Wallaceburg

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Wallaceburg, Ontario
Unincorporated community
Wallaceburg ON.JPG
Chatham-Kent locator map 2021.svg
Red pog.svg
Wallaceburg, Ontario
Canada Southern Ontario location map 2.png
Red pog.svg
Wallaceburg, Ontario
Coordinates: 42°35′41″N82°23′03″W / 42.59472°N 82.38417°W / 42.59472; -82.38417
Country Canada
Province Ontario
Municipality Chatham-Kent
Government
 • Governing body Chatham-Kent Municipal Council
 •  MPs Bev Shipley (CPC)
Dave Van Kesteren (CPC)
 •  MPPs Rick Nicholls (OPC)
Monte McNaughton (OPC)
Area
[1]
 • Land8.83 km2 (3.41 sq mi)
Elevation
198 m (650 ft)
Population
 (2016) [1]
 • Total10,098
 • Density1,143.9/km2 (2,963/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
N8A
Area code(s) 519 and 226
NTS Map040J09
GNBC CodeFDATX
Website wallaceburg.ca

Wallaceburg (2016 population 10,098) is an unincorporated community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent in Southern (Southwestern) Ontario, Canada. Originally a small settlement, it was recognized for its significant contribution to the lumber and boat building industries and strategic location along the banks of the scenic Sydenham River. In more recent years, 1895–1999, the town was known for its glass making industry. For that reason, Wallaceburg is locally known as the "glass town of Canada".

Contents

Wallaceburg is the home of WAMBO (Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing), an annual antique car, boat, bus, and fire truck show that began in 1988.

History

The town was founded in the early 19th century and named after Scotland's national hero, Sir William Wallace. It was incorporated as a village in 1875 and then as a town in 1896. In 1998, it was amalgamated into the new municipality of Chatham–Kent.

The Baldoon settlement

The first settlers to the Wallaceburg area came in 1804. They initially settled along the Snye River at a location they called the Baldoon Settlement. Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk, provided an opportunity for poor farmers and peasants from Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland to come to what is now known as Wallaceburg to build better lives for themselves. He is often considered a great philanthropist for his efforts working with his poor countrymen. Unfortunately, the early Baldoon settlers faced a plethora of difficulties: malaria, [2] harsh winters, marshland, lack of food, and American invaders during the War of 1812. By the 1820s, the settlement was deemed a failure by Lord Selkirk and other interested parties. The Baldoon settlers, however, did not give up; many of them contributed to the early success and development of the town of Wallaceburg. [3]

CensusPopulation
1871600
18811,625
18912,726
19012,763
19113,438
19214,006
19314,326
19414,986
19517,688
19617,881
197110,550
198111,506
199111,846
200111,114
200610,703
201110,127
201610,098

The Baldoon mystery

The Baldoon Mystery is one of Ontario's greatest haunting stories, handed down by word of mouth. The strange events of this case are alleged to have occurred between 1829 and 1840, within a few kilometres of Wallaceburg, Ontario. [4]

Industrial history

The town's first major industry was the lumber trade. It was highly successful during the mid- to late 19th century. The most notable business that developed during this era was the Wallaceburg Cooperage Company. It was opened by David Alexander Gordon and his uncle Captain James Steinhoff in 1887. By the end of the 19th century it was difficult to make large profits off of a declining hardwood supply. Industrialists needed to find other business ideas to sustain the local economy. [5]

When historians think of Wallaceburg they often remember its three major modern industries: glass, brass, and sugar. In 1894 the Sydenham Glass Company began. The glassmaking industry in Wallaceburg lasted over 100 years. The factory closed in 1999. This left approximately 1000 workers unemployed.

Another notable industry was the Canadian and Dominion Sugar Company. It was opened in 1901. The company was known for producing raw sugar from sugar beets. It closed in 1960.

