The Leamington Tourist Kiosk in the form of a Tomato
N 42° 03.147 W 082° 36.124
17T E 367427 N 4656841
This Tourist information stand is in the shape of a tomato.
Waymark Code: WM5NKQ
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 01/26/2009
Views: 13
Long ago, H.J. Heinz held a picnic every year in celebration of its company and the tomato harvest. When Heinz decided to cancel the annual picnic, private individuals sought out a new idea to celebrate the unique Leamington culture. The Leamington Tomato Festival was rejuvenated.
Twenty-Five years later, the Tomato Festival still holds its strong identity within the community and all over Southwestern Ontario. It is a time where the town and community unite, as a whole, to prosper and have fun together. The numerous venues, pageant, parade, tomato stomp, golf tournament and other competitions still spark excitement within the town and will continue to create lasting memories. The Tomato Festival is a time when we enjoy the simple pleasures in life, so let us be proud and celebrate our 25th Anniversary, and hope for many more years to come!
This tourist Kiosk opened May 8, 1961. It is run by the Leamington Chamber of Commerce, but the design was actually implemented by the H. J. Heinz Engineering Department. According to one of the engineers, it took about 20 tomatoes to get an idea of what the kiosk should look like. The measurements taken provided a structure height of about 14 feet, and a width of about 20 feet. The tomato is built much like a model airplane, with wooden stringers forming the basic shape, covered by metal lathing, cement plaster and 2 layers of fiberglass and resin.
The construction took three weeks to complete. The red color was actually added to the fiberglass itself so the tomato could always maintain its hue. A green fiberglass stem was stuck on top to complete the tomato.
The tomato was refurbished in 2000 by the Municipality of Leamington, and it remains a center point of the Leamington Tourist industry.
Hours of Operation:
seasonal
Public Washrooms: No Washroom Facilities Available
Snacks/Drinks at the facility: No - Look elsewhere
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