“South Detroit, Canada”: Isolation, Identity and the US–Canada Border, 1914–1918

Abstract

For most of the 19th century, the US–Canadian border was undefended. But in the early 20th century, concerns in both Washington and Ottawa about the immigration of “undesirables” (ranging from Asians to criminals and the mentally and physically ill) forced both federal governments to introduce immigration services that would carefully scrutinize cross-border traffic. Fighting in Europe after 1914 intensified government monitoring of the boundary, as Canada and then later the US attempted to keep production high and citizens safe. This paper explores the ways in which residents of Windsor, Ontario reacted to government measures that effectively reduced the Detroit River's permeability and focuses on Windsorites' tendency to voice protest in language that distanced them, ideologically speaking, from other Canadians, be it in federal capital Ottawa or provincial center Toronto. The findings in this paper suggest that, even amidst the nationalism of war, a transnational identity served to distinguish Windsor residents from other Canadians.

Notes

According to the 1911 census, roughly 9% of Windsor residents were born in the United States, while 10% reported being born in the British Isles. Census of Canada 1911, “Birthplace of the Population in Cities and Towns, 7,000 and Over.”

Ibid.

Ibid.

Windsor benefited enormously from this economic connection to Detroit, and its population would more than triple between the Canadian Census of 1901 (12,153) and 1921 (38,591). Census of Canada, 1901—Population; Census of Canada, 1921—Population.

F. Maclure Sclanders, “A Little History of the Border Cities,” Windsor Border Chamber of Commerce Pamphlet, September 1, 1920, in Bowlby Estate Collection, Box 1, Windsor Public Library Archives.

“The Crier, May 1924,” Hallam Collection, MS 5/I7, Windsor Public Library Archives.

Sugar Island was a small US resort area located in the Detroit River next to the southeast tip of Grosse Ile. In a diary entry dated July 1, 1908, Margaret Bowlby notes that many Windsor Methodists and Baptists spent their holidays picnicking there. Bowlby Estate Collection, Box 1, Windsor Public Library Archives.

“The Tatler, 1904–1905,” Hallam Collection, MS 5/I3, Windsor Public Library Archives.

Border City League: “Meeting of Border City League Called; Games for Saturday,” Windsor Evening Record, July 14, 1916, 11; “Schedule of Border City Base Ball League to Resume Saturday After Short Layoff,” Windsor Evening Record, July 26, 1916, 6. Manufacturers League: “Ford Has Easy Win,” Windsor Evening Record, June 15, 1914; “Pirates Again Lead,” Windsor Evening Record, June 15, 1914; “Team Fails to Show Up,” Windsor Evening Record, June 15, 1914.

“City Briefs—Do it in the Morning,” Windsor Evening Record, July 13, 1914.

“‘Them Wuz Happy Days’ When Baseball Games Were Won by Real Slugging”; “Large Sunday Crowd at Game Made Happy”; “Rain Halted Many Games in Leagues During Last Week”; “De Palma's Hoodoo on Job; is Second in Chicago Derby”; “Tennis Sharps Will Meet in Contest for World's Championship”; “Cornell Coach to Quit After Regatta Saturday,” Windsor Evening Record, June 12, 1916.

Windsor City Council Minutes, November 20, 1916, Windsor Public Library Archives.

Windsor City Council Minutes, April 15, 1918, Windsor Public Library Archives.

Although Detroit city council had officially made the switch to daylight savings time as well, most businesses there remained on Eastern Standard Time. “Voice of Readers—Windsor is Out of Step,” Windsor Evening Record, April 22, 1918, 4.

Windsor City Council Minutes, April 29, 1918, Windsor Public Library Archives.