Description of Historic Place

731 Walker Road is a two storey, semi-detached, brick residence built in 1893 for Hiram Walker distillery workers. It is located on the west side of the 700 block of Walker Road, in the former Town of Walkerville.

It is recognized for its heritage value by the City of Windsor By-law 10051.

Heritage Value

731 Walker Road is an excellent example of Victorian-era, middle class housing built in Walkerville during the 1890s. It is also an integral part of an historical architectural group, known as the Hiram Walker Worker Houses, located on the west side of Walker Road.

731 Walker Road was built in 1893 on a tract of land deeded to the Walkerville Land and Building Company by Hiram Walker on December 19, 1890. The Walkerville Land and Building Company built and leased these homes for employees of the Hiram Walker distillery. A full range of municipal services, including water, were provided for them by the Company.

731 Walker Road is the north half of a T-shaped, two storey, semi-detached building. It is one of five identical, semi-detached Hiram Walker Worker Houses located on the west side of the 700 block of Walker Road. It features red brick laid in stretcher bond on a foundation of fieldstone, a pitched roof, a decorative fascia board with a finial at its peak, and two chimneys - one of which is decorated with corbelled brick moulding at its crest. There are eleven windows trimmed with brick voussoirs, some original millwork and double-hung, multi-paned, wood sash windows.

Hiram Walker, a distiller from Detroit, founded the Town of Walkerville in 1858. By the late 1880s the Walkers were developing rental properties for the distillery's employees at all levels. The building is located on the fringe of Walkerville where the working-class employees traditionally resided. 731 Walker Road, as well as the entire row of Hiram Walker Worker Houses on the 700 block of Walker Road, is representative of the former Town of Walkerville's original streetscape.

Sources: City of Windsor By-law 10051, December 11, 1989; Building Analysis Form, June 28, 1989.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of 731 Walker Road include its:
- two storey, brick structure
- red brick, laid in stretcher bond
- fieldstone foundation
- pitched roof
- chimney decorated with corbelled brick moulding
- original ornamental fascia board and gable detail
- brick voussoirs
- double-hung, multi-paned, wood sash windows
- original millwork