Dildo

July 25, 2022.

We left St. John’s the morning of July 23rd. Ahead of us was a drive of 260 miles to our next destination. It makes for a long day since these are usually non-divided 2 lane highways. There are passing lanes at regular intervals, but focused attention is demanded of the driver at all times.

What, let alone the name of a town, could possibly justify adding another 20 miles to our route? Nothing unless the name of that town is Dildo (pop. 800), whose motto is, “Our Name Will Never Change!”

We first learned that there was a town in Newfoundland and Labrador named Dildo from Nadine, a native of the Province who we met in 2019 aboard a Viking Cruise Ship in South America.

The area now occupied by Dildo has been inhabited for over 4,000 years. The name of the community dates to at least 1711, although the origin of the town’s name, as well as namesake, have been lost to time.

Understandabley, the name has brought the community a bit of notoriety. In the 20th Century there were a number of efforts to change the name, all of which failed.

In 2019 American night talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel, featured a number of his show’s segments on Dildo, even having a staff member spend a week living in the community. Kimmel was named honorary mayor, and staff person, Guillermo Rodriguez, an honorary citizen.

Kimmel declared Hollywood the sister city to Dildo, and in that honor he gave Dildo a Hollywood styled sign. The Dildo sign stands erect on a hillside overlooking the harbor.

We visited the wharf which protects fishing and pleasure vessels by resisting deep penetration from the thrust and throbbing pulse of probing waves and stiff blowing winds.

We also ate breakfast here before venturing on to “Nan and Pop’s Dildo Souvenir Shop”, where we bought a few memories to take home.

By the way, our next campground is Dildo Run Provincial Park.

Peace Everyone. Pete