Today we head over to the abandoned Grace Hospital site. Many Windsorites came into the world at Grace Hospital, my Mother included back in 1946.
The photo above dates to 1920 and comes from the collection of John Stefani. Many thanks to John for scanning and sending along the photo.
Now to the former Hospital grounds. The house above caught fire and burned to the ground around 1920 IN 1960. In 1921 a new wing to Grace Hospital was built, and that is the old portion still visible. Additions were made in 1953 and 1964. Grace Hospital merged with Hotel-Dieu in the late 1990’s 2000, and closed around 1999-2000 (if someone has the correct dates, please let me know) in 1994 (thanks Lilly!). The building sits vacant with little hope of reuse, and slightly vandalized. The broken windows/exposure to the elements must be doing wonders for the structure of the 1921 building.
Another of Windsor’s Historic Buildings, completely disregarded and discarded.
I was born there in 1969 and it sure is a shame seeing this building just sitting there rotting away. With the building and the land that comes with it , why can’t they gut the building and convert it to apartments just like they have with other big buildings around the city ? Seems like a waste to just tear it down or leave it sit for that matter. I’m sure the internal structure is still pretty solid and all the asbesto’s has been removed,so why not convert it.
Hey Andrew,
Im not sure of an exact date that the hospital closed but it was still in operation on September 6th, 2002 for sure because Dylan was born there that day. Hope that helps you out a little.
It is a shame! I live on oak street and i look at it everday! One day when it is gone i will have a pleasant view! They are taking everything out of there….seems to be taking forever…the back of the old bret building , they are taking out the windows and they put black garbage bags on them? wonder why? Many men are working on the site removing stuff, All the copper plumbing is out of there.. Guess it’s worth something…There was a man who tried stealing it one time… he got caught…I went inside that building last year…wow what a mess!
The back door was opened and my husband was so curious we all went in.. and sooner that evening ..we got caught by 15 police men inside there! We got a fine for 70 bucks each…just 4 of us were in there.. Very scary dirty place! I feel bad that it is not a running hospital…i grew up on Crawford…Now as an adult bought a home across the street of this place! Can’t seem to get out of the west end because i love it so much! I am not intrested in newer areas…I love old historic stuff and feel as i can live here forever…Thanks again Andrew Ps….Asbesto’s might not all be removed yet…..I still see them guys wearing them suits…might be but it’s a big place…..It will be strange to see it gone…..I keep thinking the breeze will come through my front bedroom window one day LOL!
Has the asbestos abatement been done? If so it had to have been prior to the hospital closing–because I don’t recall work occuring there since the closure. I had assumed all along that asbestos abatement was one of the main reasons the building hadn’t been reused.
Nikki, I guess it closed later than I guessed 🙂 ….
JT, when I was there in December shooting these photos, there was definatley some work going on inside.
What a waste of urban space. I think the building is too far gone to be salvaged, but what about the land? Instead of taking valuable farmland and green space to build horrible McMansions in sprawling subdivisions, why not build thoughtful, well designed housing on this property? It’s right in the city, right on bus routes, near the river – it could be awesome!
I always feel a little sad when driving past – my husband was born there and all 3 of my children. Those middle of the night trips to the ER with sick kids! Good times!
I was also born there…my father rarely passed by Grace without referring to it as the “baby farm”.
It closed Feb1 2004…………….
More than just a “baby farm,” Grace was home to a world class NICU in its final years. My best friend’s son was born there and – like many other gravely ill newborns they helped – the little guy is fortunate to be alive and healthy today thanks to the advanced care that was provided in that otherwise dilapidated old building. I’m not sure what happened to that unit; I assume it migrated downtown to HDH and I hope it’s still enjoying the same fine reputation.
Just looking at the state of the building itself is heart-wrenching.
I was born and pretty much grew up around the hospital, my late mother being a Grace nursing graduate who worked there until just before it closed. She was one of the first NICU nurses, signing on before the hospital had even allocated space for the unit.
