In 2007 my family and I visit Prince Edward Island, our 'Anne Trip' where we took in everything authentically Anne. I felt no guilt while dragging my family around visiting Maud's old haunts and places that inspired her beloved stories.
Much of the movies were not filmed in PEI but were actually filmed in Ontario at various historic sites. The White Sands in a historic restaurant in PEI but usually the shots in the Road to Avonlea series were body doubles, much cheaper than flying actors from Toronto to the site.
This past summer the kids and I have been visiting historic pioneer villages, not only to haunt some sites related to Everything Anne, but also to learn more about our ancestors in the hopes it will inspire me to continue my journey to simplicity.
We live 30 minutes from the Museum which houses the blue school house used in the second Anne movie. This is also the museum I volunteer at while demonstrating spinning. I have no digital pictures of this site so I will have to snag one the next time I am there.
In Toronto there is Black Creek Pioneer Village where a lot of filming for the Avonlea television show took place. We first visited last year but enjoyed it so much we wanted an encore this summer. My daughter is also convinced that part of the American Girl Felicity movie was filmed here. This fact I can not substantiate so I am not sure.
The actual Road to Avonlea main street were just building facades built in a field in Uxbridge, Ontario which were dismantled after taping ceased. L.M. Montgomery lived in Uxbridge before moving to Toronto when her husband retired. Citizens in Uxbridge are still working on a museum commemorating one of their most famous residents.
Maud also lived in Norval, Ontario. I stumbled upon a garden and plaque erected there in her honor while driving through one day. There's a big sign that says Lucy Maud Montgomery Garden, so of course I had to stop and take a stroll through it.
This past week we went to Doon Heritage Crossroads, in Kitchener. Two major scenes were filmed here including one with Rachel Lynd sitting on her porch watching Matthew Cuthbert driving by in a buggy, wear a suit! "He's not going fast enough for a doctor." This is the porch. The house was yellow and white back then.
There is also a scene filmed here for the Anne Sequel movie, where Anne comes out of the Post Office, Gilbert Blythe and her walk through the main part of town and then ride bikes through this covered bridge. It's a lovely scene.
L.M. Montgomery wrote one book, The Blue Castle, set outside Prince Edward Island. It was set in her second most beloved locale, Muskoka only a short drive from here. In the next week or so we plan to visit the Bala Museum with Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
There is another Museum near Hamilton, Ontario that hosted the movie crew. The Westfield Heritage Village has the train station, the Hammond Sawmill and the Hammond's home and stairwell where Anne heard she would be sent back to the orphanage.
There is so much here at my fingertips, I feel blessed to be 'a part of it'. I can visit as often as I like and get a real feel for the places from our not so distant past. I find these historical sites just dripping with history and inspiration. I could go back again and again.
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