In the 18th Century, numerous wind-powered gristmills stood on the shore of the Detroit River between Sandwich and Tecumseh. Jacques Baby's mill was located near this site on lot #2 at the foot of Mill Street not far from the historic Duff-Baby Mansion. During the War of 1812, the American General William Hull commandeered flour for his troops from the mill before his retreat from Sandwich. At that time, up to 50 bushels of grain per day could be ground into flour, which sold for 25 cents a pound. This commemorative structure was erected in 1992. The Windsor Department of Parks and Recreation with the Assistance of the Sandwich Business Association and the PRIDE Programme of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs together with Unemployment Insurance Canada recreated a wind-powered gristmill representing the original windmills in this area.

Battle of Lake Erie

Captain Robert Heriot Barclay was only 26 when he assumed command of the British fleet on Lake Erie in 1813. He was a capable young officer who had spent 15 years in the Royal Navy and had lost his left arm in 1809 fighting the French. In the Battle of Lake Erie Captain Barclay was wounded and every other British commander was killed or wounded. The British lost 41 killed and 92 wounded.
Oliver Hazard Perry, only 27 when named commander of the Lake Erie fleet, won acclaim and respect for his tactical brilliance. By defeating the British (the first time an entire British fleet was captured) the Americans took control of Lake Erie and with it most of the old Northwest. This victory in the War of 1812 more than any other contributed to a lasting peace.
At the decisive moment of battle Perry transferred from the crippled Lawrence to the relatively undamaged Niagara and broke through the British line. The Lawrence suffered the most casualties: 22 of the 27 Americans killed were from her decks, as were 2/3 of the 96 wounded. Perry was miraculously unhurt.