Windsor in Essex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

District Court House and Goal

Mackenzie Hall image. Click for full size.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), June 22, 2012

1. Mackenzie Hall

Inscription. When the British withdrew from Detroit in 1796, they transferred the courts of the Western District to Sandwich (Windsor). An abandoned blockhouse, relocated from Chatham, served briefly as the court house and gaol until fire destroyed it in 1797. Its replacement, built soon afterwards, was burned by American soldiers in the War of 1812. A brick court house and gaol, completed by 1820, served until 1856 when the present building was constructed. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by Albert H. Jordan of Detroit, it was built by stonemason Alexander Mackenzie, who later became Canada's second Prime Minister. It housed the Essex County Courts until 1963. Renamed Mackenzie Hall, the restored building opened in 1985 as a community and arts centre.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 42° 18.008′ N, 83° 4.598′ W. Marker is in Windsor, Ontario, in Essex County. Marker is on Sandwich Street West just north of Brock Street, on the right when traveling

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north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3277 Sandwich St W, Windsor ON N9C 1A9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Jesuit Mission to the Hurons (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); 1748 (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Detroit Copper & Brass (approx. 1.3 kilometers away in the U.S.); Montreal Point in 1782 (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); Fort Wayne (approx. 1.7 kilometers away in the U.S.); The Capture of Detroit (approx. 2 kilometers away); Ste. Anne Church / Gabriel Richard (approx. 2.3 kilometers away in the U.S.); Gabriel Richard (approx. 2.3 kilometers away in the U.S.). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Windsor.

Also see . . . History of Mackenzie Hall. The site of many memorable trials including that of "fighting parson" Rev. J. Spracklin, Mackenzie Hall served as a courthouse until 1963. This page includes an extensive timeline of the site that spans across all of parts of four centuries. (City of Windsor) (Submitted on May 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

District Court House and Goal Marker image. Click for full size.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), June 22, 2012

2. District Court House and Goal Marker

Named for the stonemason who built it, the building is now known as Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre. Marker is by the very large bush/small tree on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.