DURHAM WALKING TOUR

1. Begin your walk from the Main Intersection at the traffic lights. There's only one set of traffic lights here, so you can't make a mistake. Several photos may be taken of the murals, designed and painted by local artist, Mr. Alan Hilgendorf, on the walls of business buildings. Photocards, by A.J. Vandevrie, of the murals and highlights of the town are available at In-Focus Studio/AJ's Art Supplies photography and art store. Photos by: In-Focus Studio

(a) A Downtown Photo looking North with Knox United Church steeple dominating the background;

(b) A Downtown picture looking South. In each case one records historic buildings, which have facades well over 100-years-old!

(c) A Picture taken from the Southwest corner looking Northeast to include the "HAHN HOUSE", as it was known many years ago. The mural painted on the South Wall of this building shows the "Ye Olde Tyme Kelsey's Photography Studio" on the picturesque banks of "Mighty" Saugeen River. On the North wall of this same building see the "Ye Olde Butcher Shop" mural. Past the Municipal Office, the "Fishing the Saugeen" mural may be photographed and several historic buildings.

INTERESTING FACT: The Cozy Corner Restaurant located at the corner of Garafraxa and Mill Streets was a Pharmacy Store. It closed in the early seventies and was renovated as restaurant facilities.

2. From the main corner proceed WEST on Lambton Street, one block. Note the large mural on the wall of the Durham Florist building. This mural represents the area's historic heritage past, which gave purpose for many of the historic Church buildings in this community.

TURN LEFT onto Queen Street towards Riverside Park passing the Saugeen Credit Union building. Once in the park, interesting photographs may be taken of Lambton Street Bridge, Lower Dam and Saugeen River.

3. Proceed south along the Riverside Park riverbank taking you to the Lower Dam. Photos of the dam may be taken along with a kingfisher, which makes a regular appearance in that area.

INTERESTING FACT: A gristmill did really exist here where the Lower Dam now locates the Mill apartments at the turn of the 20th century. It burned.

4. Cross the Lower Dam "Cat Walk". It takes you to Countess Street. Go NORTH One block. Turn RIGHT onto Lambton Street towards the Bridge. From the bridge, looking south, you see the "mill" pond; looking north you get a side view of Knox United Church. Both views make for interesting pictures at all seasons of the year.

5. Turn LEFT and proceed onto Queen Street N. (the only ONE WAY street in Town). You will see the Durham Town Park on your Right. Children may be photographed there on swings; slides and various things children like to do. A river picture looking east makes a good scene from the riverbank. The town hall, moved there many years ago, on the corner of Queen St. N. and George St. W., provides another photographic option of historic buildings.

6. From the Durham Town Park, Turn RIGHT onto George St., and proceed Eastward. Cross Hwy. #6 - see the historic Heritage Bridge Walkway; it's one of a few wooden trestle bridges left in Ontario.

INTERESTING FACTS: Built and used by the CPR Railway Co. This trestle bridge was built in 1907. The last train crossing this bridge was in early 1985. The "Heritage Bridge Walkway" retains a historic distinction of the town's railway past. Interested citizens and volunteers helped to convert it to the walkway you see here today. The "Knechtel Mill" by the Middle Dam (operated from the turn of the century till the early 1980's) offers a unique composite picture. At night, a 1000-Watt light is projected onto the Middle dam from underneath the bridge. During the Christmas season, the bridge is adorned with coloured lights.

7. Crossing the bridge walkway to the East Side, a plaque is erected there in honour of the "Heritage Bridge Walkway" and Durham's Railway past. The park area offers a place to rest and enjoy the tranquillity of the scene. Across the river Knox United Church with its majestic spire overlooks the picturesque Saugeen Valley. With bridge in the foreground and Church in
the background makes for a good picture. A visit to Durham's Art Gallery offers another impressive dimension unique to this rural community.

8. Proceed around and underneath at the WEST end of the Heritage Bridge Walkway. It takes you into the Saugeen Conservation Park. Follow the Heritage Walkway path along the riverbank.

9. From the top of the hill by the Middle Dam, a good picture can be taken of the "Heritage Bridge Walkway". Looking North see the Trinity Anglican Church on the brow of the hill. A worthwhile side trip to view this church, just follow the roadway in the park WEST towards Highway #6 and Knox United Church.

10. Turn RIGHT - Go north half a block, Turn RIGHT again onto Chester St. E. towards the Anglican Church. At the Church a Cairn is erected and dedicated to Archibald Hunter, the pioneer settler of the Town of Durham. It's worth a photograph. From the back of the church parking lot take in a spectacular breathtaking panoramic scene of the 300-acre Saugeen Valley
Park and a "topographic" view of the Durham and District Community School.

INTERESTING FACT: The Durham and District Community School was the original High School in Durham for over half of the 20th Century. Photocards of the original High School, 1922, (Courtesy of the late Wm. Prast), available at In-Focus Studio, downtown Durham.

