City To Correct The Spelling Of Matchette Road To Matchett Road

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The City of Windsor is looking to correct the spelling of Matchette Road to Matchett Road without the ‘e’ at the end.

This comes following the request of Allan Matchett, a local resident and descendant of Alfred Matchett, whom the road was named after.

Alfred Matchett, born in Ontario in 1844, was a farmer, early pioneer of Essex County, and Canadian veteran of the Fenian Raids on Canada in 1866 after the United States Civil War. He owned several properties in Sandwich West in the mid-1800s.

According to a city report, it says that based on a map in the collection of Museum Windsor, it can be seen that his properties in Sandwich West fronted the road which bears his name. This general area later became part of the former Town of Ojibway, and so by living and working there on his farm, Alfred Matchett was one of the first persons to settle in the Town.

The report goes on to say that circa 1890s map of Sandwich West, the road today known as Matchette Road is spelled Matchett Road without the ‘e’.

The ‘e’ addition becomes more prevalent beginning in the 1940s. “This can possibly be attributed to the French heritage of the area as the ‘ette’ ending is common in that language,” the city report states.

The estimated cost of correcting the spelling of Matchette Road, including changing street signs, is $6,580.

Canada Post that there would be no cost associated with changing the spelling of Matchette Road, as the old (original) spelling would be included as a valid alternative in their addressing database.

The name change goes to city council on July 11th.