Creemore A Day in the Country

     Now that the warmer weather is here you are probably looking for places to 
take a Sunday drive to explore different towns and to admire the scenery around
 the area.  It is early in the season and some of the things you may like to 
see are not at their best, but last month we found a wonderful destination 
for a day in the country.  The season isn’t important. The main requirement 
is to have lots of time and just be able to relax and enjoy a slow leisurely
 pace and take everything in.  The place I have in mind is Creemore and 
the best way to get there is by one of the less traveled roads through 
other small villages, as the scenery is well worth the extra distance

Creemore is an historic village nestled in the valley of the Mad River
 and surrounded by the Purple Hills of Mulmur.  Artists have been painting
 pictures of the scenery for a number of years and the commercial sector 
has been successfully operating for over 100 years

On arriving in Creemore you may 
want to take a drive down the main street.  At one end you will see a billboard with a map on it. 
  This will tell you where some of the main places of interest are.

     If your main interest is old architecture there is a booklet you can pick 
up at Curiosity House Books for a donation of $2.00.  It describes a walking
 tour you can take if you are in the mood for a stroll, or if you prefer go by car 
and only stop to get a better look at the ones that interest you the most.  
The booklet gives you the route to take and a description and picture of the 
variety of Victorian residential and commercial buildings you will see.  While 
in the store take time to browse, they have a selection of books art exhibits 
and maps.  Also you won’t want to miss the old fashioned bridge that crosses 
the Mad River on Collingwood Street.

If you left early in the morning and feel like a cup of tea or coffee don’t look 
for a fast food or take out you won’t find one.  Instead you may want to try the 
Affaires Bakery. It is a friendly folksy café with homemade baking and music 
playing in the background

     A stroll down the main street with its varied, unique and friendly shops is a
 real treat.  There is no pressure to buy; friendly staff is always willing to tell 
you about the history of the business or what there is to see and do in town.  
There are far too many of them to even mention them all or to go into detail 
about any of them, but I will give you short synopsis of a couple of them to 
give you a taste of what is in store for you when you make the trip yourself.

The Meat Market is an old fashioned store with fresh 
meat across the back section displayed in glass-fronted
 cases.  Also at the back of the store is a bulletin board 
giving details of the original owner and pictures from as far back as 1952.

La Maison Francaise features a collection of     

There are lots of other shops well worth visiting, such 
as The Mad and Noisy Art Gallery.  It is an artists co-op, 
where 38 local artist from the Georgian Bay area display oils, 
watercolors, bronze sculptures and abstract creations.  There 
is also a clock maker, an antique shop and many more.

When its time for lunch there are several
 interesting choices depending on what you feel like having.  We chose the Old Mill, a pub with a difference.  The food was good, specializing in wings and ribs.  The beer battered fish and chips was also delicious and of course they serve Creemore Springs Premium Lager as well as all  other beverages. The waitress was courteous, friendly and helpful. I would suggest you ask to keep their unique menu; it is like a small newspaper with information on the front page and puzzles on the back. Their varied menu is in the middle.

Of course a must while you are downtown is a tour of the Creemore Springs Brewery.  The have a tour every hour which starts out with a sample of their products and an explanation of the ingredients.  You then tour the plant to view all the equipment they use to ship, bottle and can the beer, as well as other information about their product.

After the tour you are offered another sample if you want it and there is 
free literature available for you to take home.  The tour guide is also available 
to answer questions, and in my experience is quite knowledgeable.

     As you drive around town there are two other places you should be 
sure to visit. One is The Children’s Dress Up Dance Fountain which was 
created by a local resident to depict the spirit, creativity and imagination 
of youth as they dance around the spouts of water all dressed up in 
dress-up costumes.  This gorgeous piece of art is dedicated to the children 
of Creemore  and tends to bring out the youthfulness in everyone it touches.

It is located between the Horticultural Park and the Station on the Green, and has become popular as a meeting place and tourist attraction. It is a must-see during the day as well as in the evening.  When the sun goes down, the lights come on from below, giving the fountain a whole new look.

 The Station on the Green is a reminder of the role that the railway played in the history of the area. From 1879 to 1960 there were two trains daily in each direction that served Creemore.  The railway linked the village to both Hamilton and Collingwood carrying lumber, livestock, coal, agricultural products and of course people.  The original station was built 
in 1906 but it burned to the ground in 1955 and this is a reproduction you see today.  It is used for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, events and celebrations.  

  Another stop you will want to make is to see the smallest jail in Ontario and possibly in North America.  It was built in1892 and cost a mere $425.20 to build. The small stone structure measures approximately 4.5 metres by 6 metres (about 15X20 ft.), and contains 3 cells with a cot and blanket in each.  It was not open yet when we were there but you could look through the window.  The story has it that the first inhabitant was a cow and after that it was used mainly by men who had had too much to drink and needed to sleep it off.

     As you once again enjoy the scenery on your way home, possibly seeing 
the sunset in the hills behind you, you can take time to reflect on all the things 
you saw, and imagine how beautiful the landscape would be in the summertime 
or even the fall when the trees are changing colors.

Sources

Creemore.com | Local News, Information, Business Listings | Creemore, Ontario, Canada

http://www.mestern.net/canada/ontario/creemore/index.php