Did You Know about the 1914 Pump House

by Zachary Balogh

Located on the Detroit River is a brick-built structure frequented by walkers, hikers and bikers.  

The Pump House is located directly on the Detroit River at the corner of Langlois and Riverside Drive. According to the City of Windsor website, the 1914 Pump House was designed by the architectural firm Smith, Hinchman and Grylls and was built as part of the municipal water system. In 1871, a fire broke out and destroyed multiple blocks of Downtown Windsor and this led to a new water system needing to be implemented. This is when the Pump House was built. Today the Pump House powers the irrigation system for the park and is a location for interpretive signs explaining the heritage and environmental significance of the area. 

In 2001, the City of Windsor received a Human Resources Development Canada grant to restore the pump house, and this was the first of five beacons within the riverfront park system. It was then given the name the Dawn Beacon.