1279 Ouellette – F E Harvey House

This house at 1279 Ouellette has always been one of my favourites on Ouellette. It’s easy to miss, on the west side of the street, between Giles and Montrose, immediately south of the former CAA building. I’ve always though it was a textbook arts & crafts/craftsman style bunglaow. It seemed to be in very good shape, but I never knew much about it, until I recently discovered an article on the home from December 1913.

The home was designed by local architects Leybourne & Whitney, the rendering above appeared in the December 6, 1913 issue of the Border Cities Star with the following information:

This is a perspective drawing of the new Ouellette avenue bungalow for F. E. Harvey, treasurer of the Caldwell Sand & Gravel Co. The first story is of pressed brick, and the gables of Shingles. On the first floor there will be an entrance hall, a living room, 15 ft x 21 ft, a dining room 15 ft square, a kitchen, rear hall, two bedrooms and a bath room, together with a front and rear porch. On the second floor there will be a bedroom, a den, sleeping porch and sewing room. This is one of seven modern residences and duplex apartments that Leybourne & Whitney are now building or planning to build on Ouellette avenue and immediate vicinity.

Frederick Eames Harvey passed away at Grace Hospital on March 27, 1943 from appendicitis, his age was listed as being “in his late 70s”. He served as Kiwanis Governor, and was lauded as a Windsor Business, Club and Church leader. At the time of his passing he was still residing at 1279 Ouellette avenue. He was born in Utica, Michigan, first working in banking in Detroit & Chicago, before coming to Windsor in 1904.

He was the Caldwell Sand & Gravel Co. a contractor that did work in sidewalks and road paving, as well as business supplies from 1904 to 1932, when he went into business for himself for a few years before retiring.

He was a 32nd degree Mason and was the church treasurer of the First Church of Christ, Scientist (located at Gilles & Pelissier) for some years. Mr. Harvey left his widow, and a niece and four nephews. His funeral service was here in Windsor, but he was buried in Utica, Michigan.