March 2017 | Business View Magazine

164 165 Amherstburg, Ontario an entry point when escaping to Canada. By 1869, the town of Amherstburg in the Township of Malden, County Essex, had a population of 2,500. Fort Malden was adapted for use as a lunatic asylum, and its main building was later used as a port of entry, a money order office, a post office, and a savings bank. Amherstburg was officially incorporated as a town in 1878. At one time, Amherstburg was home to sev- eral chemical and plastic manufacturing plants, but today, it is mostly a retirement and bedroom community with many historic sites that draw tourists to its original stone buildings and for- mer residences. Chief among these are the Fort Malden National Historic Site, designated in 1921, and the Bellevue House, which was built between 1816-1819 by Robert Reynolds after he returned from serving in the War of 1812. The Bellevue House was declared a National AT A GLANCE Amherstburg, Ontario WHAT: A town of 22,000 WHERE: Near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario WEBSITE: www. amherstburg.ca Historic Site in 1959, and was recently purchased by the town, which plans to restore the historic mansion and its surrounding properties. In addition, Giovanni Miceli, Amherstburg’s Chief Adminis- trative Officer, reports that the town is also in the process of acquiring a piece of waterfront property in order to expand another premier tourist attraction, the 10.5-acre King’s Navy Yard Park, and provide more access to the waterfront, both for town residents and tourists. “We’re also looking at trying to get a hotel in the town, and hope to offer enough incentives that will allow for one to be built,” he adds. Meanwhile, Miceli says that Amherstburg is also attempting to attract more permanent residents by enhancing and upgrading