Paddy Walker House
Encyclopedia
The Paddy Walker House is Kincardine
's oldest Building and the oldest Standing Hotel in Bruce County
.
, Ontario). Mr. Walker arrived in the settlement with his wife, Jane and his seven sons.
Realizing that when new settlers like himself arrived to Penetangore they would need some where to stay. So Paddy Walker soon built a Hotel situated near the mouth of the Penetangore (later the Harbour).
The Walker House served as a hotel under the management of Paddy Walker and his descendants until 1942 when the Walker house was sold to Marie and Al Gairns. The Walker house was still used as a hotel until Mr. and Mrs. Gairns used it as a roaming house. After the death of Mr. Gairns Marie Gairns used the Walker House as her own private home well into the 1990s.
The building was severely damaged and wasn't touched for three years left to suffer the natural elements. A rumor was spread that the Municipality of Kincardine
was going to demolish the Walker house. The locals felt that that action would have too many negative results. So the Paddy Walker Heritage Society was created.The society bought the Walker House from Mrs. Gairns in 1998. Many restorations were down to the Walker House. The construction was completed in 2008 in time for the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys Reunion.
Kincardine, Ontario
The Municipality of Kincardine is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the County of Bruce in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 12,000, and covers an area of 580 square kilometres...
's oldest Building and the oldest Standing Hotel in Bruce County
Bruce County, Ontario
Bruce County is a county in western Ontario, Canada, and includes the Bruce Peninsula. As of 2006, the population was 65,349. The area was . The county seat is Walkerton, Ontario. It is located at ....
.
History
In 1850 Francis "Paddy" Walker travelled across the frozen Lake Huron from Goderich, Ontario to the 2 year old settlement of Penetangore (KincardineKincardine, Ontario
The Municipality of Kincardine is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the County of Bruce in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 12,000, and covers an area of 580 square kilometres...
, Ontario). Mr. Walker arrived in the settlement with his wife, Jane and his seven sons.
Realizing that when new settlers like himself arrived to Penetangore they would need some where to stay. So Paddy Walker soon built a Hotel situated near the mouth of the Penetangore (later the Harbour).
The Walker House served as a hotel under the management of Paddy Walker and his descendants until 1942 when the Walker house was sold to Marie and Al Gairns. The Walker house was still used as a hotel until Mr. and Mrs. Gairns used it as a roaming house. After the death of Mr. Gairns Marie Gairns used the Walker House as her own private home well into the 1990s.
Fire and Revitalization
In January 1995 a fire broke out in the Walker House and Marie Gairn had to be rescued from the Walker House in her chair by local fireman.The building was severely damaged and wasn't touched for three years left to suffer the natural elements. A rumor was spread that the Municipality of Kincardine
Kincardine, Ontario
The Municipality of Kincardine is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the County of Bruce in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 12,000, and covers an area of 580 square kilometres...
was going to demolish the Walker house. The locals felt that that action would have too many negative results. So the Paddy Walker Heritage Society was created.The society bought the Walker House from Mrs. Gairns in 1998. Many restorations were down to the Walker House. The construction was completed in 2008 in time for the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys Reunion.