The Wallaceburg Brass Company was the third staple industry. It opened in 1905 and was famous for creating brass faucets and plumbing supplies. The company later merged with Kindred industries, founded by Robbert Hartog, and was known thereafter as known as Waltec. [6] The factory stopped manufacturing in Wallaceburg as late as 2006. [7]

The Lee rifle prototype

In 1878, James Paris Lee (1832–1904) and his brother John perfected a rifle with a box magazine in Wallaceburg. [8] This rifle later became an antecedent to the famous Lee–Enfield rifle. A well-trained person could fire approximately 15 to 30 shots a minute. The prototype was tested successfully in Wallaceburg and is currently housed at the Wallaceburg and District Museum. [8]

Lee Rifle prototype, 1878 Lee Enfield Rifle Prototype Wallaceburg Museum.jpg
Lee Rifle prototype, 1878
Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk Thomas Douglas 5th Earl of Selkirk.jpg
Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk
David Alexander Gordon David Alexander Gordon.jpg
David Alexander Gordon

Tourist attractions

Wallaceburg is home to a number attractions and yearly events. Tourists come to Wallaceburg to experience fishing, hunting, golf, and pleasure boating. Fishers enjoy a variety of species, including bass, walleye, perch, pike, muskie, trout, and panfish. Hunters take pleasure in searching for the area's abundant population of water fowl, deer, and rabbits. Boaters enjoy a vast array of rivers and lakes. There is still water for knee boarders and wake boarders. There is also open water nearby for those who enjoy sailing and scuba diving.

Wallaceburg Museum glass industry exhibit Wallaceburg Museum Glass Gallery.jpg
Wallaceburg Museum glass industry exhibit

The Wallaceburg and District Museum documents the history of Wallaceburg, starting with the area's First Nations groups dating back thousands of years. It then moves to the first European settlement started by Lord Selkirk's Baldoon settlers, in 1804. However, the museum's current major focus is on the community's rich industrial heritage. Some of the major industries highlighted include glass, brass, and sugar.

The museum is also home to the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame and a number of other temporary and rotating exhibits. [9] Arguably the most internationally significant artifact on display is the Lee Rifle prototype, the precursor to the Lee–Enfield Rifle. This dates back to 1878 and was invented and perfected in Wallaceburg by James Paris and John Lee. The first shots of the rifle were believed to be taken at the Lee Foundry on the banks of the Sydenham River. [10]

The community also hosts a number of annual events that attract people from around North America. WAMBO is the most notable and is commented on at length below. Live theatre can be experienced at various times during the year. The Jeanne Gordon Theatre puts on at least two productions annually.

Wallaceburg is only minutes from Uncle Tom's Cabin, and is within an hour's drive of Blenheim, Point Pelee National Park, and Rondeau Provincial Park.

WAMBO

The Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing is Wallaceburg's largest annual summer festival and was started in 1988. It is the largest transportation show in Canada. It takes place on the second weekend in August every year. The event attracts approximately 30 000 visitors to see the boats, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, fire trucks, tractors, and various other antique vehicles.

In addition to antique vehicle exhibitions, WAMBO also includes a number of other significant events, including a car dream cruise, soap box races, a toy show, art in the park, live bands, food vendors, art and craft vendors, pioneer crafts at the museum, camping in Crothers Park, and free admission to the Wallaceburg and District Museum. [11]

Education

School boards serving the community include Lambton Kent District School Board, the St. Clair Catholic District School Board, the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence (CSC Providence), and the Conseil scolaire Viamonde .

Wallaceburg has six elementary schools and a high school. The public elementary schools are A. A. Wright, and H. W. Burgess. The Catholic elementary schools include St Elizabeth, Holy Family, and Christ the King. There is also Wallaceburg Christian School. Wallaceburg District Secondary School is the town's high school. It accommodates children from Wallaceburg and the surrounding rural communities. In 2018 Edward International Academy opened in the former D. A. Gordon Public school as a private high school with boarding available for foreign and domestic students.