The unit itself is actually at Metropolitan hospital now, and I believe it has been since about 2001.
I sincerely hope the building either meets a quick demise, or someone steps in to refurbish it. I can’t stand even driving by the old building these days with the shape it’s in.
While looking online at a house for rent on Crawford, I went to a satellite view of the area and was eventually able to determine that this must be the old Grace Site. The satellite views are fairly recent, and there were a few cars in the parking lot – I’m assuming those cars must belong to the workers doing whatever inside. As I’m from the Detroit area and not familiar with that neigbourhood (other than the bingo hall at Wyandotte, lol), what is your opinion – those of you who know the area – of living on that block? Is there more vandalism or disturbance because of this old abandoned building, or would you say, “Don’t worry about it, we’re hoping for a new project soon” ?
Funny thing, it was my birthday just yesterday, and I drove by on my way to school thinking “I was born somewhere in there.” As for what needs to be done with it, since it clearly won’t ever be a functioning hospital again, I’ve always dreamed of it becoming a mixed-use centre. You could have condos and offices in the tower, studios for artists and musicians on the lower levels, a community center (I’m sure there’s room to construct a gym in there) and the old cafeteria could be converted into a commercial diner or luncheonette for the people living or working there. But, well, dreams like that all too often only stay dreams. In response to Kathi, my grandparents made their first home across from Grace hospital when they came to Canada in ’55, they moved a year later because the neighbourhood was so bad; apparantly it hasn’t improved since then either.
i have fond memories of there , because i had nearly died there when i was 7 from complications. im 43 now lol. but remember clearly when my father and mother had to leave for the night when i was up in childrens ward. they would always park where i could see them out from the second story hallway window, they would wave back up at me. did that for 6 months . a dr. Gadowski was my doctor there and was always taking good care of me. drove by it alot when i lived in detroit area and remember it fondly. wish they woulld do soemthing with it , seems like a waste to see it sit empty and vacant.
My mother graduated from the Nursing program at Grace, and worked there for 35 years. She was one of the original nurses who set up the NICU at the hospital. (Which is now at Met.)
I and all my siblings were born there as well. The hospital was almost like a second home. I can still remember having Thanksgiving dinner with whole family in the Cafeteria because mom was working.
Grace will always be a part of our lives.
I thought they were turning this building into a federal run nursing home?
Ashley that was my understanding as well. My wife is a PSW in Essex and they’re usually “in the know” about projects like this. she was hoping to apply so i sure hope it’s still a go.
I’m a former resident, I moved out of town a few months ago.. My friends and I used to visit the building all the time.. For those of you looking for the correct shut-down date, I believe it was February of 2004. My friends and I visited during the day, the night, any day, any time. We’ve ran into some pretty creepy people in there, but that’s about it.. There’s not a whole lot in there nowadays, it’s pretty empty and dormant. We’ve probably visited at least 30 or 40 times and have never been caught. It seems the city has forgotten about Grace. It’s a beautiful place, still a lot of asbestos in there. I probably won’t live past 60, but it was worth it to visit such a beautiful venue. Grace will always live on, even after it’s gone.
I live right across the street of this place as well, went in there a few times. Very creepy.
Quote form Mike- “There’s not a whole lot in there nowadays, it’s pretty empty and dormant”
BS!! Tons of old equipment just piled and plied in vacant rooms. Beds, incubators, desks, heart monitors and ETC,ETC,ETC!! (all mostly in the basement) Nothing was as creepy as going in there recently (on Halloween night) and locating these underground (maintenance?) tunnels, more than one level down. The access points to these tunnels are only found in certain closet floors. The wood cellar-like doors have been lifted off and I stuck my head (and flashlight) down in one and man, Creepy. The tunnels are only about 3 1/2- 4 feet high and they stretch across the whole Grounds it seems.
Didn’t have the “gusto” to go down there that night. I’d love to get some history on what they were used for. We were in the actual maintenance corridors that went through underground, across the courtyard and so on, But these lower level tunnels are pretty intriguing.
