Park House was built in Detroit in 1796 near the Rouge River. In 1798, after the American Revolution, the owner disassembled it and moved it by canoe to Amherstburg. It was rebuilt on Lot 17, First Street (presently Dalhousie). Today it is one of the town’s most important heritage buildings.
Park House continues as a very successful museum thanks to grants, visitor admissions and the generosity of many supporters. They also raise monies through the sale of their handmade tinware.
Park House Museum and Tinsmith
In 1978, the Park House Tinsmiths began producing handmade tinware for sale to the public, and they nicknamed their founding tinsmiths “The Group of Four.” Since that date, the business has grown in size and reputation.
Park House tinware can be found at museums and historic sites all over Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In addition, it can be seen in the Netflix series Alias Grace, Hulu’s Handmaid’s Tale, and the soon-to-be-released Washington Black.
The Tinsmiths have been instrumental in keeping the Park House afloat. All proceeds made from the tinware go towards conservation and programming at the non-profit museum. It has an active volunteer membership, with six current tinsmiths and two apprentices producing their beautiful lanterns, holiday ornaments, cookie cutters, custom orders, and reproduction museum cookware.
Throughout the summer months, university students assist with demonstrations in the back cottage and host weekend hands-on tin activities. Periodically, artisan workshops are offered at the museum, for those who would like to participate in the tinsmith membership and build their artisan craft. While tinsmithing is certainly a lost art, the Park House Tinsmiths look forward to the new generation of tinsmith artisans that are to come. These one-of-a-kind items can be purchased directly from the museum’s gift shop or at the River Bookshop, including our annual Christmas Market upstairs. We even have them displayed in our windows.
We hope you will look at their lovely tinware and consider it when you are doing your holiday shopping at our Christmas Market. All proceeds from the sales go to Park House. The River Bookshop has been a supporter of Park House since day one. Investing in heritage properties is important in Amherstburg. If you wish to learn more about Park House, pick up a copy of Meg Reiner’s new book Heritage Buildings of Amherstburg. It too will make a great holiday gift.
The River Bookshop Team