Wallaceburg

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 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,Lauriston, Victor “Romantic Kent: More than Three Centuries of History 1626-1952”, Chamberlain Press, Chatham Ontario (1952), p 51 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.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

{{Main|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.{{cite web |title=The Baldoon Mystery |url=http://www.visualheritage.ca/kent/baldoonmystery.htm |website=Chatham-Kent; A place of refuge |publisher=The Living History Multimedia Association |access-date=26 November 2018}}

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.{{cite book |last1=MANN |first1=Alan |last2=MANN |first2=Frank |title=Settlement on The Sydenham: The Story of Wallaceburg |date=1984 |publisher=Mann Historical Files |location=Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada}}{{rp|2–4}}

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.{{cite web |last1=VAN HAREN |first1=Henry |last2=GREGORY |first2=Kaelyn |title=105 years of glass: The beginning of the glass industry in Wallaceburg |url=https://www.ckinsider.ca/posts/11822/105-years-of-glass |website=CK Insider |access-date=22 February 2025}} This left approximately 1000 workers unemployed.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Another notable industry was the Dominion Sugar Company. It was opened in 1901, and merged in 1930 with another company.{{cite web |title=History of the Sugar Industry in Canada |url=https://sugar.ca/international-trade/canadian-sugar-market/history-of-sugar |website=Canadian Sugar Institute |publisher=The Canadian Sugar Institute |access-date=22 February 2025}} The company was known for producing raw sugar from sugar beets. The business in Wallaceburg closed in 1960.{{cn|date=February 2025|reason=Because the refining moved to Redpath's new refinery in Toronto?}}

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.{{cite news|title=Robbert Hartog Named Fellow of Georgian College|publisher=Midland Free Press|date=3 October 2003|id={{ProQuest|352538157}}}} The factory stopped manufacturing in Wallaceburg as late as 2006.{{rp|10-14}}

{{Main|John Lee (Inventor)}}

In 1878, James Paris Lee (1832–1904) and his brother John perfected a rifle with a box magazine in Wallaceburg.{{cite web |title=Page 13: Lee-Enfield Rifle |url=http://www.visualheritage.ca/kent/rifle.htm |website=Chatham-Kent: A place of refuge |publisher=The Living History Multimedia Association |access-date=26 November 2018}} 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. Image:Lee Enfield Rifle Prototype Wallaceburg Museum.jpg

Image:Thomas Douglas 5th Earl of Selkirk.jpg

Image:David Alexander Gordon.jpg

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.

Image:Wallaceburg Museum Glass Gallery.jpg

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.{{cite web |title=The Wallaceburg Museum |url=http://www.kent.net/wallaceburg-museum/ |access-date=26 November 2018}} 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.Myszkowski, Eugene. The Remington-Lee Rifle. New York: Excalibur Publications, 1994, 11-15.

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.

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.[http://www.kent.net/wambo/ Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing, WAMBO, one of Canada's foremost transportation displays of antique, classic and specialty vehicles]

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.

{{Weather box

|location = Wallaceburg (1951–1980)

