Amherstburg's scenic waterfront a meeting place for boaters, lovers of history, music, art - and droves of wine connoisseurs
THE FIRST TOWNS in Essex County were Amherstburg and Sandwich, established in 1796 when the British had to give up Detroit by the terms of the Jay Treaty signed in 1794. Amherstburg grew as a garrison town just below Fort Malden, which was established to replace Fort Lernoult at Detroit.
THE WALTER RANTA Marina and Park in the town’s north end sits atop salt caverns left by almost a century of brine mining by General Chemical, since gone bankrupt. Town council in 2010 sold the municipally owned marina and park — a total of about 13 acres — to a private developer for $584,000 because of an operating deficit that reached $1 million. The prime waterfront property was bequeathed to the town.
THE FIRST BLACKS recorded in Amherstburg came with the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists beginning in 1784. According to the publication Amherstburg 1796-1996, ‘some were the slaves of loyalists, such as the 60 owned by Matthew Elliot while others such as James Robertson and James Fry were themselves granted land for their defense of the British Empire. By 1828 there were 100 Blacks living in Malden and Amherstburg.’
As one of the oldest towns in Ontario, Amherstburg is steeped in history, first as a garrison town in 1796, then as a point on the Underground Railroad and, notoriously, as a launch pad for a thriving rum-running business during Prohibition in the 1920s. It’s a history that is celebrated today along with the common thread that runs through it: water.
Located in Essex County on the shoreline of the Detroit River and Lake Erie, Amherstburg is a town with a population of about 22,000 spread over 186 square kilometres of urban and rural lands. Located a 20-minute drive from the U.S. border at Windsor-Detroit, the town’s current borders were set in 1998 when the neighbouring townships of Anderdon and Malden were amalgamated.
Amherstburg is a pretty town with heritage buildings, a culturally diverse population (French and Italian are the leading second languages) and a beautiful downtown waterfront park, King’s Navy Yard, from where passing lake freighters can be viewed. While strolling through the 10.5-acre park and its splendid flower gardens, drop by The Gordon House, one of the town’s oldest buildings. Built in 1798 and overlooking the Detroit River, it houses a marine exhibit. From the park, it’s a short stroll to downtown shops. Don’t forget to stop for an ice cream cone.
Fort Malden a hit with history buffs and nature lovers
The town’s most famous tourist attraction is nearby Fort Malden, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, where you can learn about the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837. As part of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, a life-size bronze monument crafted by a local artisan will be installed in Navy Yard Park to honour marines who died during the conflict. With its waterfront location, visitors to the Fort Malden site can combine history with nature: you’ll spot many species of waterfowl, including tundra swans and cormorants, feeding as they migrate through the area.
The town is also home to Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal Church National Historic Site, built by former slaves who escaped from the U.S. and free blacks. The church, which was restored for special religious ceremonies, is part of the North American Black Historical Museum.
A hit with tourists and residents alike is the self-guided Voices of Amhertsburg cellphone tour, believed to be one of the first of its kind in Ontario. Just watch for the signs, dial a 1-800 number, key in a code and who’ll hear a description and interesting facts about the historic sites you’re seeing.
Amherstburg puts the sun to work
While Amherstburg is proud of its rich 200-year-old history, it is a town that is planning for the future. With more than 30 per cent of the town’s workforce employed in the manufacturing sector — key industries are Diageo, a whiskey distillery that produces the famous Crown Royal brand; Honeywell, the world’s largest producer of hydrofluoric acid; and Precision Plastics, one of Ontario’s largest full-service suppliers of industrial plastics and thermoplastic — it’s time to diversify. The future, town council agrees, is in alternative energy.
Amherstburg is focusing its economic development strategy on energy from solar photovoltaic installations, wind farms and biomass. Federal environmental assessment approvals were recently received for two phases of a three-phase solar farm on former General Chemicals lands. The $300-million project by Helios Energy Inc. of Toronto includes two sites near the North Side Road and Concession 2, south of River Canard. The company has said the project will inject $50 million into the area’s economy over the three years it takes to develop the farm, which is surrounded by mostly agricultural land, with some residential.
Meanwhile, construction on a smaller $130-million solar farm project began in June 2010, launching Amherstburg into its new green economy with a bang.
A second economic development priority is a vibrant downtown. Council is committed to attracting more commercial activity to the core and building more entertainment opportunities. A recent needs study showed there is demand for a hotel downtown. Meanwhile, an $11.9-million urban renewal project, including an 11-kilometre urban walkway, energy-efficient lighting in the downtown and reconstruction of major streets and sidewalks, was completed in September 2010, adding visual appeal to the core.
Waterfront property a hot commodity
On the housing front, Amherstburg has a mix of Victorian-era houses in the urban core and monster homes in the outlying areas, such as the Pointe West golf community. Lots for single-family homes are snatched up quickly anywhere near the waterfront, where boating and fishing are popular pastimes. There are six marinas in the town, though the lone municipal marina, at the mouth of the Canard River, has been sold to a private developer for a future “dockaminium” residential project.
The Holiday Beach Conservation Area is a popular spot for nature lovers. You’ll find a long sandy beach, serviced campsites, picnic areas, nature trails, boardwalk, three-storey observation tower — there’s even a trout farm. It is also a birding hotspot and home to the annual Festival of Hawks in September.
For wine lovers, Amherstburg is the gateway to more than a dozen wineries in Essex County, which is at the same latitude as northern California, making the region the most agriculturally productive in Canada. The region’s award-winning wine industry holds an annual celebration on the waterfront in Amherstburg, attracting thousands of visitors to the Fort Malden grounds each September. Check out The Shores of Erie International Wine Festival online at www.soewinefestival.com.
Fort Malden’s waterfront site is also the location of the popular Art by the River event, a two-day arts and craft festival that has been attracting artists and artisans from across Ontario since 1967. The annual event is held the weekend before Labour Day.
'Miracle League' a first for Canada
Amherstburg made headlines recently when the town’s Rotary Club and minor baseball association, in co-operation with the parks and recreation department, took on the challenge of building the first Miracle League baseball diamond in Canada. The custom-designed baseball diamond features a cushioned synthetic turf that accommodates wheelchairs and walking devices. It’s the first in the area with artificial turf.
Now, work has begun on a $24-million recreation complex in Larry Bauer Park on County Road 18 that will also open doors to children with disabilities. The facility will include two NHL-size ice pads and benches designed to accommodate sledge hockey. The change rooms are all oversized, with extra space for wheelchairs. An indoor playing field and walking track will also be accessible by special needs children and seniors.
The premier sports facilities, supported financially by the senior levels of government, have brought renewed civic pride to a town hit hard by layoffs. In the words of Mayor Wayne Hurst, “Things are on the move in Amherstburg.”
On the resale real estate market, a recent listing for a two-bedroom 1,020-square-foot condo within walking distance of the Detroit River was listed for $83,500 while a similar-sized condo with a water view was listed for $117,900. An older three-bedroom house with 40 feet of frontage on Lake Erie was listed at $199,000. And at the top end, a 17-acre waterfront estate on an island across from downtown Amherstburg was listed for $2.9 million.