Walkerville, Ontario
Encyclopedia
The former town of Walkerville Ontario
, Canada
is now a heritage precinct of Windsor
Ontario. Incorporated in 1890, the town was founded by Hiram Walker
, owner and producer of Canadian Club
Whisky
. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ (originally called 'Walker's Town') ) that would be the envy of both the region and the continent . He established a distillery on the Detroit River
, diversifying the business by growing grain, milling flour, and raising cattle and hogs. Later, the town supported other major industries, notably automotive manufacturing.
, the home of Walker's second son, Edward Chandler Walker. Upon Walkerville’s eventual amalgamation with Windsor, the Manor became heritage-protected property of the city, being used as an art gallery and, currently, a function venue.
The neighbourhood is characterized by large houses, wide streets and abundant greenery. A three-story high school, carrying the name 'Walkerville', stands next to Willistead Manor. Other structures include former Deputy Prime Minister
Herb Gray
’s home, Khan-designed houses, the distillery (now belonging to Wiser’s
) and the Via Rail
station. The Tivoli Theatre
(now the unoccupied Walkerville Theatre), is of 1920s art-deco
design. A large performance stage, ornate fixtures, balconies, and grating-lattice hint at the community's grandeur in those days.
, fire
and church
facilities.
During the period of Prohibition in the United States
, Walkerville became a principal source of cross-border alcohol
exportation. The bulk of alcohol consumed in USA during prohibition was manufactured in Walkerville, as depicted in the TV series ‘Boardwalk Empire’, in which are often displayed crates of bootleg
whiskey stamped ‘Canadian Club: Walkerville Ontario’.
Hiram Walker favoured diversification and Walkerville welcomed many industries including the automotive industry. The Ford Motor Company of Canada
opened its factory there in 1904, followed by the E-M-F Company
whose plant was acquired by Studebaker in 1910 and which became the assembly line for right-hand-drive vehicles exported to the UK and British Empire
. In 1929, the Financial Post reported that 500 of the town's families were supported by Studebaker,
, General Motors
and Seagrave
were other manufacturers with plants in Walkerville.
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....
, 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...
is now a heritage precinct 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. Incorporated in 1890, the town was founded by Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker was an American grocer and distiller, and the eponym of the famous distillery in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts, and moved to Detroit in the mid-1830s...
, owner and producer of Canadian Club
Canadian Club
Canadian Club is a brand of whisky from Canada. Popularly known as C.C., Canadian Club began production in 1858. It was established by Hiram Walker, and was known as Walker’s Club Whiskey. The brand is now produced by Beam Inc..-History:...
Whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ (originally called 'Walker's Town') ) that would be the envy of both the region and the continent . He established a distillery on the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
, diversifying the business by growing grain, milling flour, and raising cattle and hogs. Later, the town supported other major industries, notably automotive manufacturing.
Architecture
Walker established homes for his workers, a church dedicated to his late wife, and a school. The town, which developed outwards from the distillery, included buildings designed by Albert Kahn, notably Willistead ManorWillistead Manor
Willistead Manor is a historic house located in the former town of Walkerville, Ontario, now part of Windsor, Ontario. Willistead Manor was designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn in the 16th-century Tudor-Jacobean style of an English manor house. It was built in 1904-1906, and was commissioned...
, the home of Walker's second son, Edward Chandler Walker. Upon Walkerville’s eventual amalgamation with Windsor, the Manor became heritage-protected property of the city, being used as an art gallery and, currently, a function venue.
The neighbourhood is characterized by large houses, wide streets and abundant greenery. A three-story high school, carrying the name 'Walkerville', stands next to Willistead Manor. Other structures include former Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
Herb Gray
Herb Gray
Herbert Eser Gray, is a retired Canadian politician. He was Canada's first Jewish federal cabinet minister, and is one of only a few Canadians ever granted the title The Right Honourable who was not so entitled by virtue of a position held.-Early life:Born in Windsor, Ontario, the son of Harry...
’s home, Khan-designed houses, the distillery (now belonging to Wiser’s
Wiser's whisky
Wiser's Whisky Distillery was established in Prescott, Ontario in 1857. In the early 1900s, Wiser's was the third largest distillery in Canada, producing high-quality whisky that supplied markets in Canada and the United States, China and the Philippine Islands. In 1911, the company employed over...
) and the Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
station. The Tivoli Theatre
Tivoli Theatre
Tivoli Theatre is the name of a number of notable theatres:in Asia*Tivoli Theatre , Indiain Australia*Tivoli Theatre , Australia*Tivoli Theatre , Australiain Europa*Teatro Tívoli, Barcelona, Spain...
(now the unoccupied Walkerville Theatre), is of 1920s art-deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
design. A large performance stage, ornate fixtures, balconies, and grating-lattice hint at the community's grandeur in those days.
Social and industrial growth
Divided into three sub-precincts, Walkerville was an amalgam of business, commercial, and residential land use, at times all nestled together. This cohesive character gave the community its uniqueness as compared to surrounding cities. Walker acted as self-appointed overseer of everything, including the policePolice
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, fire
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
and church
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
facilities.
During the period of Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
, Walkerville became a principal source of cross-border alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
exportation. The bulk of alcohol consumed in USA during prohibition was manufactured in Walkerville, as depicted in the TV series ‘Boardwalk Empire’, in which are often displayed crates of bootleg
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
whiskey stamped ‘Canadian Club: Walkerville Ontario’.
Hiram Walker favoured diversification and Walkerville welcomed many industries including the automotive industry. The Ford Motor Company of Canada
Ford Motor Company of Canada
Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited was founded in 1904 for the purpose of manufacturing and selling Ford automobiles in Canada and the British Empire. The Ford Motor Company in Detroit transferred the patent and selling rights to the Walkerville Wagon Company, in order to avoid the tariff rates...
opened its factory there in 1904, followed by the E-M-F Company
E-M-F Company
The E-M-F Company was an early American automobile manufacturer that produced automobiles from 1909 to 1912. The name E-M-F was gleaned from the initials of the three company founders: Barney Everitt , William Metzger , and Walter Flanders .- Everitt...
whose plant was acquired by Studebaker in 1910 and which became the assembly line for right-hand-drive vehicles exported to the UK and British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. In 1929, the Financial Post reported that 500 of the town's families were supported by Studebaker,
"only one of its activities being the manufacture of motor cars. During the world war, great quantities of war material was produced for the Canadian and Imperial governments. Today, [the plant] manufactures a line of 59 models of six- and eight-cylinder passenger motor cars, trucks, ambulances, and funeral coaches".Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
and Seagrave
Seagrave Fire Apparatus
Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC is a manufacturer of fire apparatus that specializes in pumper and rescue units, as well as aerial towers. In addition to manufacturing new equipment, they refurbish, repair and upgrade older Seagrave apparatus, including National Fire Protection Association updates to...
were other manufacturers with plants in Walkerville.
See also
- Walkerville Collegiate InstituteWalkerville Collegiate InstituteWalkerville Collegiate Institute is a secondary school located in the olde Walkerville area of Windsor, Ontario, and managed by the Greater Essex County District School Board. It is the home of the Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts, which has arts programs in Drama, Dance, Visual Arts,...
- To see a documentary titled: "Hiram Walker and the History of Walkerville", please go to youtube and type in the latter title. This documentary is approx.. 12 minutes in length and was completed by three history students at the University of Windsor, under the supervision of Dr. Burr, in March 2011.
Further reading
- Walkerville Times 2007 14mB pdf download containing historical articles and photographs