Hiram Walker (1816-1899) - American entrepreneur and founder of the Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd. distillery in Windsor- purchased Peche Island in 1883 from the executors of W.G. Hall for $7000. 24,25 It is said that it took Walker fiver years to dredge channels and create a system of canals to bring in supplies for development and to ensure constant fresh water supply from Lake St. Clair. 26 Walker arranged for a large part of the sandy soil on the island to be filled with topsoil for planting trees, an orchard, and other cultivations. Rumours were that Hiram Walker was building a hotel on the Island, but he clarified to local newspapers that the large mansion he was building was for his summer family residence and not for a hotel nor connected to operations of his ferry boats . 24 The large Walker mansion consisted of either 54 or 40 rooms. Besides the mansion, Walker also built a caretaker’s home, ice -house, stables, steam generating station/powerhouse which made electricity and pumped water, greenhouse, and orchards.

In June 1895, it appears that Walker who was by then in his late sixties and in ill health, transferred the Peche Island property to his daughter Julia Elizabeth Walker Buhl . 24

Detroit and Windsor Ferry Company purchased the island from Mrs Buhl in 1905/1907 with the deed not filed until 1915. 24 Walter Campbell, president of the company, apparently passed away in the summer house on the island. Subsequently the property went into disrepair, and the home burned in 1929. 25 Some reports state the building was further demolished in 1957 to make way for new housing proposals of subsequent developers that did not come through. 27 Of the buildings, only foundations of the structures remain today.

The City of Windsor acquired Peche Island since 1999. Currently, the Windsor Municipal Heritage Register only recognizes the Hiram Walker Bridge & Canal that was constructed

24 Tripp, George A. “Peche Island: A Brief Historical Survey”. For the Parks Branch, Ontario Ministry of

Natural resources, Alymer District. Summer-Fall, 1972.

25 “The Laforests and the Curse on Peach Island.” Journal of the French-Canadian Heritage Society of

Michigan, Vol. (4) #1, Jan.1993.

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