Sadly, what should be one of not only Walkerville’s, but also one of Windsor’s grandest homes, has been slowly spiraling into a massive pile of crap.
This house on Ontario Street, was built by rum runner Harry Low during the prohibition era. Following Low’s ownership the house was owned from the 1950’s until the early 1990’s by Paul Martin Sr.
The house has been in need of a new roof for longer than a decade, and the exterior wood trim is starting to deteriorate. Earlier this year, the property owner attempted to sever the property creating two lots. It was rejected by City Council as was a subsequent appeal to the OMB. I have recently noticed that the once grand hedge around the corner of the property has been very poorly hacked down and mangled.
Great curb appeal on a house that’s for sale. In fact it doesn’t look very lived in these days.
Here is the house back in 2003 when it looked much better. Note the hedges.
Anyone know if this property is designated heritage? If so, there are minimum standards, that need to be maintained including a sound roof, etc. I wonder if the city sees a need for an inspection.
i cringe everytime i pass by this house. when we were kids we used to walk past it all the time after school and called it the “gingerbread house”. i’m thinking about starting a campaign or something to try and salvage it from deterioratinig any more. not sure what that would involve but who knows what would come of it.
Sadly it is not designated. What a shame indeed.
Amazing how quickly such deterioration can occur – the weed-choked pathway to and the removal of the vines form the house are striking.
Mandy – Thanks for chiming in… I haven’t forgotten about you, I’ve just been stupid busy this week.
I will get that stuff I promised to you shortly.
I live right around the corner from there. Your photo comparisons are awesome, I had no idea the ivy was removed from the brick even.. of course I guess you don’t notice those things when you see it often. It saddens me everytime I drive past; the house appears so withered and greying. Why can’t treasures like that fall into caring hands? I always say if I win 6/49 that I’d purchase it and add a law library/walkerville museum.
Does anyone know about the enormous oak pannelled tunnel that Harry Low connected to that house? How big is it? Does it go as far as the street? Does it connect to the maid’s house? I had someone who was in there one tell me he saw part of it, but he didn’t know how far it extended. He told me that mobsters would hold secret meetings with Harry Low there. Harry Low would hide stuff in the tunnel. And, even MP Paul Martin Sr would hold secret meetings with former PM Pierre Trudeau and John Defenbaker there.
If that’s not worth a heritage designation, I don’t know what is?
I have been away from Windsor for 52 years and now live in Pointe Claire, a suburb of Montreal. I’m interested to know about Sandwich. I’m interested to see the old Sandwich Post office. If my memory seves me right it was on the corner of Mill and Sandwich streets.
Thank you for bringing back memories of my home town.
Sincerely,
Robert (Bob) Rodd
Bob – I would be happy to get that for you. Check in early next week. It is still there on that same corner. Post your old address, and I’d be happy to get you a picture of your old house too while I’m out there…
The house looks like it would cost a fortune to restore. Still, its’ worth saving.
This is a prime example of the poor management of this City by both City Hall and the elected politicians and by Windsorites in general. The owners of this building are faced with difficult financial issues as their bingo businesses have tanked. I am sure that they would sell with the right offer.
Windsor should have a historical commission or organization with the power to designate such structure as of historic or architecturally significant. What’s the name of the organization that that late Mr. Hatch of Hiram Walker fame promoted? He recently left them a considerable sum of cash to work with. Buy this home and bring it back to it’s glory era. If any structure says Windsor it’s this house….from it’s original rum runner owner to the home of Windsor’s favourite son Paul Martin Sr. to the first home of his son the former Prime Minister of Canada. This is a structure that should be saved. In fact, how about the former multi-millionaire PM himself making a major financial contribution to the city to deal with this issue. If this home with it’s history was located in the US, it would be of MAJOR significance to the state and it would receive both government and private cash to keep it in the care that it deserves.
It shocked me to fined out from my grandparents that i am a decendent of Harry Low, I found this our doing a my high school history project on my famiily history. Harry was my great uncal on my moms side. I belive it was his brother? Frank Low that was the father of my grandmother how then had my mom who had me. I think its interesting lol.
There was a bit of stuff on display by teacher Mr. Low at King Edward last year during their 100 year anniversary celebration. I guess this famous rumrunner has quite a few descendants in Windsor. Probably fifty+ years ago it would be hush hush, but now it’s kinda cool to have colorful ancestors like that. 🙂
Is this house for sale? If so how much are they asking?
