A devistating fire last week , claimed one of Windsor’s important early Black Heritage sites.
The vacant Willam Watkins house dating to the 1860’s – 1870’s, on Peter Street, was destroyed in a blaze on February 1st. Willam Watkins was the son of escaped slaves who fled the US via the Underground Railroad in the 1840’s.
The Watkins family still lives in the area, although the house hasn’t been in the family for many decades. Homer Watkins, a longtime community fixture in Sandwich, had the street he lived on (Lot St.) renamed Watinks street in his honor in 1963.
This photo from the Windsor Star in 1963, shows Homer Watkins in front of the house.
A similar view today. Sadly the house sustained structural damage, and will likey be demolished.
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Andrew do you know what started the fire? To bad they can't fix it up again.
another historic house demolished!
I live like 5 minutes from the Watkins house fire,and i can honestly say this neighborhood is going to shit. In the past 2 years cars have been stolen and/or broken into,house fires,street walkers and so on..... The house that gets me as to why vandals haven't burned it down yet is directly behind the Watkins house on Sandwich street,this place has been abandoned for some time and is quite run down. There used to be an older pickup truck in the driveway but the city had that removed because of a rat problem. They need to remove the house before the arsonists hit again.