Doors Open Whitby Ontario
“Espionage, secret agents, and undisclosed locations”, sounds like something you would hear in happening in Europe or the States. However during WWll, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill enlisted the help of Sir William Stephenson to find a location for secret agents (real 007's) to be trained to infiltrate enemy lines. The Nazi were getting close to being able to cross the English Channel and conquering England. The sight chosen and purchased for $12,000 was farmland in Whitby Ontario. Hard to imagine but it is true. Lynn Philip Hodgson has done years and years of research into Camp X. This author of the book "Inside Camp X" is the tour guide for the visitors at this location. His wealth of knowledge fascinates the listener. Just think that the town of Whitby played an important roll during the Second World War. The men selected to become agents were put through rigorous training. Live ammunition was used to give the trainees more realistic scenarios. Unfortunately many men lost their lives during the training. The location is next Lake Ontario. Lynn takes you down to the rocky beach area that is surrounded by 50 foot bluffs. Men were taken down to the beach area during the night and told to jump off the bluffs. If a trainee questioned or hesitated, he was immediately sent home. This area was also used in curing the Cold War with Russia. Unbeknownst to the community, the Russians had missile locked onto this area. At the beginning of the tour, visitors were actually standing on top of a bunker that was built during this war in order to protect the intelligence program run there. This venue has been on the Door Open venue for a few years. It is well worth going to see. Just be prepared to walk along a rocky surface for quite some distance. Another way to learn more about this astonishing part of Canada's history is to read Hodgson's book. He also has an extensive collection of object found along the beach related to this era.
I was also amazed to discover that there is an actual castle located in Whitby. Trafalgar Castle was built as a residence for Nelson Gilbert Reynolds between 1859 and 1862. It was turned over to a lady's college in 1874 when it was purchased by Methodist Church of Canada for $35,000. Reynolds had 24 children by two wives (married at separate times). Reynolds had to sell his castle when he could no longer sustain his financial obligations. The castle sits at the end of Reynold St. In 1979 the castle became Trafalgar Castle School (all girls’ school). One can not help but fell the pull of this majestic structure wanting to be viewed. The property it lies on is quite extensive. Two cannons await visitors as they enter the building. Once inside, a breathing taking view surrounds you. A stair case is located directly in front of you with stained glass windows at its plateau. The school has made use of all seventy-nine rooms of the castle. There are fifty residences in the school. There are classrooms, a dining area, a library, gym and pool, as well as various other areas. Though there is no affiliation to any religion, the castle did come with a chapel that houses some unique stain glass images from the Holy Bible. This building was a must see at this Door Open venue.
Contributor- Melissa Richardson
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