P5833

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Details

ID Number

P5833

Item Name

Image

Title

Old Boys Reunion at Walkerville Boat Club / Réunion des 'Old Boys' au club Walkerville Boat

Title (Fre)

Réunion des 'Old Boys' au club Walkerville Boat

Description

Black and white photograph of the Tecumseh Boat Club in Walkerville during an Old Boys Reunion; the bottom half of the photograph is the Detroit River; in the background on the left side of the photograph is a pier with people sitting on it, backs to the camera; they appear to be watching some men on the shore build boats; the river bank, visible in the centre of the photograph, is a sea of people, many holding umbrellas to shield the sun; the Boat Club is visible in the centre of the photograph; it is a tall building made of brick; the main storey opens onto the pier and the middle and top storeys have large open balconies which are both crowded with people; the roof is peaked with one chimney and a dormer; there are flags hanging from the flagpole and across the top balcony; a second building with a covered balcony is partially visible to the far right of the photograph

History

Pictured is the Walkerville Boat Club (once known as the Tecumseh Boat Club) in August 1909 during an Old Boys Reunion. The building was located along the river just to the east of the foot of Belleview Ave. It was designed by E. Kerrigan and erected by the Architects Watt & Crane. It had been newly opened earlier in June of that year following the previous building having been struck by lightning and burned on April 26, 1908. The burned building had been purchased in 1888 by Frank H. Walker (son of Hiram Walker) from the Detroit Boat Club (referred to in some sources as the Wolverine Boat Club). The building was moved across the River on the ice. The Tecumseh Boat Club was organized in Walkerville in 1889. In that year a number of local rowing enthusiasts purchased the house of the Detroit Boat Club which was brought across the river and placed about one hundred yards below the Walkerville ferry dock at the foot of present-day Devonshire Road. The club participated in numerous regattas against various American and Canadian societies. The Club hosted monthly dances in the clubhouse in the summer. The club possessed a bowling alley and in 1896 two tennis courts were added. In March 1932, the Club owed $7, 297 taxes to East Windsor (5 years unpaid). East Windsor was threatening confiscation of the property for non payment. A June 15, 1932 Border Cities Star article confirms the sale of the building and riverfront property from East Windsor to Armand Limited, a cosmetic company that was headquartered in St. Thomas. In 1938 the building was razed as part of an expansion of the Ford Motor Company.

Place made

Canada - Ontario - East Windsor

Collection Name

Museum Windsor

Topic

Detroit River / Rivière Détroit

Subjects

Boat clubs / Clubs de bateaux

Devonshire Rd. / Rue Devonshire

Flags / Drapeaux

Men / Hommes

Old Boys Club / Club Old Boys

Old Boys Reunion / Réunion Old Boys

Piers & wharves / Appontements et quais

Reunions / Réunions

Tecumseh Boat Club / Club de bateau de Tecumseh

Walkerville (Ont.)

Women / Femmes