Kingsville Historical Coin Series

Illustrated and Designed by: Kristine Verbeek of K Design Studio, Kingsville, ON

Research Assistance provided by: The Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society, The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation and Kingsville Historical Park Museum

Our first coin “Wild Goose Jack” pays tribute to Jack Miner, the man who made Kingsville a household name in the 1900’s and became known as the “Father of Conservation.” Born in Dover Centre, Ohio, Jack was deemed “not suited for school” and spent most of his spare time in the creeks and woods studying the habits of wildlife and waterfowl. At thirteen, he moved with his family to Kingsville and helped supplement the family income as a professional trapper and hunter, before founding a brick and tile manufacturing business. By 1900, Jack began to see a noticeable decrease in game and realized that a balanced approach to conservation was necessary to protect bird and animal life. In 1904, he founded the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary for the conservation of migratory waterfowl and birds. Information collected by Jack Miner through the practice of tagging ducks and geese as they passed through his Sanctuary led to the establishment of the Migratory Bird Treaty between the United States and Canada in 1916, and the Migratory Bird Convention Act in 1917. 

In order to raise money to maintain the sanctuary, Jack embarked on a series of lecture tours that featured educational videos sponsored by his friend, automobile manufacturer Henry Ford. His pleasing personality drew large crowds, captivated audiences, and gained generous support from the press. In 1914, he was inspired to include a verse of scripture on the bands, which had a profound effect on the hunters who found the verse on birds they killed, and on the thousands of people who knew Jack Miner’s name.

Jack’s research, passion and purpose made him North America’s most respected conservationist throughout his lifetime. Countless thousands of people have been privileged to visit the Sanctuary and continue to enjoy this unique spot year after year. At the time of his death in 1944, he was referred to as one of the five best known men in North America alongside Henry Ford, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Lindbergh and Eddie Rickenbacker. A deserved and enduring tribute was paid to him when Canadian Parliament passed an Act in 1947 fixing the week of his birthday, April 10th, as National Wildlife Week. The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation continues to promote Jack Miner’s legacy through banding, education programs, special events and exhibitions to this day.

Illustrated and Designed by: Kristine Verbeek of K Design Studio, Kingsville, ON

Research Assistance provided by: The Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society and Kingsville Historical Park Museum

Our second coin honours popular local teacher, active community leader and pioneer citizen, Colonel James King. King was born in Devonshire, England in 1805 and immigrated to Montréal in 1829 with his wife, Sarah (Perry) Nightingale and her two sons, Leonard and Ernest Nightingale. Here, King conducted a Boys’ school with clergyman, Dr. Workman. After a few years, the King family and Dr. Workman left Montréal for the state of Michigan due to a cholera outbreak, but made up their minds to dispose of their property when they did not enjoy living in the United States. While retracing their steps to Montréal, the group reached Windsor in December of 1835. As Colonel King and his family were travelling with their infant son, they opted to part ways with Dr. Workman, rent a house and remain in Windsor until spring. Not one to be idle, King went to Gosfield and took a school through the winter. His arduous efforts to teach under the handicaps of pioneer living were unique. He afterwards engaged as clerk to the Mill Co., whose business was near Kingsville and made up his mind to remain in Essex County.

Considered the “Founder of Kingsville,” Colonel King played an active and constructive role in Kingsville’s early life. He built the first house in the area, on what is now King Street and was instrumental in mapping out parts of two farms into building lots in 1850, from Mill Street North to Water Street and Prince Albert Street East to Spruce Street, making Division Street and Main Street the main intersection of the new community. He was a loyal soldier; named Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Essex Regiment when rebellion broke out in the Canadian colony in 1837. For many years, he was the superintendent of schools for Gosfield and was active in building the first Anglican Church in Kingsville. During his later years, he would hold positions as a customs officer, notary public and division court clerk, administering all offices to the satisfaction of the people. 

In recognition of their founder, the name “Kingsville” was chosen by its citizens in 1852 as the name of their new postal outlet and existing hamlet. During the 1999 amalgamation of the Townships of Gosfield North and South with the Town of Kingsville and Villages of Ruthven and Cottam, voters selected “Kingsville” as the name to represent their larger, diverse municipality.  Colonel James King died Monday, September 13, 1880 and left a family of three sons, one daughter and two stepsons: Dr. Sydney King, James Workman King, Alfred King, Helena (King) Allworth, Leonard Nightingale and Ernest Nightingale. Two of his sons, James and Sydney, would spend their entire lives in Kingsville and leave their own indelible mark on the community.

