Willistead Manor
Encyclopedia
Willistead Manor is a historic house located in the former town of Walkerville, Ontario
, now part of Windsor, Ontario
. Willistead Manor was designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn in the 16th-century Tudor-Jacobean style of an English manor house. It was built in 1904-1906, and was commissioned by Edward Chandler Walker, the second son of Hiram Walker
. It is named after the first son, Willis Walker, a lawyer in Detroit, MI, who died young.
Contrary to popular belief, Hiram Walker
never lived in the home. One of the unique features of the mansion is that it contained only one bedroom. Mr. and Mrs. Walker never had any children, and the coach houses to the manor provided ample room for guests. After Edward passed on in 1915, Mrs. Walker did not care to keep living in the big home alone, and she deeded the house and grounds to the town of Walkerville
. When Walkerville was amalgamated with Windsor in 1935, it obtained ownership of Willistead.
In the years after its use as a residence, Willistead served as the Walkerville Town Hall, Art Gallery of Windsor
and as a public library branch. In the late 1970s early 1980s the City of Windsor, afraid of the repairs and upkeep on the mansion, wanted to demolish the structure. Preservationists stepped in and the home was saved. Today the 36-room mansion is used as a banquet hall, and the three-acre (12,000 m²) grounds are incorporated in a larger public park.
The house can be rented for occasions such as weddings, corporate meeting and private parties. The house is also decorated for the Christmas holiday by The Friends of Willistead and opened to the public.
Walkerville, Ontario
The former town of Walkerville Ontario, Canada is now a heritage precinct of Windsor Ontario. Incorporated in 1890, the town was founded by Hiram Walker, owner and producer of Canadian Club Whisky. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ ) that would be the envy of both the region and the continent...
, now part of Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
. Willistead Manor was designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn in the 16th-century Tudor-Jacobean style of an English manor house. It was built in 1904-1906, and was commissioned by Edward Chandler Walker, the second son of Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker was an American grocer and distiller, and the eponym of the famous distillery in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts, and moved to Detroit in the mid-1830s...
. It is named after the first son, Willis Walker, a lawyer in Detroit, MI, who died young.
Contrary to popular belief, Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker was an American grocer and distiller, and the eponym of the famous distillery in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts, and moved to Detroit in the mid-1830s...
never lived in the home. One of the unique features of the mansion is that it contained only one bedroom. Mr. and Mrs. Walker never had any children, and the coach houses to the manor provided ample room for guests. After Edward passed on in 1915, Mrs. Walker did not care to keep living in the big home alone, and she deeded the house and grounds to the town of Walkerville
Walkerville
Walkerville is a name given to several places:Australia*Town of Walkerville, a local government area in South Australia**Walkerville, South Australia, a suburb in north-eastern Adelaide*Walkerville, Victoria, a town in southwest GippslandCanada...
. When Walkerville was amalgamated with Windsor in 1935, it obtained ownership of Willistead.
In the years after its use as a residence, Willistead served as the Walkerville Town Hall, Art Gallery of Windsor
Art Gallery of Windsor
The Art Gallery of Windsor is a not-for-profit art institute in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.Established in 1943, the gallery has a mandate as a public art space to show significant works of art by local, regional, and national artists...
and as a public library branch. In the late 1970s early 1980s the City of Windsor, afraid of the repairs and upkeep on the mansion, wanted to demolish the structure. Preservationists stepped in and the home was saved. Today the 36-room mansion is used as a banquet hall, and the three-acre (12,000 m²) grounds are incorporated in a larger public park.
The house can be rented for occasions such as weddings, corporate meeting and private parties. The house is also decorated for the Christmas holiday by The Friends of Willistead and opened to the public.