P6557

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Details

ID Number

P6557

Item Name

Image

Title

Duff-Baby House / Maison Duff-Baby

Title (Fre)

Maison Duff-Baby

Description

Black and white photograph of the northwest side of the James Baby House; the house and grounds are snow-covered; the house is three storeys high with shuttered windows on the first and second floors and dormers on the third; the house has a long covered porch and two chimneys on the roof.

History

The Duff-Baby House, or Mansion as it is sometimes referred, is the oldest known surviving house in southwestern Ontario. It was built in 1798 in the Georgian style by Scottish fur trader and merchant Alexander Duff, a contemporary of Angus Mackintosh of Moy Hall. These early river barons used their homes both as residences and places of business. The house was sold to Jacques (James) Baby in 1807 and remained in the Baby family until 1871. The house stands on the corner of Russell & Mill Streets in Sandwich, now 221 Mill Street. In 1905 the house was purchased by William James Beasley who operated a medical office for a number of years. In 1977 the building was designated a Heritage Property and it was sold to the Ontario Heritage Foundation (OHF) in 1979. The building was restored and is currently used by the OHF for educational programs and special activities in partnership with Windsor's Community Museum. Jacques (James) Baby (1763 - 1833) was born in Detroit and was very active in local politics and society. Jacques Duperon Baby, Jacques' (James) father, owned about 20 slaves (Black and Indigenous) and upon his death in 1789 some were inherited by Jacques (James) and his brother Francois. In 1802 he married Elizabeth Abbott and had five sons and one daughter. As Lord Lieutenant of the County of Kent (present day Chatham-Kent, Essex & Lambton Counties) Baby welcomed many important visitors to his home including Shawnee leader Chief Tecumseh and British Major General William Henry Proctor. Baby's wife died during the winter of 1812 - 1813 and, grieving, Baby moved to Quebec with his children. He later moved to York (now Toronto) where he died of a stroke on February 19, 1833. He was buried at St. Paul's, however, in 1860 his remains were removed to Sandwich for reinterrment in the Assumption Church Cemetery.

Place made

Canada - Ontario - Sandwich

Collection Name

Museum Windsor

Subjects

Baby, Jacques

Baby, James

Buildings / Immeubles

Duff, Alexander

Duff-Baby House / Maison Duff-Baby

Dwellings / Habitations

Fences / clôtures

Houses / Maisons

Sandwich (Ont.)

Trees / Arbres