Doors Open Aurora arrives this Saturday, August 20

August 17, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jeff Healey
Town of Aurora

The 11th annual Doors Open Aurora event takes place this Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year, Doors Open Aurora features 14 participating sites of natural, architectural and historical significance.

Made possible with the help of dedicated community volunteers, Doors Open Aurora offers local residents and visitors the opportunity to experience Aurora’s history and unique cultural heritage.

Since Doors Open Aurora began in 2006, more than 20,000 site visits have been recorded with approximately 2,500 of the site visits taking place during Doors Open Aurora 2015.

New additions to this year’s Doors Open Aurora event include the Patrick House, the Block 11 Aurora Haunted Precinct Walking Tour and the Cultural Precinct Walking Tour.

More than half of this year’s participating sites are featured in the vicinity of the Southeast Old Aurora Community. This area is bordered to the north by Wellington Street East, to the west by Yonge Street, and to the east by the Railway/GO Transit Line. Heritage sites within this historical area include: the Aurora Armoury, the Aurora Cultural Centre and the Rising Sun Masonic Lodge. Many of these properties are within walking distance from one another and are in the vicinity of the Doors Open Aurora headquarters at Town Park.

The Southeast Old Aurora community is the first residential subdivision of Aurora, then known as “Machell’s Corners”. The anticipated arrival of the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Railway in 1853 inspired John Mosley to subdivide his farmland into lots to incorporate new growth. These lots were thoughtfully arranged and are similar in size and rectangular in shape. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, homes were constructed in various architectural styles, creating a unique and aesthetically pleasing landscape. Today, the Southeast Old Aurora community is known by many local residents as the “heart” of the Town.

Join us at this year’s event and experience many featured sites such as: the Hillary House, the Charles Henry Sheppard House, Merlin’s Hollow, Trinity Anglican Church and Vic’s Shoe Repair. Visitors to Doors Open Aurora will also have the opportunity to visit the Aurora Farmers’ Market and Artisan Fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For additional information about Doors Open Aurora and to print a copy of the Doors Open Aurora 2016 Map Guide, please visit www.aurora.ca. Map Guides will also be available at the Doors Open Aurora headquarters booth at Town Park, located at Mosley Street and Wells Street and other Doors Open Aurora participating sites on the day of the event.