Duff Baby House
Encyclopedia
The Duff Baby House is an historic house located in Windsor, Ontario
, Canada
.
post. In 1807 the building was bought by James Baby
and was used as the headquarters of U.S. General Harrison until it was ravaged by the British
during the War of 1812
.
The two-and-a-half-story timber
structure was refinished as Baby's residence in 1816. It is located at 221 Mill Street in Old Sandwich Town
, which is the oldest part of Windsor
, Ontario
, where settlements date back to the mid 18th century. The Duff Baby House is also one of the best-preserved and oldest Georgian-style houses in Ontario
. Today the building is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust
and houses government offices.
Windsor's Community Museum
operates a local history interpretive centre behind the Duff Baby House.
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
Built between 1792 and 1798, the Duff Baby House is considered to be the oldest building in Windsor. The house was built by Alexander Duff as a fur tradeFur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
post. In 1807 the building was bought by James Baby
James Baby
James Baby was a judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born Jacques Bâby, the son of Jacques Baby, to a prosperous family in Detroit in 1763 and educated in Upper Canada, then part of the province of Quebec, where his uncle, François Baby, lived...
and was used as the headquarters of U.S. General Harrison until it was ravaged by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
The two-and-a-half-story timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
structure was refinished as Baby's residence in 1816. It is located at 221 Mill Street in Old Sandwich Town
Old Sandwich Town
Old Sandwich Town is located along the Canadian border of the Detroit River, and was established in 1797. It is considered one of the oldest, most historically significant settlements in Ontario and has been the site of several historically significant events in Ontario's history...
, which is the oldest part of Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where settlements date back to the mid 18th century. The Duff Baby House is also one of the best-preserved and oldest Georgian-style houses in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Today the building is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust
Ontario Heritage Trust
The Ontario Heritage Trust is a non-profit agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, responsible for protecting, preserving and promoting the built, natural and cultural heritage of Canada's most populous province. It was initially known as the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board...
and houses government offices.
Windsor's Community Museum
Windsor's Community Museum
Windsor Community Museum is a historical museum located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada which displays the city's rich and colourful past. It is located in the historic François Baby House, built in 1812 by François Baby, a prominent French-Canadian .The Museum was originally named the Hiram Walker...
operates a local history interpretive centre behind the Duff Baby House.
External links
- Duff-Baby House - Ontario Heritage Trust