Courtice Heritage Driving Tour

CLMA inspires curiosity and is a destination where our community can relax, connect, learn, and thrive! Explore the Courtice Library, including local heritage displays and the Maker’s Space, with 3D printing, sublimation printing, and sewing machines. Discover the Literacy Ship and colourful children’s area, extensive collections, and wealth of programming for all ages.

Roy Nichols was born in Courtice, and he started his business in 1922. At that time, it consisted of a small garage for automobile repairs and a gas pump. By 1928, Nichols became a dealer of Willys-Overland, Willys Knight and Whippet cars. By 1933, this changed to General Motors. Customers could browse Nichols’ selection of cars in showrooms starting as early as the 1930s.

Roy Nichols Motors is still a family-owned store today that has been proudly serving Courtice, Ontario, and the surrounding communities since 1922.

More information:

• Roy Nichols Motors:
  https://www.roynicholsmotors.com/

Courtice Flea Market began in 1992 on the site of what was formerly a lumber yard. Once operating as Henry Build-All Lumber, it was formerly Oshawa Wood Products for over 40 years: a name adopted again post-fire in May 1960. This site required a rezoning to operate as the Flea Market and Auction Barn.

The Flea Market property extends 12 acres, and the market is open every Sunday between May and November. It offers a variety of vendors and food, as well as a seasonal farmers market and the Art Shack Artisan Market.

Did You Know? The cute raccoon on the sign has the nickname “Cousin Courtice.” This mascot used to give away free balloons to kids who visited the market.

More information:

• Courtice Flea Market:
  https://www.facebook.com/courticefleamarket/

This trail connects from the west side of the Courtice Community Centre to a western entrance near Highway 2 at Tooley’s Mill. The trail runs 1.5 KM, and it was dedicated in 2002, although expansion of the trail continued for the next decade (completed May 28, 2010).

Thanks to the efforts of several local community groups, including the Courtice Secondary School Students, Lions Club of Courtice, The Municipality of Clarington, Durham Land Stewardship Council, Friends of Second Marsh, Ontario Power Generation, Clarington Accessibility Committee, and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, many residents enjoy this trail today.

Did You Know? More than 400 tonnes of limestone were required to complete the trail.

Meaghan Claire Kehoe painted this Courtice mural in 2025. Meaghan is a local artist who applied to a call-out by Durham Region for a public art project.

In an interview on the podcast ‘Exit 425,’ Kehoe stated that her inspiration for the mural came from community members’ contributions. For example, this mural features a fox, which Meaghan learned was an important part of the natural wildlife in the area. Capturing flora and fauna was a main theme the community voiced interest in seeing reflected in their art.

The artist’s goal was to create something “timeless,” noting that the art belongs to the people of the area once she completes the mural.

More information:

• Artist interview:
  https://youtu.be/Borfn0hSkO4?si=RGyK9U2oasx6jGl0
• Meaghan Claire Kehoe:
  https://www.meaghanclairekehoe.com/about

In 2020, the artist Darlene Bolahood was commissioned to create a series of coloured polycarbonate figures as an outdoor installation for Courtice. The project was funded through a grant that was part of a series of public art installations in Courtice, Orono, and Newcastle.

Bolahood’s art symbolizes local youth and members of the Courtice community. In a 2020 interview, the artist described: “The themes of the installations will reflect the energy of the community and its narrative and (are a) tribute to the youth of our community and the notion of many styles of family in action.”

More information:

• "Clarington downtowns to see installation of new public art this spring," Municipality of Clarington:
  https://www.clarington.net/news/posts/clarington-downtowns-to-see-installation-of-new-public-art-this-spring/

When you stop by the unofficial duck pond in Courtice, you may see birds—from ducks to cardinals to herons—as well as other animals: such as turtles and fish, depending on the season. People can enjoy the outdoors as they explore trails that lead around this water management pond.

Did You Know? Small ponds punch above their environmental weight. Research shows they can support more species than rivers or lakes, making them vital havens for Ontario’s frogs, turtles and ducks.

The building on this site began as Courtice Public School S.S. #8 (or “Mount Carswell” school), which was constructed around 1907. Just fifteen years later, an addition enlarged the structure. This facility served the as a public school until the 1980s, at which time it became a maintenance shop for the school board.

This site next served as a place of worship for the Courtice Baptist Church in the 1990s. This congregation moved out of the building in the 2010s, due to the need of more space.

Now, the building serves its community as another place of worship. According to the Al Rayan Islamic Centre website, this mosque opened in the 2010s and is a welcoming space for worship, learning, and spiritual connection. Their goal is to foster an environment where families grow in faith, youth are empowered, and traditions are honoured.

More information:

• Al Rayan Islamic Centre:
  https://www.alrayanislamiccentre.org/

Once deemed the “new” Courtice United Church, the story of this building begins in 1946 and was made possible by local fundraising. Soon after, the basement was opened in 1948, and by 1954 the work on the building was finished. Efforts were slow at this time due to the economy post WWII.

Around the time of the dedication of this church in November 1954, congregants gathered historical church documents for a time capsule, and the cornerstone was laid by L. M. Somerrville.

By January 1997, the congregation amalgamated with the parish of St. Andrews United Church of Oshawa, to be known as Faith United Church.

At a later point, the congregation outgrew their building, and Faith United Church now operates out of the building at 1778 Nash Rd, Courtice. The building at 2878 Trulls Road became the Fellowship Christian Church after it was purchased in 1996.

