Melville White Church will be on display for Doors Open

August 7, 2013 · 0 Comments

Belfountain Heritage Society and Melville White Church will be hosting events next weekend in recognition of Doors Open.
Hills of Headwaters Tourism Association reported encaustic artist Deborah Danforth will be showing her beeswax and acrylic creations, while putting on demonstrations of Impasto Modelling Wax Saturday (Aug. 17) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
As well, Belfountain clay artist Wendy Mitchell-Burke will be demonstrating clay sculpture and potter’s wheel throughout the day.
Sunday (Aug. 18) will feature First Nations artisan and educator Naomi Smith, who will be presenting a slide show on local habitation of First Nations people in the area at 11 a.m., as well as 1 and 3 p.m.
There will also be a visual journey of historical native beadwork, examining the role of beads as a forum for adaptation, survival and creative expression of the Northeast and Woodland Native groups of this region. In the early days of settlement, non-natives continued to be enchanted by such things. This natural curiosity cultivated a way of survival for Native people through the creation, trade and sale of beadwork throughout Canada.
The church is at 15962 Mississauga Rd., south of Belfountain.
Other local attractions that will be part of the Doors Open feature for the weekend will be Alton Mill with guided and self-guided tours taking place both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours will focus on the history of the Mill, as well as the work to repurpose the space from its industrial days to its current use as an arts and cultural hub.
Old Caledon Township Hall will also be part of the tour. Built in the summer of 1875 to serve as a courthouse and hall, the Church of England and Grange No. 174 used it as a meeting place. It is remembered as a social centre where many dances, showers, euchre matches and public meetings were held. It now houses the Caledon Townhall Players. The hall, at 18365 Hurontario St. in Caledon village, will be open for tours with speakers Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Other sites on the tour will include Dufferin County Museum and Archives at the corner of Airport Road and Highway 89, Orangeville Public Library, Orangeville Town Hall Opera House, Shelburne Town Hall, St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Mono and Westminster United Church in Orangeville.