Located on Francois, between Seminole and Tecumseh Roads, David Maxwell was built in 1928, in what was then known as East Windsor. Ford City was renamed East Windsor when Chrysler Moved in to their new plant at Tecumseh & Walker.
The School was designed by the Windsor firm of Pennington & Boyde, who designed numerous other schools, homes and churches across the border cities.
David Maxwell today, following an unsympathetic addition on the north elevation to create a fire escape.
David Maxwell 80 years ago, shortly after construction in 1928.
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… Touches of the past can still be seen.
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The neoclassical entrance is a nice touch. I wonder why they didn't just build a staircase from the inside of the north side wall instead of the outside? All they had to do was cut a hole in the floor, add a fire escape, and they could get away with a drywalled inner wall instead of another brick wall, which would have also cost the school less money. The loss of classroom space would have been marginal. It only looks like a 4 foot wide staircase. Loss of architectural value and excessive spending of taxpayer dollars seems to be the theme of the day in this city.
Who was David Maxwell?
I'm not sure who Maxwell was. However, most schools at that time were named for school Trustees - John Campbell, Frank Begley, Benson, or school pricipals - W.D. Lowe, Alicia Mason, etc...
One way or another he was involved with the school board. This was built in East Windsor, and has had the name since new, so maybe he was the education guy for Ford City/East Windsor?
I believe David Maxwell was affiliated somehow with the Windsor Star. There is a portrait of him in the school with a plaque. At least there was from 1968 to the mid seventies when I attended there.
Being an alumnus I can recall a fellow classmate doing a speech on him, he was involved with education and championed for a better environments for students i.e bigger windows, better lighing etc. As for the stairwell as I recalled the classroom entrance doors were at the very end of the hall.
Andrew, do you have any history/old photos on the Bell Central Office located next door to this school on Francois? (shown in photo #3)? Or any of the other Bell buildings, especially the one on Goyeau St.?
Hi Mike,
Are you the Mike Kenney who used to live on Arthur road?
Reply to Dan , yeah could be an old neigbor
Yes, Mike we were neighbors. I lived right behind you on Pillette.
Scooter, no old photos, but I have an architect listed somewhere for botho of them...
To Dan nice hearing from you give, it has to have been 20 years or more, say hello to the other D .