Paris is a town on the Grand River that charms visitors instantly with its tempting downtown full of shops and restaurants. But it doesn’t exactly feel like France. So why the name?
“Paris gets its name from the large gypsum deposits that are located on the bank of the Grand River. Gypsum is used to make plaster of Paris, which Paris gets its name from,” said Brandon Webb, an economic development officer with the County of Brant, the municipality Paris is part of.
So Paris, Ontario is named after the plaster that’s named after Paris, France?
“Something like that, yeah” Webb said.
Good enough for us. CBC London is spending the summer visiting southwestern Ontario cities, towns and villages named after bigger cities in Europe. We’re calling it the Great Ontario Euro Road Trip.
A cobblestone monopoly
Paris has a vibe, but being a cute town on the river doesn’t make it unique. Cobblestone does. Across the country, there are only 15 cobblestone homes in Canada, Webb said, and 12 are in Paris. The town also has two cobblestone churches.
“Because of the location on the Grand River, those stones were washed and smoothed through time,” Webb said.
A stone mason named Levi Boughton moved to Paris in the 1830s, and built most of the cobblestone houses that are still standing today.
“They’re awesome to see,” Webb said.
Modern Paris
These days, Paris is a place that balances its agricultural history with art and culture and style. As far as Webb is concerned, it’s the perfect place to stop on a road trip.
“You can pop in for a coffee, or a late brunch. There’s an amazing cobblestone walking tour. If you’re into outdoor adventure, there’s a great trail network. And it’s super close to London,” he said.