Climate

Climate data for Wallaceburg (1951–1980)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)18.3
(64.9)		16.1
(61.0)		29.4
(84.9)		30.6
(87.1)		33.5
(92.3)		38.3
(100.9)		38.9
(102.0)		40.0
(104.0)		37.2
(99.0)		30.0
(86.0)		26.1
(79.0)		18.3
(64.9)		40.0
(104.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)−1.4
(29.5)		−0.4
(31.3)		4.8
(40.6)		12.8
(55.0)		19.9
(67.8)		24.9
(76.8)		27.4
(81.3)		26.5
(79.7)		22.4
(72.3)		16.0
(60.8)		8.0
(46.4)		1.2
(34.2)		13.5
(56.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)−4.9
(23.2)		−4.1
(24.6)		0.9
(33.6)		7.7
(45.9)		14.2
(57.6)		19.3
(66.7)		21.8
(71.2)		21.1
(70.0)		17.2
(63.0)		11.3
(52.3)		4.6
(40.3)		−1.9
(28.6)		8.9
(48.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−8.2
(17.2)		−7.8
(18.0)		−3.1
(26.4)		2.5
(36.5)		8.4
(47.1)		13.7
(56.7)		16.2
(61.2)		15.8
(60.4)		12.0
(53.6)		6.5
(43.7)		1.2
(34.2)		−4.9
(23.2)		4.4
(39.9)
Record low °C (°F)−30
(−22)		−30
(−22)		−22
(−8)		−12.2
(10.0)		−3.3
(26.1)		1.1
(34.0)		1.7
(35.1)		2.2
(36.0)		−2.2
(28.0)		−7.8
(18.0)		−15.6
(3.9)		−27.2
(−17.0)		−30
(−22)
Average precipitation mm (inches)49.1
(1.93)		51.3
(2.02)		67.3
(2.65)		72.8
(2.87)		62.7
(2.47)		78.3
(3.08)		60.0
(2.36)		71.8
(2.83)		62.5
(2.46)		58.2
(2.29)		61.2
(2.41)		64.7
(2.55)		759.9
(29.92)
Average rainfall mm (inches)25.4
(1.00)		32.6
(1.28)		55.0
(2.17)		70.2
(2.76)		62.7
(2.47)		78.3
(3.08)		60.0
(2.36)		71.8
(2.83)		62.5
(2.46)		57.7
(2.27)		53.8
(2.12)		39.9
(1.57)		669.9
(26.37)
Average snowfall cm (inches)23.8
(9.4)		19.4
(7.6)		12.3
(4.8)		2.6
(1.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.5
(0.2)		7.1
(2.8)		23.2
(9.1)		88.9
(35.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)9910111088889911110
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)4471010888888689
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)65410000002523
Source: Environment Canada [12] [13] [14]

Healthcare

Wallaceburg and Chatham-Kent as a whole are served by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. The Public General Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital in Chatham were moved to a single campus in 2004, while the former Sydenham District Hospital remains in Wallaceburg. The Sydenham District Hospital was opened in 1957 after many years of lobbying. Wallaceburg is one of the few smaller communities in Ontario that has a fully functioning facility. It has an emergency room, surgical department, x-ray facility, laboratory, and several qualified doctors and surgeons.

Sports

Wallaceburg Memorial Arena Wallaceburg Memorial Arena - Wallaceburg, ON.jpg
Wallaceburg Memorial Arena

Wallaceburg is home to an assortment of amateur sports teams. The Wallaceburg Thunderhawks are the local Junior C hockey team. The Wallaceburg Red Devils are the local Junior B lacrosse team. Other teams include the Wallaceburg Warriors, men's and women's baseball teams, and the Wallaceburg District Secondary School Tartans. In 2001, the Wallaceburg Red Devils won the Founders Cup, the national Championship for Canadian Junior B lacrosse.

Wallaceburg was one of the stops on the historic Olympic Torch Relay (Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics) on Christmas Eve, 2009 (Day 56).

In 2011, Wallaceburg was selected to win a community grant of $25,000 from TSN and Kraft Foods to refresh outdoor lacrosse fields. Many town members spent hours voting continuously over that 24-hour span, and even booked the local UAW hall in town to hold a voting session. Some townspeople also had friends in Australia, England, the United States and South Korea voting for the town. [15]

Transportation

Wallaceburg is linked to Chatham, Blenheim, Sarnia and the Blue Water Bridge to the United States by Highway 40. The Sydenham River runs through the town of Wallaceburg, and provides a water connection to Lake St. Clair and the rest of the Great Lakes water basin. The Sydenham River is dredged to a depth of approximately 20 feet (6.1 m). [16]

Media

Print

Radio

Politics

In the November 2006 municipal election Tom McGregor and Sheldon Parsons were elected as Ward Five Chatham-Kent councillors. These two men are responsible to constituents in the Wallaceburg area. Go to Chatham-Kent Municipal Council for a list of other municipal politicians.

