Windmills, Boats And British Regulars

A story of early Detroit from DETROIT IN 1827 AND LATER ON. By General Friend Palmer.

"The windmills along the river also attracted our wondering attention. Three were located on the Canadian side of the river, one on the point opposite the residence of the late Joseph Taylor and two just above the present site of Walkerville. The one on the American side was on a small point where Knagg’s creek then entered the river and opposite the old Knagg’s homestead, Hubbard’s farm (since destroyed)."

"Two companies of British regulars in their red coats (they were stationed at Sandwich), were going through their drill on the green in front of the old Huron Catholic church, its decaying walls propped by poles, and on the open in front was planted a high wooden cross, (since destroyed). The parsonage or mission house was there, though I think it has since been destroyed, held up by its two enormous chimneys at either end. The contrast presented by the red of the soldiers’ uniforms and the green sward will always remain a vivid picture in my memory, so new and so unique."

Captain Burtis's Boat

"The Indians in their canoes, to whom a boat propelled without the aid of sails or oars was always an object of wonder, attracted our attention also, as did the horse-ferry boat, John Burtis, captain, that plied between Detroit and Windsor, as slow as ‘molasses in January.’ The description of the celebrated first steam Monitor of the civil war (Ericsson’s) would aptly apply to this boat of Burtis’, namely, ‘a cheese box on a raft.’"