Knock, knock who's there? It's Doors Open Ontario for the fall 2019

   One-Tank Trip for Aug. 24/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Have you ever wondered what goes on behind usually closed doors?

   Satisfy your curiosity as the popular Ontario-wide program called Doors Open enters its final phase for the year.

   “The endless adventure of Doors Open Ontario continues this fall over seven weekends and 24 events,” said Edward Dodd of the sponsoring Ontario Heritage Trust.

   It’s a taste of “road-trip inspiration,” checking out the great outdoors and discovering the amazing architecture of the province, he added.

   This free program “lets you look behind the scenes of buildings, gardens and other historic places across Ontario.”

The London Model Railroad Group will put on a show depicting the 1970s.

    Here are a few interesting examples:

   An historic fish-and-chip shop in Woodstock; the Hamilton Road Tree Trunk Bus Tour in London; Port Stanley Terminal Rail rides; Fairbanks Oil Fields, Lambton; and the Ancient Mariners Canoe and Cambridge Rowing clubs.

   There were 12 events between April and June and the balance of the program features 22 communities with the touring events on weekends from Sept. 8 to Oct. 20.

   Knock, knock

  Doors Open events include the 1921-era Mel’s Fish and Chips in Woodstock.

    - Doors Open Oxford-Woodstock, Oct. 5, has some mouth-watering sites among its 12 offerings.

   These include Mel’s Fish and Chips serving up meals since 1921, the year the large fryers were bought from England and are still in use. Also, check out art deco paintings on the walls.

  Fish and chips at Mel’s.

   Getting thirsty? The Upper Thames Brewing Company’s second location is housed in an old pump house that was originally the Epileptic Hospital that opened in 1905.

   - London’s event, Sept. 14 and 15, has 39 sites to visit, with a theme of “Untold Stories of the Forest City.”

   These tales are told through re-enactments, interactive programs and pop-up theatre.

   Sites include the Hamilton Road Tree Trunk Bus Tour with 28 sculptures on public streets.

   There’s also the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum, Canada’s first infantry regiment, and Banting House.

Port Stanley Terminal Rail tourist railway will be giving rides at Doors Open.

    - St. Thomas, Oct. 5, features 12 sites including the Port Stanley Terminal Rail tourist railway that will give rides to the Elgin County Museum.

   Organizers say “visit some creepy spaces, learn some local lore and even hear a ghost story or two,” in St. Thomas.

   - Lambton County, Sept. 29, with 10 sites including the Fairbanks Oil Fields.

Strike oil the oil-fashioned way in Lambton.

    That’s where oil is still pumped using authentic 1860’s equipment and is the site of Canada’s first gusher in 1862.

   There’s also Victoria Hall, circa 1889, that housed municipal offices, the police station, firehall and opera house  that was restored after an 1989 fire; and the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery.

   - Waterloo Region, Sept. 21, with 43 sites including the Ancient Mariners Canoe and Cambridge Rowing clubs as part of the water-themed event.

Visitors can see the large boat house full of racing sculls and canoes in Cambridge.

    Visit the large boat house full of racing sculls and canoes with demonstrations and bring a “people-powered watercraft and lifejackets” to use the public boat launch and get onto the Grand River.

   Who’s there?

   The other remaining Doors Open events are Markham, Sept. 7; Kawartha Lakes, Sept. 8; Mississauga-Streetsville, Quinte West and Smiths Falls, Sept. 14; Highlands East, Sept. 14, 15; Belleville, Carleton Place, Grimsby and Simcoe County, Sept. 21; Brampton, Burlington, Oshawa and St. Marys, Sept. 28; Halton Region, Sept. 28, 29; Lincoln, Oct. 5; and Dutton-Dunwich, Oct. 20.

   Most events are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For details: doorsopenontario.on

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca