in 1850, francis "paddy" walker travelled across the frozen lake huron from goderich, ontario to the 2 year old settlement of penetangore (kincardine, ontario). mr. walker arrived in the settlement with his wife jane and his seven sons. realizing that when new settlers like himself arrived to penetangore they would need somewhere to stay, paddy walker soon built a hotel situated near the mouth of the penetangore (later the harbour).