The oldest house in the city is the Duff-Baby House, built at the corner of Mill and Russell around 1790.
According to Fred Neal’s book the Township of Sandwich published in 1909
“It was built by the Hon. James Baby, who was born in Detroit in 1762. He as a member of the Legislative Council of Hesse and Western District from 1792 until his death in 1833.”
However according to the City Records:
“The “frontier Georgian” building known as the Duff-Baby Mansion was built in 1798 as part of a trading complex by Alexander Duff, a merchant from Detroit. However, within
ten years the local fur trade had declined. Duff (of Leith, Shepherd & Duff) moved the business to Amherstburg, and sold the house (1807) to his friend, the Hon. Jacques (James) Baby (pronounced Bah-bee). Mr. Baby was descended from an influential family from Quebec City and his father, Duperon Baby, was well known in early Detroit. Jacques’ Loyalist political career included membership on both Executive and Legislative Councils of Upper Canada (Ontario) and, ultimately, Inspector General at York (Toronto). As Colonel of the Militia, he was captured by the Americans during the War of 1812. His house was sacked by
Gen. Harrison’s troops. Son Charles, a solicitor and Mayor of Sandwich, held the property until his death in 1871. Subsequent owners were Harriet van Cleve (1879), whose grandson sold it in 1905, and Dr. William Beasley. Daughter Isobel sold it to the Ontario Heritage Foundation in 1979. It is held in trust for the people of Ontario.”
Here’s how the house looked in 1909 under the ownership of Dr. Beasley.
A photo of Dr. Beasley from Fred Neal’s “The Township of Sandwich”.
The owner of the Baby Mansion, and who currently occupies it with his family at the present time, besides attending to the many duties of his profession as a physician in the community, has taken a deep interest in the welfare of the town. He is a member of the Board of Education and was elected chairman of that body for the year 1907. He is also a member of the Essex County Historical Society. He is a most worthy gentleman and a valuable acquisition to the old county town.
Here is how the house looked in 1924 following a new porch.
After it was acquired in 1979 from Dr. Beasley’s daughter, the house began undergoing restoration at the hands of the Ontario Heritage Trust. The Beasley’s porch was removed in 1993.
very cool Andrew!
sure seems like there are MUCH older looking homes in the city, even if they were kept in such good condition. i sure am glad that porch got taken off, it didn’t do anything for the place.
My Fav house in Windsor Ontario ! I go in it every year! I can’t believe
how it survived the war !
They told me sometimes they hear things in the house? I believe in ghosts..
If only the walls can talk! I love the upstairs of the house and how it has 2 staircases going up…big house! Beautiful!
Very cool. I remember taking a clas field trip there in grade school. Although it was very old I remember being very unimpressed. Typical school kid! Ha!
A very nice house. Glad it was saved for future generations to enjoy. I always like symmetry in buildings, and love the style of it.
The story is Gen. William Henry Harrison also stabled his unit’s horses in St. John’s Church around the corner, and then burnt the frame building down when he left. A quarter-century later, he was elected president of the US. His inaugural day on March 4, 1841, was cold and wet, yet Harrison gave a two-hour speech and joined a 12-hour parade, hatless and coatless. He came down with a cold March 26 which developed into pneumonia and died April 4, 32-days into his presidency.
Didn’t Chief Tecumseh sleep on its porch, refusing to go inside?
I don’t know if Chief Tecumseh “refused” to go inside. I think he was just waiting outside for General Brock to come home. I would expect that you’d have several soldiers guarding the entrance to prevent an assassin from waiting inside, so I don’t think anyone can just walk into the General’s quarters without the General’s permission.
Later, General Brock and Chief Tecumseh marched on with their troops and Shawnee warriors to capture Fort Detroit, so they must have been on good terms and for the Chief to refuse an invitation from the General would be a sign of huge disrespect and the historical records suggest that the Chief had a lot of respect for the General, so I doubt the Chief would refuse an invitation.
I remember as a little girl visiting my aunt Isabel Beasley, and sleeping in this House.
I know this house had alot to do about the war of 1812 and I live in a group home on Russell St AND went TO General Brook school when I was kid.