On a recent trip to visit family in London Ontario I took the opportunity to tour some of the small towns and villages in southern Ontario.

*Thrifting fun along the yellow brick road.*

The Clinton Raceway Casino is an off-the-beaten path hidden gem for those would like to stop for a little fun while on a road trip. I was also surprised to learn how many online iGaming options there are in Ontario like *PlayOJO Canada.*

Fun Surprises

There were two things that struck me most as being different from Alberta’s small towns and rural roads.

First was how clean and tidy the southern Ontario farm sites are. They are like mini parks, the grass was manicured and the trees nicely pruned. Often there were signs at the entrance to the driveway with the family name and the year the farm was established - definitely a pride of ownership. There was none of the old farm equipment and rusty old vehicles scattered around homestead as is often the case in Alberta. I regret I didn’t stop and take any photos.

The second observation was all of the small towns had at least one, often many, significant brick or stone buildings on their Main Street. Often there was a historic hotel, church and town hall still standing and in use. I was impressed at how many still have an attractive Main Street - Clinton, Exeter, Godrich, Listowel, Lucan and Mitchell.

The Palmerston Surprise

The most pleasant surprise was in Palmerston where the old railway yards have been redeveloped into a park that still has the old railway station, some tracks and an amazing pedestrian bridge that used to span the yards.

Yellow Bricks

I was also reminded of how much I love the butter yellow brick that is so prevalent in southern Ontario architecture. The yellow colour is the result of the local clay having less iron than most clay - it is iron that gives bricks their more traditional red colour.

*Mason Lodge in Mitchell, now called West Perth.*

Postcards

Here are some fun postcards from Southern Ontario’s yellow brick road.

I was impressed by how many of the small towns had new banners along their main streets remembering those who have served our country.

Many of the heritage homes still have ornamental wood front doors.

Public Art. Yes and no. The purple door was part of a fun public art program. The metal structure is a an artifact from the long range surveillance radar that was part of the North American Defence System.

Clinton was home to Alice Munro a famous Canadian author. This fun memorial is appropriately in front of the library.

Love this drinking fountain, sometimes called “bubblers.” (Clinton)

Baconfest happens the second Saturday of July in Lucan.

Old school shop along Goderich’s Main Street.

The thrift stores in small towns are great fun.

Culbert’s Pastry Shop in Goderich is a must stop.

Love the small town water towers. This one reminds me of the Calgary Tower.

Hicks House built in the 1870s as a hotel is now commercial at the main floor and residential above.

The Hotel Bedford in Goderich is just one of many heritage buildings along its unique circular main street.

Ornamentation

One of the other things I loved about exploring the towns of Southern Ontario was the decorative brickwork elements of the early 20th century buildings and the wooden ornamentation.