Clinton’s Animated Mural Tour
Coming October 2023!
This Year, Murals Will Come to Life in Clinton!
Anyone walking the streets of Clinton can see that our charming town is home to many beautiful murals. Soon, the true magic will come when you hold your phone camera up in front of the art. With the help of up-and-coming augmented reality technology, the murals will come to life and move on your screen.
Clinton’s animated mural tour was inspired by The Junction BIA’s annual “Window Wonderland” project in Toronto. Each year, their downtown creates an animated mural walk based on window murals found throughout their business district. Clinton is excited to bring big-city technology to a small-town setting where our art, history, and culture are all just as worthy of the spotlight.
Six of our murals were painted by the late Allen Hilgendorf, a muralist responsible for over a hundred artworks in small towns throughout Southwestern Ontario. His talent for elevating daily activities in art resulted in a series of murals throughout Clinton depicting the area’s historically significant moments. Animating these pieces of history will breathe new life and interest into existing art. This creates a creative and unique experience for residents and visitors alike, while still preserving Allen’s legacy. The mural walk also integrates well with Clinton’s downtown historic walking tour.
Mural #1: All Roads Lead Home
Location: to be installed, east side of Partners Paint & Paper (6 Isaac St)
Artist: Jasmin Pannu with the help of local students
Information: The mural is part of Huron County’s interactive mural tour, which is currently in progress. This digital mural trail will highlight a series of new murals in our neighbouring communities of Bayfield, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth, and Wingham. The mural’s concept was developed in 2022 through the work of a community committee that was formed through an open call. Throughout the image, you can spot iconic landmarks like Town Hall, Balls Bridge, the radar, and many references to our agricultural heritage.
Mural #2: Free Your Mind
Location: 8 King Street behind Beauty and the Barber
Artist: Abi Bos from Erratic Art World
Information: This mural was painted in 2022 independently of the municipality. It is encouraging to see businesses and building owners working with artists to add colour to our downtown.
“My Free Your Mind mural was my first mural ever straight out of high school. My goal with this mural was to not only put a beautiful piece of street art out with an important message but to get people to really think about opening up.” ~ Abi Bos
Mural #3: Old Boys Reunion
Location: south side of K&J Pharmacy (21 Victoria St)
Artist: Allen Hilgendorf
Information: Many of Hilgendorf’s Clinton murals depict life from days gone by. This mural portrays a reunion held in 1925. It is one of the largest murals in town, consisting of a collage of events rendered in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours. This mural was digitally re-illustrated by Bevin Finlay in 2022, using photos of the original mural to return the weathered image to its original brightness.
Mural #4: Sharing Herbal Knowledge - Indigenous People & Settlers
Location: back of K&J Pharmacy (21 Victoria St)
Artist: Allen Hilgendorf
Information: This mural was commissioned by Judy and John Alilović of the former J&J Pharmacy. It portrays Indigenous locals teaching early settlers about natural medicines from native plants. At the time the mural was created, the plants and clothing depicted were well-researched and accurate for this area. That tribe lived here and was a small band.
Spot the plants!
Some of the plants researched and depicted in the mural include: cardinal weed (left corner: red), yarrow, milkweed, evening primrose, black-eyed Susan (middle left: yellow), Clintonia, wintergreen, sumac, juniper (middle by elbow: low shrub), St. John’s wort, plantain, chicory and dandelions (the settlers brought both with them). The trees include white pine, hawthorn, and sugar maple.
