Music and History Come Alive: A Successful Doors Open Auchmar 2024

Doors Open at Auchmar 2024 was once again a huge success. We welcomed almost 1,000 guests each day. Mayor Andrea Horwath cut the ribbon on Saturday morning and MPP Monique Taylor cut the ribbon on Sunday.

The theme for Doors Open this year was music, and so we entertained a fiddler, Ruth Hutchison on Saturday and 3 harpists, Siobhan Kerr, Zoe Yiu and Lochlan Gillespie, on Sunday.

Also on Saturday, we welcomed Christine Dignard and her Auchmar tack. She was given this by the Douglas family several years ago and it once belonged to Gwyneth Young. Our ‘thanks for attending’ draw brought lots of entries for those who wanted to win one of Elizabeth Sue Hanna’s artworks of Auchmar Mansion. Michelle Piano won a Friends of Auchmar membership for guessing 23 out of 25 historic windows.

The Friends of Auchmar continue to work on finding a long-term lease for this outstanding historic estate. Our General Annual Meeting for 2024 will be held sometime in the fall. Stay tuned for date and location.

Norris Podetz has passed away

Norris Podetz

It is with deep sadness that the Friends of Auchmar Board announces the death of Norris Podetz in July 2021.

Norris was a long time member of the Friends of Auchmar and avid supporter of history and railway heritage.

Many of you will know of and recognize Norris via his artwork and portraits of the Auchmar Estate, the Stables, Grounds and Gatehouse. His contributions, greatly valued by all to Friends of Auchmar meetings and special events, will be missed.

The Friends of Auchmar Board and membership extend deepest sympathy to the Podetz family.

Doors Open Hamilton 2019 – Auchmar Estate – Huge Success

The Friends of Auchmar volunteered at Auchmar Estate during the Doors Open Hamilton weekend (May 4-5, 2019, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).

Thank you to all members who gave of their time to make Auchmar an interesting visit.

Doors Open Hamilton May 2019
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Thank you to the City of Hamilton, Tourism, Culture and Heritage, for opening Auchmar for Doors Open Hamilton and the volunteers who welcomed the public and contributed greatly.

Thank you to the City of Hamilton, Tourism, Culture and Heritage for inviting the Friends of Auchmar to be the official hosts for Auchmar Estate.

Diane Dent, Chair, Friends of Auchmar and Bill King, author of Buchanan of Auchmar provided Jane’s Walk of the Auchmar grounds to over 100 interested Hamiltonians during the weekend.

Doors Open Hamilton May 2019

The visits with Norris Podetz, artist, Bill King, author of Buchanan of Auchmar, Gwen Vasseur and her family and their archive were very well received.

The interviews with Doors Open Hamilton Auchmar Estate guests were a great success.

Doors Open Hamilton May 2019

Over 3,000 people took this rare opportunity to walk the hallways and staircases, the grounds and gardens, listen to stories, view memorabilia, learn of Auchmar’s history, chat with the artist and author, and make it a successful visit.

For more photos and information about the Auchmar Estate and Manor House please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfAuchmar/ or the photo galleries on this website.

John Douglas Young and D-Day

D DAY JUNE 6, 1944
THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW

John Douglas Young

The Stained Glass Window

John Douglas Young R.M.C.

Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

2360 Major John Douglas Young (R.M.C. 1933) was the son of James V. Young and Wilmot M. Young of Ottawa Ontario.

He served with the Royal Canadian Artillery. He died on June 6, 1944 at 28 years of age.

His name is listed on the Bayeaux Memorial in Bayeuax, Normandy.

The J. Douglas Young Sword of Excellence at the Royal Military College of Canada was donated by the Class of 1933 in memory of their Classmate #2360 John Douglas Young (R.M.C. 1933).

The J. Douglas Young Sword of Excellence

Source: The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2628824

Original Source: John Douglas Young Photo (top left corner)
Hamilton Spectator, November 12, 1944