Previous representatives:

Following is a partial list of Wallaceburg Mayors [17] prior to amalgamation into Chatham-Kent:

Community organizations

Wallaceburg is home to a number of strong community organizations, including the Wallaceburg & District Chamber of Commerce, the BIA, Rotary (1945–2020), Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus, Royal Canadian Legion, and Kinsmen.

Notable residents

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatham-Kent</span> Municipality in Ontario, Canada

Chatham-Kent is a single-tier municipality in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is mostly rural, and its population centres are Chatham, Wallaceburg, Tilbury, Blenheim, Ridgetown, Wheatley and Dresden. The current Municipality of Chatham-Kent was created in 1998 by the amalgamation of Blenheim, Bothwell, Camden, the City of Chatham, the Township of Chatham, Dover, Dresden, Erie Beach, Erieau, Harwich, Highgate, Howard, Orford, Raleigh, Ridgetown, Duart, Thamesville, Tilbury East, Tilbury, Wallaceburg, Wheatley and Zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walpole Island First Nation</span> Unceded territory in Ontario, Canada

Walpole Island is an island and First Nation reserve in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the border between Ontario and Michigan in the United States. It is located in the mouth of the Saint Clair River on Lake Saint Clair, about 121 kilometres (75 mi) by road from Windsor, Ontario, and 124 kilometres (77 mi) from Detroit, Michigan.

The Sydenham River is a river in Chatham-Kent, Lambton County and Middlesex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, flowing southwest from its source west of London, Ontario and emptying into Lake Saint Clair. The length of the river is 165 kilometres (103 mi) and it drains a watershed of approximately 2,700 square kilometres (1,000 sq mi). The river flows through the towns of Strathroy and Wallaceburg. It was named after Lord Sydenham, governor of Canada from 1839 to 1841.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lambton County</span> County in Ontario, Canada

Lambton County is a county in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which is drained by the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake Saint Clair and Chatham-Kent. Lambton County's northeastern border follows the Ausable River and Parkhill Creek north until it reaches Lake Huron at the beach community of Grand Bend. The county seat is in the Town of Plympton-Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent County, Ontario</span> Former County in Ontario, Canada

Kent County, area 2,458 km2 is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilbury, Ontario</span> Unincorporated community in Ontario, Canada

Tilbury is a community within the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada. It is located 26.5 kilometres (16.5 mi) southwest of Chatham-Kent and 57.3 kilometres (35.6 mi) east of Windsor on Highway 401.

Arthur St. Clair Gordon was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1934 to 1945. He served in the cabinet of Mitchell Hepburn.

The St. Clair Parkway, historically referred to as the River Road, is a scenic parkway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It travels alongside the St. Clair River from west of Wallaceburg to Sarnia, a distance of 41.8 kilometres (26.0 mi). It formed a portion of the route of Highway 40 until it was bypassed by an inland route that opened in the mid-1970s. The St. Clair River Parkway Commission maintained the route from 1966 until 2006, when it was disbanded and responsibility over the parkway transferred to Chatham-Kent and Lambton County, both of which designate the route as County Road 33. The communities of Port Lambton, Sombra, Courtright, Mooretown, Corunna and Froomfield are located along the parkway, all early settlements of the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dresden, Ontario</span> Community in Ontario, Canada

Dresden is an agricultural community in southwestern Ontario, Canada, part of the municipality of Chatham-Kent. It is located on the Sydenham River. The community is named after Dresden, Germany. The major field crops in the area, by both acreage and production, are grain corn, soybean, and winter wheat. The main horticultural crop is tomatoes, followed by sweet corn and carrots.

King's Highway 40, commonly referred to as Highway 40, is a provincially maintained highway in the southwestern portion of the Canadian province of Ontario. The 91.4-kilometre (56.8 mi) route links Chatham and Sarnia via Wallaceburg, following close to the St. Clair River. The southern terminus is at Highway 401 south of Chatham, while the northern terminus is at Highway 402 in Sarnia. The portion of Highway 40 between Highway 401 and north of Wallaceburg is within the municipality of Chatham-Kent, while the portion north of there is within Lambton County.

