Windsor’s Biggest Architectural Loss

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• The destruction of St. Mary's Academy, sadly, had its origins in the modernist takeover of the Catholic Church which reached its climax with the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). What is worse than the destruction of the beautiful buildings is the attempted destruction of the Catholic faith.
  I too lived near St. Mary's and enjoyed views of it's belltower from my bedroom window. My father was probably the last individual to make his opposition known to this event. He came home from work (in Detroit) and made straight for the Caboto Club where Premier Bill Davis was being received, to implore his intervention in the matter.
  Now I implore Almighty God and His saints to intervene in the more important matter that is the destruction of the Faith and the true Church, if such were possible, and I am reminded of what St. Athanasius said in the time of the Arian heresy: "they have the buildings, but we have the faith...which is more important the place or the faith?"

• where was the section of the detroit river where this happened gus? thanks

• I grew up across the street from St.Mary's Academy and took piano and math lessons there. My brothers where alter boys every Sunday there. It was a wonderful place to play. We often played hide and seek there,ran throughtout the acedemy like freebirds.The crabapple trees and the few graves in the back were always a little eerie The nuns always scolding us. I would often watch the lightening bounce of the rod iron fench with aw.It was a very very sad day when they imploded that majestic building. I went to the auction and have desks,candle sticks and prayer stations.I was told it was a fire hazard and needed to come down. I remember the man in the white house beside the academy,next to the field.It would be nice if the City of Windsor would learn from this and stop the distruction of historical buildings like the bank of Montreal etc.I am lucky to have such fond memmories of the Acadamy.

• The happiest days of my high school years were spent at St. Mary's Academy with great friends, lay teachers and incredibly awesome Sister's.
  The memerable life lessons I learned from those dedicated women provided me with courage, strength and integrity to sustain me for a lifetime.
  Many thanks to all who shared their time and friendships with me, you will always be in my heart and never forgotten.

  Debra

• Hi everyone. Well I've always been saddened by the destruction of this school but now reading that the remains were dumped by the river is over the top! For those of you who may not know, I just today found St. Marys Academy on Facebook. There are some pics and a graduation video I believe from the late 50's and links to the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary.It's comforting to have people like all of you to share these memories with. To the lady that remembers the man in the white house by the field, that could be either my Dad (our house when I grew up was yellow but could have been white) or Mr. Parent, they both worked for The Academy for over 30 years and we purchased a piece of their property and built there. Thanks again for sharing :)

• I have a desk and chair from St. Mary's Academy that I would like to sell I know it is a piece of history and that someone would like to purchase it.

• I remember that hump on the first floor. I used to slide down it all the time. I remember the parlour and if I got too many marks against me I visited my parents in that room. I was always a spit-fire. I remember too the Grotto. I recall a snake that was rapped around the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In fact I almost picked up a copper head one day thinking it was a jumping rope. So many memories.

  St Mary's Academy offered the BEST in music training. We had seperate rooms for piano practice and I gave many recitals. It was horrible they destroyed this beautiful structure If this was in England it would never have happened. To all who do not know this building it was all Gothic structure. I have a book showing the many girls and the rec room. The classrooms. I have many pictures of myself and classmates. The chapel where I made my First Communion and my Confirmtion is/was the most beautiful. I will never forget the large statues of the Angels.

  On Sundays my parents ame to take me out and I used to go horseback riding...then come back to school with the smell of horse on me LOL There was a place, a resturant which served the best homemade raison pie. Delish!!

• A colleague just sent me this link (and also to the Facebook page). How nice to read these comments and the memories associated with the Academy. I was a 1969 Grad and those days were some of happiest I've enjoyed. Nice to see some links to St. Mary's and I also have had difficulty finding any info!

  Hope to see more :)

• In 1935 Guido Nincheri Studio did some stained glass windows for Saint Mary's Academy chapel.As I am doing the inventory of the 220 churches that he decorated between 1920 and 1973 when he passed away, I would be curious if anyone would remember the windows and what happened to them.
  Were they destroyed or saved? . I just read Gus Steven's e-mail. I guess they were destroyed.
  Does any one have old photographs of them????? Roger Nincheri, grandson of the artist

• Hi just purchased a Marian Tower 1956 yearbook at church bazaar in Downingtown Pa US which has led me to your history site how sad it is to learn this school was demolished. So much wonderful tradition. The yearbook is so interesting. Pat