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.
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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 :)