Tupperville is a community on the Sydenham River in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada and has a population of approx. 300 people. Tupperville was named after Canada's sixth Prime Minister Sir Charles Tupper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Alexander Gordon</span> Canadian politician

David Alexander Gordon was a Canadian politician. Born in Wallaceburg, Canada West, the son of Aaron Gordon, and Jane Steinchoff, Gordon educated at the public schools in Wallaceburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallaceburg and District Museum</span> Cultural/Historic Museum in Ontario, Canada

The Wallaceburg and District Museum is located in Southern Ontario in the town of Wallaceburg. Located a half-block from the banks of the Sydenham River, the museum occupies the former Wallaceburg Hydro Office at 505 King Street. The museum opened on June 29, 1984. The museum documents the beginning of the Wallaceburg community from the founding of the Baldoon Settlement by Lord Selkirk in 1804 to its success as an industrial hub in the mid-1900s.

The Wallaceburg Antique Motor Boat Outing ("WAMBO") in Wallaceburg, Ontario, is an annual summer festival of antique, classic, and specialty vehicles. Started in 1988, it takes place on the second weekend of August every year. The event attracts approximately 30 000 visitors to see antique boats, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, fire trucks, tractors, and other various antique vehicles.

John Lee was a Scottish-Canadian inventor and arms designer, best known for co-inventing a prototype bolt-action rifle with his brother James Paris Lee. The rifle they made led to the Lee–Metford and Lee–Enfield series of rifles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallaceburg District Secondary School</span> Canadian high school

Wallaceburg District Secondary School is the high school in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada. While offering education for grades 9 to 12, the building houses public school students for grades 7 and 8. The school comes within the control of the Lambton Kent District School Board. Feeder schools include the A. A. Wright Public School and H. W. Burgess Public School. Students also attend from the nearby Walpole Island First Nation.

The Erie St. Clair LHIN is one of fourteen Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) in the Canadian province of Ontario.

King's Highway 78, commonly referred to as Highway 78, was a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The 17.60-kilometre (10.94 mi) route connected Highway 40 in downtown Wallaceburg with Highway 21 in Dresden.

Running Creek is a stream in the municipality of Chatham-Kent in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is a left distributary of the Chenail Ecarté, is a tributary of the North Sydenham River, and is part of the Great Lakes Basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Sydenham River</span> River in Ontario, Canada

The North Sydenham River is a river in the municipalities of Saint Clair and Chatham-Kent in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is a tributary of the Sydenham River, and is part of the Great Lakes Basin.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wallaceburg Ontario (Population Centre)". Census Profile, Canada 2016 Census . Statistics Canada. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  2. ↑ Lauriston, Victor “Romantic Kent: More than Three Centuries of History 1626-1952”, Chamberlain Press, Chatham Ontario (1952), p 51
  3. ↑ Campey, Lucille H. The Silver Chief: Lord Selkirk and the Scottish Pioneers of Belfast, Baldoon, and Red River. Toronto: Natural Heritage Books, 2003, 51-60
  4. ↑ "The Baldoon Mystery". Chatham-Kent; A place of refuge. The Living History Multimedia Association. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  5. ↑ Mann, Alan and Frank. Settlement on The Sydenham: The Story of Wallaceburg. Wallaceburg: Standard Press, 1984, 2-4.
  6. ↑ "Robbert Hartog Named Fellow of Georgian College". Midland Free Press. 3 October 2003. ProQuest   352538157.
  7. ↑ Mann, Alan and Frank. Settlement on The Sydenham: The Story of Wallaceburg. Wallaceburg: Standard Press, 1984, 10-14
  8. 1 2 "Page 13: Lee-Enfield Rifle". Chatham-Kent: A place of refuge. The Living History Multimedia Association. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ↑ "The Wallaceburg Museum" . Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  10. ↑ Myszkowski, Eugene. The Remington-Lee Rifle. New York: Excalibur Publications, 1994, 11-15.
  11. ↑ Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing, WAMBO, one of Canada&#8217's foremost transportation displays of antique, classic and specialty vehicles
  12. ↑ "Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 2: Temperature". Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 3: Precipitation". Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Wallaceburg". Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990. Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  15. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (13 July 2011). "Wallaceburg Wins Kraft Celebration Tour Bid". CKSN - Chatham-Kent Sports Network. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  16. ↑ NOAA BookletChart for small boaters for the St. Clair River - NOAA Chart 14852
  17. ↑ Settlement on the Sydenham
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