens will be hosting a variety of musical entertainers and artists on their front porch throughout the day.
Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home will also be receiving visitors. The property was built in 1897; the ground floor was converted to a funeral business in 1949. The upper floor is now home to owners Andrew, Andrea, Charlotte, and Mr. Pickles Hodges.
St. Marys has five historic churches – all on, or very near, Church Street. Members of their congregations will welcome visitors and explain the features that make the churches important to the town's architecture. Also on Church Street are two popular museums: the St. Marys Museum and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Both will be open to visitors throughout the day.
Several municipal buildings will also be open, including the St. Marys Public Library and 14 Church St. N. The Station Gallery - located in the train station on James St. N - will welcome visitors to its exhibit, Maaike Roosendaal Creative Digital Portraiture. Steps away is St. Marys’ Heritage Conservation District, which includes several dining and shopping destinations housed in historic buildings.
Broken Rail Brewing will open its doors as of 12:00 p.m. This train station, built by the Grand Trunk Railway, served the community for almost a century. A teenaged Thomas Edison may have worked here as a night telegraph operator from 1863-64. Visitors can enjoy a pint while the new owners share the history of this space.
Due to popular demand, the Friends of the Museum will once again be hosting mobility bus heritage tours throughout the day. Departing hourly from Town Hall, these tours are an excellent way to see St. Marys' heritage highlights from the comfort of an air conditioned, accessible bus. Visitors can pre-register for their preferred timeslot by calling the museum or can sign up on the day of on a first come, first served basis.
Information headquarters for Doors Open will be a tent in front of Town Hall. Maps will be available, as well as last-minute news about special “added-value” features planned for many of the sites. Council Chambers will be open, and visitors can view work underway in the auditorium as the St. Marys Community Players prepare for their fall production, Opening Night. Admission to all Doors Open sites is free.
For more information about the event, visit www.discoverstmarys.ca/doorsopen or contact Amy Cubberley, Cultural Services Manager at 519-284-2340 ext. 405 or acubberley@town.stmarys.on.ca.
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For media inquiries:
Brett O’Reilly | Corporate Communications Manager
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | boreilly@town.stmarys.on.ca
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