SANDWICH. The District Town of the Western District, beautifully situated on the Detroit River, about two miles below Detroit, and nine miles below Lake St. Clair. The town is neatly laid out; and, being an old settlement, with fine old orchards, and well kept flower gardens, has very much the appearance of an English country town. It is built on a gravelly soil, on a gently sloping bank, a short distance from the river, which is here about a mile wide. This is one of the oldest settlements in Canada. Colonel Prince, the member for the county, has a fine farm, in a highly improved state, a short distance out of town. There are in Sandwich an Episcopal church and a Methodist chapel. A newspaper is published here the Western Standard. Here are the jail and court house for the district. Sandwich has a cricket club.
The following Government and District Offices are kept in Sandwich: Clerk of Peace, Treasurer of District, Sheriff of do., Judge of Surrogate Court, Registrar of do., Registrar of County of Essex, Inspector of Licenses, Clerk of District Court, Clerk of Municipal Council, Auditors of Municipal Council.
Sandwich had barracks during the rebellion; but they have since been disposed of, and converted to private purposes.
Population about 450.
List of Professions and Trades.—Two physicians and surgeons, six lawyers, four surveyors, one steam grist mill and carding machine, two grist windmills, one brewery, one tannery, one ashery, six stores, one auctioneer, three tailors, two saddlers, six blacksmiths, one printing office, one gunsmith, two waggon makers, one hatter, one baker, one school, twelve taverns.
Principal Tavern—the “Western Hotel.” (Smith's Canadian Gazetteer, 1849)