Also included in the coin’s illustration is the unusual octagonal shaped house known as Kingsholme, erected by Colonel King between 1855 and 1859. Chosen as a representation of Kingsville’s architectural beauty, Kingsholme is enclosed on three sides by a fieldstone wall; a lasting and timeless structure that appears at many historical sites in town.  Despite modifications to accommodate household improvements throughout the decades, Kingsholme retains its considerable charm and remains a well-known local landmark.

The Town of Kingsville takes great pride in preserving its rich and storied past. The book series, “Kingsville 1790-2000: A Stroll through Time” is a fascinating resource for anyone looking to uncover more of the town’s history. Learn about Heritage Designated properties and historic sites at www.divisionoftime.ca.

Hiram Walker Coin, 2020

Illustrated and Designed by: Kristine Verbeek of K Design Studio, Kingsville, ON

Research Resources: The Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society, Kingsville Historical Park Museum, “Kingsville 1790-2000 - A Stroll Through Time” books, www.divisionoftime.ca

 Our third coin honours a founding father, industry creator, master builder and distiller, Hiram Walker. No single individual had more of an economic or social impact upon the development of Kingsville, and surrounding areas during the 19th century, than this whiskey magnate. 

Hiram Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts on July 4, 1816. At the age of 22, Walker moved west to Detroit to seek his fortune. He spent 20 years as a businessman, a grocer and later in the leather and tanning business. These represented good background training for his later projects which served to be even more profitable. When the State of Michigan passed a law in 1855 limiting the vending of liquor to druggists for medicinal purposes, Walker decided to diversify his interests by becoming involved in the grain-buying business. Walker realized Windsor was a potential site for developing his business operations due to the railway connections he had witnessed between Detroit and Buffalo, and the new Reciprocity Treaty of 1854, which enabled suppliers to ship natural products across to Canada without tariff. 

Walker not only designed and built Walkerville, Ontario (a model town entirely owned by the Walker family), his whisky business and town prospered and provided capital for the growth of innumerable businesses, including a grocery store, railway, Detroit Ferry Company (1888) and multiple factories; including a vinegar factory on the Detroit side, and the Windsor Distillery and Flour Mill. These investments and need for more workers, progressed into further housing, hotels, post office, bank, police and fire protection, paid for by Walker, along with a clean water pump system. He build and dedicated the church St. Mary’s, in memory of his wife who had died in 1872. 

Walker saw further investment, development and profitable opportunities further into South Western Ontario. Walker and his sons constructed the Lake Erie, Essex and Detroit River Railway. This railway reached Kingsville and Ruthven in 1888, and Leamington by July 1889. The 40-mile railway, was one of the most completely equipped short-line lines on the continent. The arrival of the railway gave local farmers and manufacturers a fast and convenient means of transporting raw materials to the Windsor-Detroit area and beyond.

While the new Town of Kingsville saw quickly growing development, guided by Dr. Sidney King and D.C. McDonald, Walker’s commercial ventures in the Kingsville area generated excitement, encouraged economic activity, gas exploration, land subdivision, housing development and the creation of a water system. “Under the influence of Hiram Walker," Kingsville became a vibrant destination town that lured Canadian and American businessmen, fortune seekers, the wealthy tourism and the middle-class holidayer to spend time and money, and invest in this original "on the lake" community. This all helped create a financial boom in 1889, and helped develop Kingsville into a summer resort town. 

Included in the coin’s illustration, is Walker's famous Mettawas Hotel. In February 1889, Walker purchased property on the south side of Park street, east of Division Street South for $3,000 from Dr. S.A. King to build his ‘mammoth summer hotel’. The Mettawas Hotel was designed by Detroit architects Mason & Rice, constructed by 150 men and opened in 1889 for the summer season. The estimated cost of building and furnishings was $200,000. The main building was 3 stories high and had 120 bedrooms, multiple balconies and a veranda surrounding much of the building; a second building housed a casino, and separate rooms for billiards, cards, lounging, bowling, dancing and smoking.

Hiram Walker died in 1899. In 1901 the hotel was purchased by W. P. Beyer. Town authorities and Beyer fought over assessment fees and when no resolution was found, Beyer had the hotel demolished (1903-4) to the dismay of the community.

The new Mettawas Park, is named in honour of Walker's historic hotel, and the newly constructed 2019 Grovedale Arts & Culture Centre, is decorated with a few of its walker-esque features and in tribute to the original Grovedale design. 

The Town of Kingsville takes great pride in preserving its rich and storied past. The book series, “Kingsville 1790-2000: A Stroll through Time” is a fascinating resource for anyone looking to uncover more of the town’s history.