Windsorites treated to tour of Low-Martin house

Windsor residents were given a treat Sept. 29 in the form of a five-hour window to tour one of Windsor’s most iconic houses.

The doors to 2021 Ontario St. – better known as Devonshire Lodge or the Low-Martin house – were opened from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to the public.  The house was built in 1928 by Harry Low, one of Windsor’s most successful prohibition-era rum runners.  The house has had several owners since, most notably Paul Martin Sr. who purchased the house in 1961. The house remained in the Martin family until 1995.

Earlier this year, Better Made Cabinets owner Vern Myslichuk purchased the house and announced his intention to restore it to its original condition.  Estimating the remaining work to take about a year, Myslichuk and his team of employees have already done extensive work replacing rotting window and door frames.

“The open house is so people can come through and see what we’re up against,” said Myslichuk.  “This is a bit of a challenge.  We spent the last five months working on the outside, so the outside is very close to complete as far as what Better Made Cabinets can do.  So now we’re moving on to the inside.”

Some of the plaster ceilings are in rough shape, with moldings crumbling away in some spots due to water damage.  Other ceilings, such as the one in the kitchen, are completely open to the second storey joists and floorboards, waiting to be replaced.  But Myslichuk said it’s all part of a restoration process he wants to make the public aware of and involved in. 

“I really wanted people to have the opportunity to see what we’re going to be doing,” he said. “I’m really hoping that a year from today that the inside will be complete.  It will not be complete in the sense where we’ll have it furnished and that sort of thing, but I really think that all of the woodwork will be finished.”

When it comes to furnishing the house, Myslichuk said it will be filled to match the period in which the house was built, and is already researching and speaking with designers.  As to whether he’ll be living there once the project is complete, he is emphatic.

“I’ll definitely live here, 100 per cent.  That’s been my goal for 15 years, so I’m moving in.  Even without furniture I’ll move in,” he said.

Windsor resident Brian McLean said he has always been interested to see the inside of the house and is excited about Myslichuk’s dedication to restoring the house to its original state.

“I’ve driven by it for years and always wanted to see the inside,” said McLean.  I’m just so pleased that someone locally has taken the initiative to restore it to what it was.  I just walked with him, and it’s exciting to see that he’s doing it, and doing it properly.”

Myslichuk said he plans to open the building up for a second round of tours once the restoration is complete.

“Come and see us in five months, we’ll have it open again.”