He had it listed for $680,000 firm last year and the roof had to be redone using the same underlayment and shingles. The neighbours told me it also needs a lot of updating as it still has things like the original 20 litre toilets. So, it probably needs a few hundred thousand in renovations. Wayyy too much for this city. Someone had the bright idea to try to sever the servants house in the back and sell the two houses seperately as part of a conditional offer. Planning department wouldn’t have it. As far as I know, when Paul Martin quit politics, he took it off the market as his wife was tired of all the looky-loos just walking through it with agents all the time and decided to hang onto it as a “run down” summer cottage. The property taxes on it must be astronomical, which the neighbours told me that’s one of the reasons why he tried to sell it. But, then again, he owns the $200 million Canadian Steamship Lines, so the taxes are nothing for him.
David – The Martin family sold it shortly after Paul Sr. and his wife Nell both passed away in the early 1990’s (Paul Sr. in ’92 & Nell in ’93). It has been owned ever since by a local bingo magnate.
The application to sever the two properties was rejected for several reason, and was objected to by most of the neighbours in the immediate area.
Wow, was I ever misled by that neighbour. The cracker had also told me they held a party there this past summer with security guards watching the perimeter. He probably made up the tunnel under the front lawn story too. I should have known better after he told me there was a requirement from the vendor when it was listed that the shingles and underlayment be redone in the same style, which would have cost $130,000. Redoing the shingles and underlayment on a newer building doesn’t cost anywhere near that.
Any idea how much the bingo magnate bought it for in the early 90s? I’m curious if the price even went up in value since then.
btw–how did you know he sold it in the 90’s? Was it in the paper? Title search?
There’s a great deal of local lore surrounding that property, David. You aren’t the only one whose heard various stories about it. I do believe the roof is an expensive repair though.
I know because I’ve had dealing with him.
As for the roof, it’s not the original, but in the original style. I don’t doubt the price however. The rolling undulating is meant to replicate the thatched English country style cottage.
It’s needed to be replaced for about a decade, I shudder to think of the damage inside.
As for the Martin’s, a registered letter was sent to Paul Martin Jr. about the home’s state of disprepair and the fact that it is up for sale and in need of saving, by the Windsor Heritage Comittee.
We didn’t even get a response from him.
Of all the buildings in Windsor this one is in the most danger of being lost.
Demolition by neglect.
Interesting stuff…. I fell upon this site while “googling” the house after a friend mentioned yesterday that she had heard it was up for sale/selling in the 600 range. I was surpised – that amount can get you a decent place here in Toronto, certainly not the likes of the “Martin Mansion” I remembered as a kid growing up in Windsor (of course, I rent here….) Likely in need of a ton of repairs but it could be a cool mini-museum of Prohibition & or the Liberal party!!!! It would be nice if tthe former PM threw some cash your way to do something with the place 🙂
hi everyone, im moving in to the maids house and just to answer one question on here…. YES there is an underground tunnel that goes from the main house right into the maids house. im moving in june 15 so i still didnt go in the tunnel yet, but i was told all about it and also seen it. the trap door is still there and when you look down the trap door theres what it looks to be a big room down there too.
mr.villa is the new owner of the low-martin estate and hes going to bring the property back to life. he may only be 29 yrs old but hes thinking of the history and bringing it back to its orignal state and hes wants to move in and open it up as a museum as well.
its too bad that the people dont pitch in and lend a helping hand or even help with the cost of materials.
200,000 just for the roof!!!
reach into your pockets and give….10.00 can go a long way
Hello im so interested in the heritage of windsor .I always read up on the houses in this town and walkerville .I own a house a few blocks down on moy which was built in 1918.Nothing compared to this house.I love always taking a peek at this place.I work construction in all types of home renovations i would love to volunteer my time .I noticed the roof is pretty much done. anywho glad to read everyones comments .
It is a bit disturbing that the City of Windsor has so chosen to designate a whole community in the West End as a Heritage Area and yet this magnificent home is not designated as a Heritage home. I hope the new owner has requested the designation or maybe it has been designated by now. Shame on the council of the City of Windsor for designating the boarded up homes on Indian Road as Heritage . . .I’m sure it brings many tourists to our community . . . skunks, rats and crime.
I think it is time to update your site! Today the beautiful Harry Low/Paul Martin house is being restored to its original status in rum running days.The current owner Frank Vella actually is restoring it from the Paul Martin era ruined some of the original workmanship by covering it with panelling etc. Take a drive by today and see how beautiful the new roof is! Windsor should be proud.
You should be happy to hear, the house is for sale and being bought by a prestigious construction contractor. The house is declared as a heritage home and has some major renovations in store, the exterior will remain virtually the same but will be touched up. in addition, the interior will be almost completely restored except for, of course, the beautifully crafted woodwork and spiral staircase. I hope in approximately 2 years the house will look better than ever and restore some pride to windsors proclaimed Low-Martin house. I am excited to manage this project!
I wish this buyer all the best; this residence will need a lot of work to bring it back up to a prestigious home again.