Punkeydoodles Corners and so much more.

A couple months ago, while looking at a map of the surrounding area, I saw a place called Punkeydoodles Corners. With a name like that, I knew I had to visit. When I woke up and saw the sun shining this morning, I knew today was Punkeydoodles Day.

Punkeydoodles Corner
Armed with something resembling a map, I set out for this mysterious place. In my mind, I had decided Punkeydoodles Corner was at the intersection of two roads, and consisted of a combination gas station/convenience store - maybe with a little cafe - and one or two other buildings, all on opposite corners of this intersection.

I turned down the road that would lead to Punkeydoodles Corner. I drove, keeping my eyes peeled for the sign that would tell me I had arrived. The road took a rather sharp veer to the right. I noticed the number of the road had changed, and, as farm after farm rolled past me, I realized that, somehow, I had missed Punkeydoodles Corner. I turned around and headed back. At the sharp veer, I took a different fork in the road. I looked at the name of the road. I was now on Punkeydoodles Ave, which consists of one house on the left, and two on the right (when heading east). Seeing a sign, with an arrow, for a Mennonite Church, I thought that maybe this was the "outskirts" of Punkeydoodles and took another right, hoping to find the Corner itself. A handful of cute farmhouses on both sides of the road. Nothing more. Punkeydoodles Corner is just an area containing several houses. No store. No gas station. No sign. There isn't even an actual, proper, corner. It's more of a junction really. Those 8-10 houses *are* Punkeydoodles Corner. I didn't really know what to think.

I kept driving. The road ended. To the right was a dirt road, to the left, it was paved. I went paved. (Sometimes, the road less travelled is less travelled for a reason. Besides, having the navigational skills of a blind peanut, this impulsive left turn was already quite bold for me) It was a very pretty little drive on what turns out is a heritage road - full of old farmhouses right near the road, and lots of tree-lined drives (all streets should be tree-lined). I saw from my map I was approaching a town named Haysville so I decided to check it out.

Haysville
Haysville sort of turned me off immediately because they try to guilt trip you into not speeding. "The children of Haysville ask you to keep to the speed limit." Really? I'm thinking the children of Haysville don't really care. When you were 8, did you think "ooh, that person is driving too fast!"? Thinking back, I didn't even *see* any children in Haysville. Haysville is quite a bit larger than Punkeydoodles Corner. By that I mean it has over 20 houses, a small community centre and a day care. Though, I didn't see any place to buy milk. (Seriously - where do these people get supplies?). There is also a place that's for sale if you want to live in Haysville. It is a cute little area.

Having been to Haysville, and having sorted out this Punkeydoodles Corner thing as best as I was going to be able to, I decided to head home - not an uneventful trip itself. As I was driving I passed by a telephone pole with a "For Sale" sign attached to it. At the top of the telephone pole (which has no wires attached to it) is a little red wagon. There is a house set way, way back from the road. I can only guess someone in that house makes these wagons, and this is their way of advertising, while ensuring no one disappears with the sample wagon. Still, it throws one off a bit, this red wagon sitting so high in the sky.

The Best Little Pork Shoppe
On my way out to Punkeydoodles Corner, I had seen the pork shoppe. On my way back, I was able to get a closer look, and decided that I had to check out a place called The Pork Shoppe (the "Best Little" is really small and I didn't see it until I had parked). The Pork Shoppe is full of pig-related knick knacks. It also has a rather sizable collection of cow- and sheep-related knick knacks for a place called The Pork Shoppe. While the knick knacks seem to be taking over, they actually do have pork for sale at The Pork Shoppe. I bought some pork schnitzel which was quite yummy, even if I did overcook it a bit. When I got home and was looking at my Pork Shoppe flyer, I realized I will have to return. Somehow, I missed the 10 ft pig! I need a picture with the pig!

The Antiques Store - a mystery solved
The last stop on my list for the day was the Antique Warehouse. Wandering through the store, I turned a corner and found what I had been looking for all day! A Punkeydoodles Corner sign! The lack of sign had been bothering me the whole time, and here it was! At the store, nailed to a shelving unit. Finally I felt at peace.

Did a Google search on Punkeydoodles Corner when I got home. Turns out I wasn't the only one interested in the sign. From one site: "Until recently, the north end of [Huron Road] was called Punkeydoodles Corners but it was changed to Punkeydoodle Avenue after people kept stealing the amusing road sign!"

And how did it get its name?
"Punkeydoodles’s Corner, ca. 1960. The Record Photo Collection, University of Waterloo.
Known more for its quaint name than for any significant settlement, Punkeydoodles Corners in Wilmot Township was a tiny hamlet situated where Oxford and Perth Counties intersect with Waterloo County. The Huron Road passed through this locale which, in the late nineteenth century, had a blacksmith shop and a tavern where it was said that the German tavern keeper sang his version of “Yankee Doodle” which came out sounding like “Punkey Doodle”; hence the fanciful name."

With a name like Punkeydoodles Corner, how could you *not* want to live there?