Down in my neighbourhood in South Walkerville is this handsome Georgian style brick home. The house was built in 1924 by Harry W. (H.W.) Patterson.
Patterson was an interesting man. Born in Merriton, Ontario (today a part of St Catharines) in 1890, he came to Windsor around 1910. He served as the chief engineer for the Essex Terminal Railway initially. Becoming the consulting engineer for the Town of Walkerville, Town of Ford City, Sandwich and Ojibway. He was also a consulting engineer for the Walkerville Land & Building Company. One of his more prominent works that everyone is familiar with, is the Wyandotte-Drouillard underpass. Patterson designed this now iconic feature of our cityscape.
In 1939 the Windsor Airport officially opened, replacing the Walker Airport that was previously on the site, Patterson was hired by the Federal Department of Transportation as the resident engineer of the airport. During his time at the airport, he oversaw the building of three runways, the original terminal building, and the replacement terminal that is still in use today. He retired from the airport in 1959, after a 20 year career there.
Patterson passed away at his home in December, 1971 at the age of 81. He was the owner of Patterson Engineering Service, as well as the president and owner of Burnside Hardware Ltd. He was interred in the mausoleum at Windsor Grove Cemetery.
