Showcasing some of the best of the royal city
Doors Open Guelph is an annual function held to experience some of Guelph’s most interesting and beautiful historical buildings and the stories that go with them. On Saturday May 3 we headed to twelve different locations spread throughout the city. Here are some interesting tidbits we learned along the way.
The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre held an opening reception for artist Robert Hengeveld’s “promised lands,” a series of kinetic installations that are on display until July 13, 2014. We caught him as he was putting the finishing touches on “Howl,” with his son at his side. (Story continues after slideshow).
Jenny Mitchell, of Guelph-based “Bird City,” was perched in the balcony of War Memorial Hall, banjo in hand. She told us about her great great Grandfather, W.B. Ford, who was part of the Hall’s original construction team and explained that she was spending the day trying to write a song about both him and the story behind one of the building’s nicknames: “Memorial Hole.”
The Guelph Hiking Trail Club led participants through the only stop without a building, along the newly created “O.R. Sidetrail.” Named after the Ontario Reformatory (an old Guelph prison) the hike started at the heritage bridge just south of Stone Road East between Victoria road and Watson Parkway South. The old heritage bridge was in use until 2005 and serviced both directions of traffic but only allowed one lane of vehicles to pass at a time.
Willow Manor, a bed and breakfast, opened their doors to reveal a display of antique instruments including a Heintzman & Co. square piano built in Toronto.
The Neeve-Macdonald House, a private residence, was one of the first houses built in the College & Edinburgh area and now houses a second generation of artists and their work. Barbara Jean Shaw is seen displaying some of her newer work.
And finally, Ben Grossman of Silence greeted us at 46 Essex Street, which is host to many different studios and businesses. Grossman is pictured preparing to participate in “Manlicher Carcano,” which is a weekly radio collaboration with CFRU 93.3FM (based out of Guelph) as well as stations in Los Angeles, Winnipeg, St. John’s and Peterborough. We also saw someone playing a didgeridoo!