The Walker House
The Walker House was built in 1850 by Francis “Paddy” Walker, an immigrant from Sligo, Ireland.
He travelled across the Atlantic with his wife, Jane, and their seven sons, and within a year of arriving in Kincardine they had built the Walker House as a tavern and Inn.
Paddy is noted for both his kindness towards travelers, his fiery temper, and his ingenuity as he supposedly rerouted the mouth of the Penetangore River to better serve his hotel.
The Fire
In 1995, the fate of the Walker House was uncertain. That January, a disastrous fire ravaged much of the original structure built in 1850 by Francis “Paddy” Walker.
Sparks from the basement furnace landed on nearby wires and the central location of the in-floor heating grate allowed the fire to spread quickly.
At the time, the Walker House served as the residence of Marie Gairns, who had purchased the building in 1942 with her husband, Al. For many years the building operated as an inn and boarding house and later as Marie’s residence. Luckily, firefighters were able to rescue Marie from the fire, but the damage left behind by the flames rendered the building uninhabitable.
Formation of the Paddy Walker Heritage Society
The badly damaged Walker House sat derelict and untouched for nearly four years following the fire. Many believed it would be demolished by the Municipality, but locals strongly opposed the idea given the historical and cultural significance of the building.
In 1999, the Paddy Walker Heritage Society (PWHS) was formed and purchased the Walker House from Marie Gairns with intent to restore the structure to its former glory. Their goal was to model the building’s interior and exterior after the original mid-19th century style, thereby replicating Paddy Walker’s Inn & Tavern.
Restoration Work
Starting in the fall of 1998, volunteers worked tirelessly over the next several years to restore the old Walker House. Among the major repairs were the reconstruction of the staircase; construction of a bar; tables and chairs for the tavern; installation of new legs to the original kitchen tabletop; construction of a functional kitchen and bathrooms; and renovation of the upstairs bedrooms. When locals learned the Walker House was being restored, much of Paddy’s furniture made its way back which allowed for a faithful recreation of the original Inn.
In 2008, the Walker House officially reopened as a Museum & Heritage Centre.
The PWHS launched its first Capital Campaign in 2021 to raise funds to continue work at the Walker House, as exterior revitalization was needed. Refurbishments included the replacement of siding and windows, repair of the front door sill and steps, and repainting of the entire building’s exterior.