Aurora Cemetery Dead House

Photo by Barry Wallace

The Aurora Cemetery Dead House (Charnal House) on Yonge Street in south Aurora was erected in 1868 to receive coffins in wintertime for storage until spring burials.  The Aurora Cemetery itself was established in 1869, and is a fine example of a Victorian period "Garden Cemetery".

It started as a 4 1/2 acre site and today is 29 acres of of winding roads, towering monuments and mature trees.   The Dead House is one of only eight such structures in Ontario.   Another one is to be found in the nearby King City Cemetery.

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Barry Wallace

Maple syrup soon...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Maple syrup making is just around the corner.   Cold nights, which we've had plenty of lately, and warming days, which are in the forecast, are the combination of weather conditions to get sap running.   The photos included here were taken at Cold Creek Conservation Area, northwest of Nobleton, in King Township, a few years ago. March and April are peak months for production.

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Barry Wallace

New Aurora United Church not open yet...

 

The new Aurora United Church, which many hoped would open in 2025, has not opened due to extensive delays from the 2014 fire, including COVID-19, unexpected groundwater issues, complex site redevelopment with the adjoining Amica retirement home, and financial hurdles.

The "Rising from the Ashes" campaign has struggled to reach its $5 million goal.   It had raised only $183,000 back in early 2025.

The congregation continues to hold services at the Trinity Anglican Church in Aurora.

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Barry Wallace

Holland Marsh winters...

 

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Rooftop Terrace at Delamanor Aurora...

 
Photo by Barry Wallace

The 6th floor 'Rooftop Terrace' at Aurora's Delamanor Retirement Residence is always a favourite spot for residents to take a stroll...even when there's a -30 wind chill.   The Delmanor maintenance staff always keep a path cleared of snow because several residents take a quick walkabout every day, even in winter!

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Barry Wallace

Barry and Pat get photobombed at Delmanor...

                                                                                  Delmanor photo

Pat and I joined a gang of our fellow Aurora-Delmanor residents at an evening of live music, dancing and singalong earlier this week.   After Pat I had just enjoyed a wee bit of a dance and were sipping some wine, a Delmanor staff photographer took our picture.   A couple of other Delmanor bar staffers seized the moment to photo-bomb us.   A great time was had by all!

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Barry Wallace

God help us all!

 

Planet Earth

or

Planet Trump?

We must decide,

we must choose!

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Barry Wallace