MUSKOKA - Explore Ryde Township’s history and architectural treasures on Sunday, June 24 during Doors Open Gravenhurst 2012. From noon to 4 p.m., many locations throughout Gravenhurst, as well as six architecturally, culturally, socially and historically significant buildings in Barkway that highlight the personalities that shaped Ryde, will open their doors.
The featured buildings in Ryde include Holy Manger Church; Barkway United Church; the former Barkway General Store; the Orange Hall, long closed and a rare example of these vanishing rural landmarks; SS#1 Ryde Public School; and the charming Rebman House.
A self-guided tour of the Pioneer Cemetery reveals the tragedies all too common amongst a frontier community in the 19th century. In addition, a member of the Ryde Doors Open Committee will lead interested members of the public to the ghost town of Lewisham, a one-time farming and logging hamlet now all but consumed by the forest with but a lonely schoolhouse and adjacent cemetery still existing.
The event is free, though donations are welcome and will be put towards a book planned to celebrate the 135th anniversary of Ryde in 2014.
Doors Open Muskoka Lakes takes place on Saturday, June 23 and includes many historical locations throughout Bala, Port Carling and Torrance. New on the tour this year are Fairyland (The Twins Studio), the Remax Hallmark Realty (former B.H. Johnston House) and Port Carling and Torrance cemeteries.
For more information on locations on either Doors Open tour, visit doorsopenontario.on.ca.