Collection Spotlight: In CLMA’s collection we have a special shirt from the Courtice United Church community onto which patches were sewn to collect donations of money for hymn books. Donations in the 1930s ranged from 5 cents to 35 cents.

A prize was awarded to the best, and the worst, looking patches! This shirt represents the efforts of a community to come together during hard times of the Great Depression.

As one of three church structures originally on this site, the current Ebenezer church was built in 1866. It began as a schoolhouse used for worship that was of the Bible Christian faith and became a Methodist congregation in 1884.

In terms of architecture, this current brick church exhibits the influence of the Greek Revival Style in the low gabled roof, and Italianate style with the rounded windows. Expansions on to the building occurred in May of 1910.

By 1925, Ebenezer was a United Church. Just the following year, in 1926, the church celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.

More information:

• Ebenezer United Church:
  https://www.ebenezerunitedchurch.ca/
• Heritage Plaque, Ontario Heritage Trust:
  https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/plaques/bible-christian-church
• Ebenezer Church History, Diamond Jubilee, The Canadian Statesman (25 Nov 1926, p. 5):
  https://vitacollections.ca/claringtonnews/2713421/page/7

While this site has undergone many changes over the years, a core part of this structure began as a house built in 1930 for Robert Preston. Preston was a former mayor of Oshawa, and the source of the name “Prestonvale” for the small area around this hilltop.

Before the 1930s, the area was referred to as “Black’s Hill”. Apparently, one of the first Post Office for Darlington was located nearby. Later, recreation facilities were established, including the campground named Wonderland Park with rental cottages, and a swimming hole called “Happy Hollow.”

In terms of the present buildings, this site has hosted many businesses, including: The British Bulldog restaurant and Tanglewood bar (c.1980s to early 2000s). It then became Hilltop Restaurant (closed 2011), and Stuttering John’s Smokehouse. Today it operates as Critical Hit Gaming Lounge upstairs and Sir Monty’s brewery in the basement.

More information:

• Sir Monty's Brewing Company:
  https://sirmontys.com/
• Critical Hit Gaming Lounge:
  https://criticalhitgaminglounge.com/

This area was first owned by Jacob Stalter in the 1870s who established a grist mill. Later, it was owned by the Augustus S. Tooley family and served the community as a grist mill that was named “the People’s Mill.” In his obituary, Augustus was remembered as one of the "pioneers" in the field of milling in our area (Canadian Statesman, 11 Jan 1934, p. 6).

After the 1920s, this site was developed to become Prestonvale Tourist Camp. This summer camp offered a pool, shuffleboard court, and camping grounds for tourists.

Check out the Municipality of Clarington heritage plaque in the park to learn more!

Do You Remember: Here you could also find the Courtice Diner. The diner was famously marked by a large teapot sign that puffed out smoke. 

More information:

• Obituary for A.S. Tooley, The Canadian Statesman (11 Jan 1934, p. 6): 
  https://vitacollections.ca/claringtonnews/2713791/page/7

Today this park serves as a place to play soccer and cricket, but its history goes back further than the early 2000s, at which time the Municipality of Clarington graded the fields for soccer.

According to local lore, the park land was donated to Ebenezer Church in September 1950 by a member of the Courtice family: Kenneth Eugene Courtice (1890-1977), who was a grandson of Christopher Courtice. The intended use was shared by Ebenezer and Courtice United Churches.

By the mid 1950s, the Municipality approached the churches to form an understanding of recreational use at the park, except for on Sundays. At that time, softball was the primary sport played here.

The iron sign over the entrance is a reminder of the Courtice family’s role in this area. The W. on the sign stands for William Courtice (1856-1931), father of Kenneth. The D. in the sign signifies a memorial to Dean Eugene Courtice, son of Kenneth and his wife Gerda, who unfortunately passed away in early childhood (1922-1925).

The Trull Family Cemetery is located on Baseline Road West between Trulls Road South and Prestonvale Road, west of the Jessie Trull House.

This small, family cemetery was reportedly created by Jesse Trull. His house stands further along Baseline Road. There are a number of Trull family members buried in this small cemetery, which is surrounded by a wrought iron fence.

More information:

• History of the Trulls in Darlington, The Canadian Statesman (8 Nov 1951, p. 6):
  https://vitacollections.ca/claringtonnews/2714747/page/7

With a datestone over the door that reads “J.T. 1872,” this property on the north side of Baseline Road was once home to Jesse Trull. Architecturally, the house is Gothic Revival in style and was constructed of field stones. Jesse Trull’s house is also illustrated in the 1878 Belden’s Atlas.

[Historical site of the past; building no longer standing]

The Courtice family came from Devonshire, England. The name Courtice refers to Christopher’s brother, Thomas Courtice, who arrived here in 1831. Christopher Courtice was a blacksmith in England, and he decided to move with his family to Canada in the 1830s. In Ontario, he and his sons became wheelwrights (builds or repairs wooden wheels) and wagon makers.

“Lower Alsworth,” The Christopher Courtice House, c. 1870, was located on the north west corner of Courtice Road and the second Concession. This centre gable farmhouse was notable because of the use of buff brick around the windows and front door.” Also notable: the open porch and windows modified in 1920s. Christopher Courtice was the owner in the 1878 Township Map in Belden’s Atlas, and this name “Alsworth” is listed in 1861 Tremaine Map.

Photo courtesy of Mark Stanisz.