Historic Periods
Pre-Contact and Indigenous Treaties
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Long before European arrival, the land on which Amherstburg sits was the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy (Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomie) and the Wendat (Huron) Peoples. The Anishinaabe were key players in the 1600s fur trade, allying with the French. Following conflict and disease, a portion of the Wendat Nation merged with the Petun to form the Wyandot people, who established villages near present-day Amherstburg (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 1).
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The British gained control after the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). A significant land transfer occurred in 1784 when, as a reward for their alliance during the American Revolution, local Indigenous nations granted a seven-square-mile tract of land at the mouth of the Detroit River to nine British officers. This grant was part of the larger McKee Purchase of 1790 (Treaty 2), in which the Wyandot and other nations ceded a vast tract of land in southwestern Ontario but specifically reserved the lands of what is now Anderdon Township and parts of Malden for their own use (Source: Early History, p. 8).
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This reserved land, known as the Huron Reserve or Anderdon Reserve, was formally surrendered to the Crown through Treaty 35, signed on August 13, 1833. Faced with increasing pressure from settlement, the Wyandot Chiefs negotiated this treaty, ceding their claim to the reserve. This treaty was the final step in transferring the lands on which Amherstburg was established to full Crown ownership, paving the way for the town's further expansion and municipal development (Source: Government of Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs).
The Jay Treaty and the Founding of Fort Malden
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The pivotal moment in Amherstburg's founding came as a direct result of the Jay Treaty of 1794. This treaty between Great Britain and the United States resolved outstanding issues from the American Revolution, forcing the British to finally cede Detroit to the Americans in 1796 (Source: Early History, p. 5). Needing a new strategic post to command the Detroit River and manage the fur trade, the British established Fort Amherstburg (later known as Fort Malden) on the Canadian side, opposite the strategic Bois Blanc Island. The location was ideal, as its cannons could control the only deep-water channel in the river (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 14).
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Immediately following the fort's establishment, a town was laid out to accommodate the merchants, traders, and Loyalists who had followed the British troops from Detroit. In 1798, the first 21 town lots were established along what is now Dalhousie Street. The town grew rapidly, with a grid of narrow streets and 60 by 120-foot lots. Within three years, 75 dwellings had been built, marking the birth of "the new town on the garrison grounds" (Source: Amherstburg 1796-1996)
The War of 1812, Shipbuilding, and Maritime Trade
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During the War of 1812, Amherstburg (then called "Malden") became the military headquarters for the British Right Division in the western part of Upper Canada (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 5). Its location made it a center for shipbuilding and maritime trade. The King's Navy Yard, a major local employer, was crucial for building ships from local hardwood to control the Great Lakes, including the warship HMS Detroit (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 11). The port thrived with the export of agricultural goods and whitefish, and the import of trade goods.
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In September 1813, after the British naval defeat in the Battle of Lake Erie, the strategic situation became untenable. British forces under Major-General Procter made the decision to retreat. Before leaving, they burned Fort Malden and the Navy Yard to prevent them from falling into American hands (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 7-8). American forces occupied the town until the war's end in 1815. Following their departure, the town was rebuilt, re-establishing itself as a vital frontier commercial hub (Source: Early History, p. 19).
Upper Canada Rebellion (1837-1838)
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In the Rebellion of 1837-38, Amherstburg once again became a key military site. After the initial rebellion was suppressed, some rebels fled to the United States and, with American sympathizers, formed "Patriot" armies to raid Upper Canada. In January 1838, the Patriot Army launched attacks on the western frontier, temporarily occupying Bois Blanc Island and bombarding Amherstburg from the schooner Anne (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 104-105). Fort Malden was re-staffed and fortified, becoming the central defense point. The local militia, along with British troops, successfully repelled the invaders and captured the Anne, ending the immediate threat to the town (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 105).
A Beacon on the Underground Railroad
- The passage of the American Fugitive Slave Act in 1850 turned Amherstburg into a primary terminus on the Underground Railroad. Its location directly across the narrowest point of the Detroit River from the United States made it a beacon of hope for thousands of Freedom Seekers (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 18). The town's Black population swelled from around 400 to approximately 800 by 1860, making up a significant portion of the total population. This influx led to the establishment of the vibrant George-King-Seymour (GKS) Settlement. This community was centered around crucial institutions like the Amherstburg First Baptist Church and the Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, both of which were final stations on the journey to freedom and remain historic landmarks today (Source: Amherstburg 1796-1996, p. 7, 11-12)
The Enrolled Pensioners
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In 1851, another demographic shift occurred with the arrival of the Enrolled Pensioners. These retired British soldiers and their families were settled in Amherstburg as a reserve force to guard the fort, replacing the regular troops (Source: The Enrolled Pensioner Scheme, p. 89). A new subdivision of about 85 cottages were built for them in the northeast part of the town, creating a distinct neighbourhood (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 16).
Fort Malden was officially disarmed in 1859, and its barracks were briefly repurposed as a provincial lunatic asylum, bringing further economic activity (Source: Early History, p. 22). The century of growth culminated in 1878 when Amherstburg, with a population over 2,400, was officially incorporated as a Town (Source: Amherstburg 1796-1996)
Prohibition and Rum-Running (1920s-1933)
- During the era of Prohibition in the United States (1920-1933), Amherstburg's prime location on the Detroit River gave it a new, clandestine role. The town became a major center for rum-running, the illegal smuggling of alcohol across the border (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 101). The narrow river, numerous coves, and proximity to major American cities made it an ideal base of operations. Fast boats would make daring nighttime runs to deliver Canadian whisky and beer to a thirsty American market. This illicit trade brought a wave of cash and notoriety to the area, creating local legends and a brief, but intense, economic boom before its end with the repeal of Prohibition.
Industrialization and Modernization
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The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw Amherstburg transition into an industrial town. While the town had lobbied for a railway since the 1850s, it wasn't until the 1890s that a branch line fully extended into the town (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 17-18).
Large-scale industries began to dominate the local economy. The Anderdon Stone Quarry, originally worked by the Wyandots, was acquired for lime extraction. The most significant industrial development was the establishment of Brunner Mond Canada, a soda ash producer. For much of the 20th century, this plant was the single largest employer in Amherstburg, profoundly shaping its economy and community life for generations (Source: At the End of the Trail, p. 100).