The Carlow General Store

 

Before cars were a widespread force to be reckoned with, small settlements like Carlow were widely distributed across Southwestern Ontario, developing mostly to meet the needs of local farmers. The township of Carlow was once one such place - with a downtown core consisting of a hotel and a general store. It was a spot for farmers and travelers to stock up on supplies while giving their horses some much needed rest after a long day of pulling a buggy. In 1851, the general store was also designated as an official post office. 

Becoming a postal stop meant that Carlow, originally known as Smith’s Hills, was an important hub for the five small villages that had been established in the area. A mail carrier coming from Goderich would stop at the corner of what is now Lucknow Line and Blyth Road, collect any correspondence that had accumulated at the general store, and carry on towards Auburn. 

 

Much has changed across Huron County in the past 173 years, and the same is true of the Carlow General Store. In the recent past, it had found new purpose by becoming the Carlow Mercantile - a popular antique store full of old toys, vintage furniture and farm equipment, and multitudinous bits of interesting local history. 

When the Mercantile closed back in 2017, it wasn’t long before the Carlow General Store found new life with a new owner. When Attila took possession of the property, he set to work giving his new home a stunning upgrade that’s a little bit of a restoration remix, using all kinds of recycled and repurposed materials. He has rebuilt the original balconies of the building, and adorned the entire building with upcycled trim. Even the smallest scraps and cast offs tend to be elevated into tiny but essential elements of the overall artistry of the property.  Little chunks of leftover and broken stones are transformed into an elegant patio, scraps of wood brought together to create a homemade smoker. The overall look of the old General Store has become almost fantastical, an effect that is compounded by a decorative backyard land boat and dragon-topped streetlights, among countless other whimsical details. No longer needed to act as a post office or a local hub, the purpose of the Carlow General Store has become simply to be itself, in all its frivolous and glorious details. It’s become a home and an art project, as well as a funky local landmark worth keeping an eye peeled for.

While he may not operating any kind of formal storefront at the moment, if you happen to see Attila outside working on his latest masterpiece this spring, he’s happy to show off some of the handiwork he’s done around the space that’s kept the historic building on the map and making people smile as they drive by. Corner of Blyth Rd (County Road 25) and Lucknow Rd (County Road 1).