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 18.3

|Feb record high C = 16.1

|Mar record high C = 29.4

|Apr record high C = 30.6

|May record high C = 33.5

|Jun record high C = 38.3

|Jul record high C = 38.9

|Aug record high C = 40.0

|Sep record high C = 37.2

|Oct record high C = 30.0

|Nov record high C = 26.1

|Dec record high C = 18.3

|year record high C = 40.0

|Jan high C = -1.4

|Feb high C = -0.4

|Mar high C = 4.8

|Apr high C = 12.8

|May high C = 19.9

|Jun high C = 24.9

|Jul high C = 27.4

|Aug high C = 26.5

|Sep high C = 22.4

|Oct high C = 16.0

|Nov high C = 8.0

|Dec high C = 1.2

|year high C = 13.5

|Jan mean C = -4.9

|Feb mean C = -4.1

|Mar mean C = 0.9

|Apr mean C = 7.7

|May mean C = 14.2

|Jun mean C = 19.3

|Jul mean C = 21.8

|Aug mean C = 21.1

|Sep mean C = 17.2

|Oct mean C = 11.3

|Nov mean C = 4.6

|Dec mean C = -1.9

|year mean C = 8.9

|Jan low C = -8.2

|Feb low C = -7.8

|Mar low C = -3.1

|Apr low C = 2.5

|May low C = 8.4

|Jun low C = 13.7

|Jul low C = 16.2

|Aug low C = 15.8

|Sep low C = 12.0

|Oct low C = 6.5

|Nov low C = 1.2

|Dec low C = -4.9

|year low C = 4.4

|Jan record low C = −30.0

|Feb record low C = −30.0

|Mar record low C = −22.0

|Apr record low C = −12.2

|May record low C = −3.3

|Jun record low C = 1.1

|Jul record low C = 1.7

|Aug record low C = 2.2

|Sep record low C = −2.2

|Oct record low C = −7.8

|Nov record low C = −15.6

|Dec record low C = −27.2

|year record low C = −30.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 49.1

|Feb precipitation mm = 51.3

|Mar precipitation mm = 67.3

|Apr precipitation mm = 72.8

|May precipitation mm = 62.7

|Jun precipitation mm = 78.3

|Jul precipitation mm = 60.0

|Aug precipitation mm = 71.8

|Sep precipitation mm = 62.5

|Oct precipitation mm = 58.2

|Nov precipitation mm = 61.2

|Dec precipitation mm = 64.7

|year precipitation mm = 759.9

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 25.4

|Feb rain mm = 32.6

|Mar rain mm = 55.0

|Apr rain mm = 70.2

|May rain mm = 62.7

|Jun rain mm = 78.3

|Jul rain mm = 60.0

|Aug rain mm = 71.8

|Sep rain mm = 62.5

|Oct rain mm = 57.7

|Nov rain mm = 53.8

|Dec rain mm = 39.9

|year rain mm = 669.9

|Jan snow cm = 23.8

|Feb snow cm = 19.4

|Mar snow cm = 12.3

|Apr snow cm = 2.6

|May snow cm = 0.0

|Jun snow cm = 0.0

|Jul snow cm = 0.0

|Aug snow cm = 0.0

|Sep snow cm = 0.0

|Oct snow cm = 0.5

|Nov snow cm = 7.1

|Dec snow cm = 23.2

|year snow cm = 88.9

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 9

|Feb precipitation days = 9

|Mar precipitation days = 10

|Apr precipitation days = 11

|May precipitation days = 10

|Jun precipitation days = 8

|Jul precipitation days = 8

|Aug precipitation days = 8

|Sep precipitation days = 8

|Oct precipitation days = 9

|Nov precipitation days = 9

|Dec precipitation days = 11

|year precipitation days = 110

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm

|Jan rain days = 4

|Feb rain days = 4

|Mar rain days = 7

|Apr rain days = 10

|May rain days = 10

|Jun rain days = 8

|Jul rain days = 8

|Aug rain days = 8

|Sep rain days = 8

|Oct rain days = 8

|Nov rain days = 8

|Dec rain days = 6

|year rain days = 89

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm

|Jan snow days = 6

|Feb snow days = 5

|Mar snow days = 4

|Apr snow days = 1

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 2

|Dec snow days = 5

|year snow days = 23

|source 1 = Environment Canada

{{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OLqRySaAdJSpajkEGmOAHd7zKR2FW72s/view

| title = Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 2: Temperature

| access-date = 21 October 2020}}

{{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nujco00lfiT0aBZHfW1Gs2P4MLFguxHR/view

| title = Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 3: Precipitation

| access-date = 21 October 2020}}

{{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

|url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1025&dispBack=0

| title = Wallaceburg

| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990

| access-date = 21 October 2020}}

|date=September 2012}}

Wallaceburg and Chatham-Kent as a whole are served by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, since 2019.{{cite news |last1=MORRISON |first1=Tom |title=Three hospital foundation boards merge into one |url=https://www.chathamdailynews.ca/news/local-news/three-hospital-foundation-boards-merge-into-one |access-date=6 March 2025 |work=The Chatham Daily News |date=3 April 2019}} The Public General Hospital and Saint 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 with a fully functioning facility. The now-Wallaceburg District Hospital has an emergency room, x-ray facility, laboratory, and various therapies.{{cite news |title=Next phase of Wallaceburg’s hospital re-development approved by the Province |url=https://sydenhamcurrent.ca/2024/05/01/next-phase-of-wallaceburgs-hospital-re-development-approved-by-the-province/ |access-date=6 March 2025 |work=Sydenham Current |date=1 May 2024}}

