- François Baby House
thumb|right|260px|François Baby House ,Windsor, Ontario .]The François Baby House is a historic residence located in
Windsor, Ontario Canada which was owned by the prominent local politicianFrançois Baby . The house was known as "La Ferme" locally, and was aFrench-Canadian ribbon style farm which was a long narrow tract fronting endwise on theDetroit River . The home itself has historical ties to theWar of 1812 where it was used as a headquarters by both the American and British forces. Today, it has been desgnated as aNational Historic Site and serves as the current home ofWindsor's Community Museum .Timeline
*1751 - November 24. Land including site of the house granted by
Pierre Celoron , Sieur de Bienville, commandant at French Detroit, toPierre Reaume .
*1800 - December 19.Suzanne Reaume Baby sold the farm to her son François for ten shillings plus one grain of pepper.
*1812 - Spring and summer. Construction of the house. Original front faced theDetroit River
*1812 - July 12. War of 1812 opened with invasion of Upper Canada across the Detroit River. Baby house commandeered, unfinished, by American Brigadier GeneralWilliam Hull
*1812 - July 13. Defensive works established around the three inland sides. American camp was located in Baby's orchard.
*1812 - August 7. Hull's position had worsened, and he withdrew his troops to the safety ofFort Lernoult , directly across the river from the house.
*1812 - August 15. Arrival of main British force on upper Detroit River, led by Major GeneralIsaac Brock . Bombardment ofDetroit began. Americans returned fire.
*1812 - August 16. Bombardment continued, and Detroit surrendered to invading British, Canadians, and Indians.
*1838 - December 4.Battle of Windsor , fought in the Baby orchard, ended thePatriot War , which had resulted from political disturbances in Upper Canada. Invading "Patriots" were largely American.
*1850 - October 8. Fire heavily damaged Baby House.
*1890 - The House had been converted to a double dwelling. Original north porch replaced by a full-widthlean-to . Pitt Street side became the front. Bay windows connecting porch, gables added to new front.
*c.1931 - House abandoned during theGreat Depression .
*1948 - Partial renovation. Additions removed, Pitt Street wall replaced.
*1958 - Final renovation. François Baby House opened May 7 as theHiram Walker Historical Museum .
*1968 - Addition of underground storage and outdoor display facilities.References
*"Mansion to Museum: The François Baby House And Its Times" Written by R. Alan Douglas, Essex County Historical Society, 1989.
*Windsor's Community Museum
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