11. Retrace your side trip back to the park. Proceed EASTWARD along the park's walkway as marked. Beautiful flora and fauna is found at different times of the seasons, which may be photographed. A good scenic picture can be taken of Knox United Church and surrounding area from the bend in the river where the island is located. From the same location McGowan Falls may be seen and photographed using a long lens.

12. Continue the walk; McGowan Falls is now in full view, and may be photographed from various angles. It makes for ideal pictorial compositions with trees jutting out from between the rocks along the riverbank.

13. Proceed across the McGowan Falls Bridge - also known as "The Upper Dam" by the locals. From the "Cat Walk" deck, view the gorge. Also, the upstream swimming area may be viewed as well. The South side of the river offers another spectacular scene of the fall. Lights are turned on at dusk for better viewing at night.

INTERESTING FACTS: The "hole" in the rock, South side, near the bottom of the gorge was originally used as a "flume" for water intake to power a Grist Mill, operated by the McGowan Family for many years. After surviving several fires, the Gristmill burned in early 1950's. In 1987, a Plaque was erected, in honour of the McGowan Family.

INTERESTING FACTS: The "hole" in the rock, South side, near the bottom of the gorge was originally used as a "flume" for water intake to power a Grist Mill, operated by the McGowan Family for many years. After surviving several fires, the Gristmill burned in early 1950's. In 1987, a Plaque was erected, in honour of the McGowan Family.

14. Proceed on George St. E. in a southeasterly direction past the Tennis Club at the bend of the road towards Highway #4; Turn RIGHT onto Lambton St. E. going WEST; Turn LEFT onto Rock Street to go south.

INTERESTING FACT: An Overhead Railroad (CPR) Bridge was located at this intersection. It was taken down in 1985. The road was straightened in 1990. Remnants of the R.R. berm are still visible in the park.

15. Continue for one block and turn RIGHT onto Saddler St. E. and go west. You are now passing the Rockwood Terrace Senior Citizens Complex, built in 1983. It takes a wide-angle lens to get a "complete" building picture of Rockwood Terrace. Next is the Saugeen Valley Elementary School building and playground.

16. Turn RIGHT onto Kincardine St. S. going north towards Lambton St. E. (Highway #4). Turn LEFT onto Lambton St. E. and proceed west. The Durham Baptist Church is located there on the Southwest corner of Elgin and Lambton.

17. From there continue westward and turn LEFT onto Albert St. S. The Durham Presbyterian Church is located on the Southeast corner of this historic corner.

INTERESTING FACTS: The Law Office on the Southwest corner here was a Blacksmith shop at the turn of the century. On the Northwest corner is the building, which was the Registry Office for over 100 years: it closed in early 1992.

18. Continue on Albert St. S. Southward for one block to Saddler St. E. Then turn LEFT onto Saddler St. E. At this intersection, notice the small stream, on your left, which goes underneath the street.

INTERESTING FACT: This spring fed stream accommodates some large brown trout in various cold-water spots along the way. It drains into the Saugeen River below the Lower Dam.

19. Proceed Eastward on Saddler Street one block and turn RIGHT onto Elgin Street and continue for one block to South Street. At this corner (curve), on your left, you may still see "mountains" of sand and gravel, along with the belt elevators and various machinery. It's been a gravel and stone pit for many years.

INTERESTING FACT: At the turn of 20th Century, it belonged to The Portland Cement Company. Train to Toronto for building the Yonge Street underground subway transit systems there many years ago transported Sand and gravel. So there is a "little bit of Durham" in the "heart" of Toronto!

20. Continuing Westward see the Tourist Information Centre located at the intersection of Albert and South Streets. This building was originally a water pump house for the town of Durham. It was converted to a Tourist Information Centre in 1991 - a joint project by the Durham & District Chamber of Commerce and B.I.A.

INTERESTING FACT: The Twelve Cylinder Gasoline Powered Engine was used to pump the town's water. It is here on view for the public. This historic building makes for interesting pictures.

21. From here go West again towards the main street past Saugeen Motors, and turn RIGHT toward the downtown. A good picture of the downtown may be taken looking north. Notice again the stream on your right by the Esso garage going underneath the street.

INTERESTING LEGEND: Legend has it that the "brown trout fish" in this "creek" prognosticate when Durham gets its first snowfall! If the fish are visible near the culvert hole, then six weeks later (to the day! or, so they say) the snow falls and stays for the winter.

22. Proceed Northward; stop by The Wood Show painting on the wall of the building past Durham Cleaners.

INTERESTING FACT: This building use to be a silver and glassware gift store, known as the Saugeen Gift Shop. It closed in early 1996.

We trust that your photographic "Heritage Walk" through and around the Town of Durham - The Heart of Saugeen Country - is enjoyable and a pleasant one.

Just a few of the many around Town: A number of 4'X4's were painted by local students