File:Wallaceburg Memorial Arena - Wallaceburg, ON.jpg

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.{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Ian|title=Wallaceburg Wins Kraft Celebration Tour Bid|url=http://www.cksn.ca/2011/07/wallaceburg-wins-kraft-celebration-tour-bid/|date=13 July 2011|publisher=CKSN - Chatham-Kent Sports Network|access-date=4 February 2012}}

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 {{convert|20|ft}}.[http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/14852_BookletChart.pdf NOAA BookletChart for small boaters for the St. Clair River - NOAA Chart 14852]

The Walpole Island Ferry serves as the closest method of transportation to the United States, located just outside of Wallaceburg.{{Cite web |last=Corporate Applications / Corporate Systems Division / Solutions Directorate / Information |first=Science & Technology Branch / Canada Border Services Agency |date=17 May 2013 |title=Directory of CBSA Offices and Services, Walpole Island Ferry |url=https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/offices-bureaux/1002-eng.html |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca}}

• The Wallaceburg Courier Press is a local paper owned and operated by Postmedia Network. It was owned by Gary O'Flynn from its debut in September 1972 to 1991. O'Flynn was a former mayor of the town (1989–1991). The Courier Press continues to print weekly and is online.

• The Wallaceburg News was a local paper owned and operated by the Osprey Media Group. It was the oldest paper in Wallaceburg. It closed in 1996, and later reformed in 1999 as the Wallaceburg Community News. It became the Wallaceburg News in 2003. The Wallaceburg News shut down in October 2007, and closed their office after a four-year newspaper war with the Courier Press.

• CKXS-FM is Wallaceburg's only local radio station, which launched on 20 October 2009. The station broadcasts at 99.1 FM with an adult contemporary format.

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:

• 2003–2006 Chip Gordon and Tom McGregor
• 2000–2003 Chip Gordon and Tom McGregor
• 1997–2000 Chip Gordon and Jeff Wesley

Following is a partial list of Wallaceburg Mayors[http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/CKPL/CKPL0027491681T.PDF Settlement on the Sydenham] prior to amalgamation into Chatham-Kent:

• 1991–1997 Jeff Wesley
• 1989–1991 Gary O'Flynn
• 1981–1989 Don Truan
• 1977–1981 Lou Stonehouse
• 1976 Joseph Taylor
• 1970–1975 Cecile Bechard
• 1966–1969 Nigel Savage
• 1963–1965 Alan B. Cousins
• 1962 George Clement
• 1959–1961 Robert Newberry
• 1957–1958 Jack Thompson
• 1952–1956 William Collins
• 1951 Wilfred Picard

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

• Brigitte Belton (1970–), Canada convoy protest founder
• David Corrente (1983–), former Minor League Baseball player and coach; member of Canada's Olympic Baseball Team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008
• David Alexander Gordon (1858–1919), Liberal Party MP, Wallaceburg mayor; co-founder of Sydenham Glass Company
• Jeanne Gordon (1885–1952), Metropolitan Opera singer, daughter of D. A. Gordon
• Seth Griffith (1993–), NHL player for Buffalo Sabres
• Tim Landeryou (1984–), racquetball player
• John Lee (1833–1907), co-inventor of the Lee rifle (1878)
• Stef Sanjati (1995–), YouTube personality and vlogger
• Doug Shedden (1961–), NHL player, EV Zug head coach
• Shaun Suisham (1981–), Pittsburgh Steelers player (placekicker)

{{Reflist|32em}}

{{Commons category|Wallaceburg, Ontario}}

• [http://www.chatham-kent.ca/default.htm Chatham-Kent Municipality]

{{authority control}}

Category:Communities in Chatham-Kent