Mural #5: Clinton History Collage
Location: formerly located on the back of Town Hall (23 Albert St), but currently being digitally revitalized to be re-installed on the south side of Bartliffs (46 Albert St)
Artist: Allen Hilgendorf
Information: This mural was formerly located behind Clinton’s town hall. This year, it is being digitally re-illustrated and will be installed on the side of Bartliffs, where it will be more visible to pedestrians and vehicle traffic. Thank you to Jane Groves for providing a photo of it when it was first installed. The colours faded over the years but digital illustration will restore it to be as bright as the original. Notice these parts:
The Sherwood Manning Piano Factory
The Clinton Car
Groves Electric
Groves Electric sold the first televisions in Clinton. Stores would stay open until 9pm on Saturday nights, and men and children would gather in front of the store to watch TV while the ladies shopped. The ladies would join them later. They would tune in at 8:30 to see if there was a signal coming in from Detroit. Channel 7 was always wrestling. The crowd would get so large that they would block the highway and police would come and tell them to turn it off! Yukon Eric was one of the big wrestlers of the time. The announcer would joke that “for something to do, he pulls trees out by the roots!” Learn more about the history of Groves TV and Appliance Centre by visiting Stop 7 on Clinton’s historic walking tour!
Bartliff’s Bakery
Bartliffs Bakery & Restaurant is still in business in Clinton. They used to deliver bread around town with a horse-drawn cart. Read more at Stop 11 on Clinton’s historic walking tour! Depicted in this mural is one such delivery cart, driven by Joe Silcox. There was once a horse barn located behind the bakery for the horses too.
The Boy in the Cart
Wynn Sheppard was a local boy who had a disability. For many years, he could be found on main street near town hall selling pencils, gum, shoelaces and other trinkets from his hand-propelled cart. When the bus came to town, folks would buy a pencil or candy from Wynn. He was only around from spring to fall since he couldn’t get around in winter. He spent the last years of his life in Huronview and passed away in 1963. His cart is located in the Huron County Museum today.
Post Office
Clinton was once home to a beautiful three-storey post office, complete with a 75-foot tall clock tower and living quarters for the postmaster. It opened in 1904 and was demolished in 1967. Read Stop 3 on Clinton’s historic walking tour to learn more!
Standpipe Tower
In 1909, the standpipe water tower was built. It was later replaced by an underground reservoir under the hill next to where the splash pad is today.
Mural #6: Clinton Spring Fair
Location: north side of Excalibur Insurance (56 Albert St)
Artist: Allen Hilgendorf
Information: This mural depicts memories and moments from the Clinton Spring Fair, which happens every year in town during the first weekend in June. Highlights include the demolition derby, animal shows, amusement rides, the ambassador competition, craft exhibits, concerts, and more. Visit the Clinton Spring Fair website for the latest updates about the next fair.
Check out this local podcast episode reminiscing on the Clinton Spring Fair to learn more!
Mural #7: PUC History
Location: 16 Park Ln
Artist: Allen Hilgendorf
Information: The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) was responsible for the operation of Clinton’s hydro, water & sewer systems. It began in 1913 and operated out of the corner of Albert St & Park Lane (now Repurposed Artisan Designs). In the 1920’s, the PUC moved to the corner of Albert St & Rattenbury St (now Godfather’s). In 1959, The PUC purchased the property at 17 Park Lane (located across the street from this mural). A new administrative office, workshop & truck bay building was constructed. The building was a public office where people came to pay their utility bills and received information related to the utilities in town.
Eventually, the PUC disbanded and utilities were taken over by the Municipality of Central Huron. The former Public Utilities Commission building was demolished in 2022 (photo included). The building had deteriorated to the point of being deemed unsafe, and a new Water & Sewer Work Center was constructed on the same site.
Mural #8: Racing Legends
Location: Clinton Raceway (129 Beech St)
Artist: Allen Hilgendorf
Information: The Clinton Kinsmen began conducting wagered races in 1970. After much dedication and hard work, the decision was made to turn the reins over to a board of directors. In March of 1983, Clinton Raceway Inc was formed as a non-profit organization. Since then, live racing has thrived in our small community. With an average of 15 live dates a year, Clinton is the heart of harness racing from May to September with a live race post time of 1:30pm.
Clinton Raceway is committed to helping local groups, clubs, and associations by holding fundraising events at the track. They welcome all non-profit organizations to get in touch. Being a non-profit organization, Clinton Raceway injects all of its profits back into the industry through fundraising, wages, promotions, infrastructure, and more.
This mural commemorates famous horses and was recently digitally re-illustrated.