What a view. From here you can almost touch Detroit. Windsor sits right on the Detroit River a stone’s throw from its American neighbour. This isn’t just any border town. Windsor’s story is woven into the fabric of North American history.
Let me paint you a picture. Imagine 1749. French farmers settle here establishing the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement west of Montreal. They called it la Petite Côte. The land was poor the soil sandy but they persevered. Their legacy lives on in the names of many streets Ouellette Drouillard Pelissier. These names whisper of their hardy spirit. They established a grid-like street system reflecting their farming methods. Long narrow farms stretched towards the river.
Fast forward to 1797. The settlement is renamed Windsor after a town in Berkshire England. The American Revolution had just ended. A new chapter began. The Sandwich neighbourhood in Windsor bears witness to the city’s early days. Mackenzie Hall originally an Essex County Courthouse stands as a testament to those times. It is now a community centre. Nearby you’ll find the Duff-Baby House the city’s oldest building dating back to 1792. It’s now a government office.
Windsor played its part in the 1838 Upper Canada Rebellion. Americans and rebels from Detroit attacked. They burned a steamboat and houses before being driven back by local militia. The city became a stage for the Patriot War later that year.
The 19th century saw Windsor’s population grow. Steamboats linked it to Detroit. It became a vital stop on the Underground Railroad helping enslaved people escape to freedom. Thousands of African-American refugees found a haven in Canada. Many settled in Essex County. In 1854 Windsor connected to the rest of Canada by rail. It grew into a town in 1858 and finally a city in 1892. The city has faced challenges. A devastating fire in 1871 destroyed a large part of downtown. Yet Windsor endured becoming a major automobile manufacturing centre.
The 20th century brought more change. The towns of Sandwich Ford City and Walkerville were annexed in 1935. Ojibway and Riverside joined in 1966. Prohibition in Michigan made Windsor a hotbed for rum-running. A tragic gas explosion in 1960 on Ouellette Avenue claimed lives and injured many. Windsor has survived floods tornadoes and fires. It has always found a way to rebuild and thrive.
Today Windsor is a vibrant city with a rich and varied heritage. A city of roses it has a thriving arts scene beautiful parks and a unique blend of cultures. It is a significant player in the automotive industry and has diversified its economy with technology education and tourism. It is a city that embraces its history while looking towards the future. And as you stand here you can feel the energy of this remarkable city that stands as a testament to resilience and adaptation.