Does anyone know the name of the company that will be taking of the old Grace Hospital Site? or does anyone have any updates or even a name or website? I looking at trying to contact about applying for possible future employment.
Hey everyone, I’m very intrigued by all the comments posted on here. I am not from the Windsor area so I’m wondering if anyone can give me the address to this place? I’m a photographer and would love to have a chance to explore and take some memorable photos to share.
Thanks.
Cindy, This building is on the south west corner of Crawford Ave, and University Avenue, a block south of the Detroit River near the downtown core of Windsor.
Love the article!
Fred. On march 21st 1954 mom walked across Crawford Ave. from our house and said lets get this show on the road. A 9 lb. baby boy was born. When I was two, I was turning purple from broncial complications. To this day, I remember looking out of the oxygen tent at mom and dad standing at a doorway, dad wearing his pigama bottoms and a coat. I could have died that night. Grace was there. I remember the Thornhill family across the street. They were with the Salvation Army and I believe the father was the administrator at grace. A very dedicated kind family. I was shocked to see the condition of this once vibrant facility. Still have great memories.
On march 21st 1954, mom walked from our house across Crawford Ave. to the Grace and said lets get this show on the road. A 9 lb. baby boy was born. When I was two, I was turning purple due to lack of oxygen from broncial complications. All I remember is looking out of an oxygen ten at mom and dad standing at a doorway, dad wearing his pigama bottoms and a coat. I almost died that night. Grace was there. I remember the Thornhill family from across the street. They were with the Salvation Army and I believe the father was an administrator at grace. Very devoted and kind people. It is a shame to see this once vibrant facility go. Brings back alot of memories.
I worked at the grace site for 18 years before it closed up with me ending up at hotel dieu grace hospital doin the maintance there as i did at grace.It was a shame the way it all went down hill kinda after the salvation army stepped aside from it.Those tunnels everywhere were for heating and cooling pipes,fire sprinkler pipes and tonnes of wire for eletrical etc etc.worst part of the tunnels were working in them for hours fixing pipes or exhaust fans that were down there.any questions ya have let me know.
This makes me sick! i swear people these days have no respect for anything. My grandmother ran this place ( when it was open) so its sentamentle** to me. she passed away last march, she would be discusted if she saw this. I have big dreams for this place. I would love nothing more then to open an asylem for the mentally ill. it would be perfect here, that way these beautiful people can get the care and suport they need. It would be named after my grandma ofcrouse. But i think if we all come together as a strong willing city that we could make this happen. i mean with the asbestos and stuff we’d have to wait and see if it goes away if it doesnt then the buliding would have to be knocked down. If anyone reads this and would like to help me out on my idea dont be shy on emailing me. 🙂 Think of how many jobs it will produce and also it will make ur taxes cheaper buy keeping these people out of jails, and keep yourseleves and children safer on the streets. Just think.
I believe I have the original admitting desk from the 1800’s. At least that is what I was told in 1970 when I bought it at a silent auction. I worked in the Surgical Education Dept at the time and when I saw it I could hear it call my name. We were were living in an upstairs flat on Carson Ave and that is where I dissolved layer after layer of paint by hand so that I would not damage the wood. My husband and I are now downsizing and I wanted to get a picture of the desk when it was in use but so far cannot find it. I am going to let the desk be auctioned off and a picture would be great. Anybody know where I might find such a thing?
And to think this is where the famous Shania Twain was born….. SMH
My son just came home from an air cadet camp in Chicoutimi and he had a major stomach cramp. I took him to Grace and I was told that pediatrics was now at Hotel Dieu but, because their powerhouse was down, he could stay. Besides his appendix was about to burst and a surgeon was on the way. He was the big celebrity for the next few days with nurses popping in at all hours to see him. My daughter and yougest son were born there. I can only say shame on those from McGuinty on down to city hall who let this fiasco backfire. Someone was supposed to get rich and it didn’t happen!