CULTURAL MAPPING COMMUNITY STORIES The François Baby House - home of Windsor’s Community Museum During and after the American Revolution, many British Loyalists, but also Black Loyalists Settlement and freedom seekers, arrived en masse to this area. Sandwich town was and Diversity established to accommodate both French and British who Little archaeological evidence French heritage. Street pattern wished to remain loyal to the remains of the Anishinaabe, who and the long-lot farming system British crown. camped seasonally on what is fronting the river are other now present-day Windsor. The manifestations of early French With the arrival of the Great edges of the Ojibway Prairie and settlement. Western Railway in 1854 Windsor the surrounding thicker forests grew at exponential rates. provided the mix of habitats that Connecting the threads that However, the connections to would have fostered human life tie Windsor’s settlement history Old Sandwich Town are still and shelter. together is the prominent early strong. resident, François Baby. Born in In 1701Cadillac founded Detroit Detroit of French heritage, he It is one of the most historically on the North side of the river. was raised in Upper Canada. significant neighbourhoods in From there, the French settled Ontario, home to Windsor’s Petite Cote, the “small side” of Baby was captured during the historic Black community, as well the Detroit River, and set the War of 1812, and his home was as The Duff Baby House, built tone for Windsor becoming a taken over by the American in 1798 by Alexander Duff and hub welcoming various waves troops. After his return he was purchased by James Baby in of migration. The street names of elected to the Legislative 1805. Windsor, from Ouellette, Pelissier, assembly, being an early and François, reflect this early proponent of bilingualism. The Duff Baby House Heritage Festival Mackenzie Hall, Old Sandwich Town.