Pin Quest Ontario

Of the many natural locations in Lambton County, one of the most unique is Rock Glen Falls which, in addition to wonderful forested trails and the Ausable River, is known internationally for its high concentration of Devonian era fossils.

Dawn-Euphemia’s Shetland Conservation Area was founded in 1963 on the promise that the land would be maintained perpetually as a conservation area. An annual canoe and kayak race is hosted in the area on the Sydenham River.

Lambton Shores - The town's early economy was based on produce. In this case - fruit. 

To get it to market, the early town had a canning and (in a first for my research) a basket factory. A single worker could turn out 500 baskets daily.

The names listed on the border of the pin are communities within the municipality.

Oil Springs is the site of North America’s first commercial oil well which was built when a man named James Miller set out to dig a water well and instead struck oil. The area had long been known to local indigenous communities who used the sticky oil to waterproof their canoes.

Petrolia began to grow in 1866 when the discovery of a gas well started an oil boom. The history of this Victorian oil industry has been preserved at Petrolia Discovery, a museum that has not only historical displays from the community’s early years, but also has some of the original hand-dug oil wells, and authentic, functioning oil field equipment from the 1860s.

Plympton-Wyoming grew from acres of farm and Crown land when the Great Western Railway line was built between Sarnia and London. 

The community's rail history continued when in 1902, two trains collided in Wainsted, killing 29 people.

Originally called “Huron”, Point Edward was renamed in 1860 to mark the visit by Edward VII who was at the time the Prince of Wales. 

Lots on this pin speaking to Sarnia's history. 

Guernsey Lillies: Sarnia takes its name from a town on the Isle of Guernsey

A ship: the city's historical trade shipping role

Spring of broom: The rural roots of the city

An alternative pin featuring the Bluewater Bridge which links Sarnia with Port Huron, Michigan.

One of Warwick’s largest communities is Watford which is likely named after a town of the same name in England. The English roots run deep and much of the Ontario town was destroyed in a great fire in the 1880s during a Guy Fawkes Night celebration

The former Village of Grand Bend has had different names over the years. “Brewster’s Mills” after a sawmill built on the Ausable River by Benjamin Brewster in 1832. Later, French settlers would refer to the area as “Aux Croches” meaning “at the bends” referring to a hairpin turn in the river. This would eventually become “Grand Bend”. 

Grand Bend became part of the Municipality of Lambton Shores through amalgamation in 2001.