Description of Historic Place

753 Walker Road is a semi-detached, two storey brick dwelling built in 1893 for employees of the Hiram Walker distillery. 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 10317.

Heritage Value

753 Walker Road is an exceptional example of Victorian-era, middle class housing built in the former Town of Walkerville during the 1890s. It is an integral component within a grouping of five identical Hiram Walker Worker Houses on the west side of Walker Road.

The south side of this two storey dwelling 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 to employees of the Hiram Walker distillery. A full range of municipal services were provided for them by the Walkerville Land and Building Company.

753 Walker Road is the south half of a T-shaped, two-storey, semi-detached building. It features red brick walls laid in stretcher bond, a fieldstone foundation, a pitched roof, a decorative fascia board with a finial at its peak, eleven window openings with brick voussoirs, double-hung, multi-paned wood sash windows and some original ornamental wood millwork.

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. 753 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 10317, May 11, 1990; Building Analysis Form, June 29, 1989

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that that embody the heritage value of 753 Walker Road include its:
- two storey, semi-detached construction
- red brick walls laid in stretcher bond
- fieldstone foundation
- pitched roof
- original ornamental fascia board and finial
- eleven window openings with brick voussoirs
- double hung, multi-paned wood sash windows
- original ornamental wood millwork
- status as one of a grouping of five identical, semi-detached buildings