Tour Walkerville’s Rumrunner-era Low-Martin House This Weekend

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If you’re interested in exploring the history of a famous rumrunner home in Walkerville, this weekend you’ll have a chance.

Tours are being offered at the Low-Martin House, also known as Devonshire Lodge, and one local author is releasing a book that tells the story of the building, and its restoration by BetterMade Cabinets owner Vern Myslichuk.

Two Men And Their Monster, the story of the men who built and then saved the mansion that stands as a symbol of Windsor’s notorious Rumrunner era will be released on Saturday, June 6th. It’s a true tale of the conception, building and restoration of Harry Low’s famed Devonshire Lodge, and the life story of the man himself, written by Windsor writer Gary May.

The book is well described by its subtitle: Harry Low Built A Walkerville Legend; Vern Myslichuk Raised It From The Dead.

Political icon Paul Martin Sr. and his wife, Alice, bought the house in 1960. After the Martins died in the 1990s, the house fell into disrepair. In 2012, Myslichuk purchased and began restoring the ‘magnificent and quirky’ estate to its original Roaring Twenties glam. He affectionately dubbed his house “The Monster.”

Now Myslichuk is opening his doors to the public to see his work for themselves. And on June 6th, beginning at 10am, the book will be launched and offered for sale at the house that dominates the corner of Devonshire Road and Ontario Street in Windsor’s Walkerville neighbourhood.

Tours of the house will be offered this Art In The Park weekend, on June 6th from 10am to 6pm, and on June 7th from 10am to 3pm.

There’s a $10 entry fee ($5 for those aged 11 to 17). Partial proceeds go to Windsor’s Transition to Betterness charitable foundation. The book will be on sale for $25 (or $20 with a house tour ticket) over the weekend.