So again, back to Ouellette and Elliot… Sorry, for featuring the demolition again, but I find the method of demolition of the structure interesting. Plus it’s a way for readers who don’t regularly get downtown to check in on the “progress” (and I use the term loosely, as there is nothing progressive about demolition). 🙂
Next week, we’ll get back to some other topics, as well as probably checking in here at least once…
A view through the missing front doors gives you a look at the building eaters…
Looking at the south side of the building, the structure is starting to waste away.
As an interesting side note, I’m not sure if someone at Canada Post reads this site or not, but I noticed the mailbox was moved to the west side of Pelissier today.
As a bonus for putting up with the same subject for most of the week, above is an old postcard from the mid 1920’s of the Cenotaph when it was located at Gilles and Ouellette…
Have a good weekend, see everyone on Monday!
All I have to say is that as the years go on there are less and less places that I can show my children of things I did while growing up in the downtown area of this city. Everytime I turn around this is gone, that is gone, its very depressing to see. I know to this day my parents can drive thru towns like Kingsville, Leamington, Harrow and point out all kinds of places they would go for this and that, and stores that are still open and running to this day from when they were younger…..
Unfortuantely business looks after itself and when someone closes it has to do with their personal decision – not a city issue. Evolution occurs and things change. Wouldn’t it be great if we could freeze frame a perfect scenario forever!
Realist, that’s true, however poor plannig policies have directly contributed to the state of the city core today. Weather it’s by allowing office parks to be built on industrial lands, emptying downtown of workers (who make purchases at downtown stores), or by allowing sprawled out big box plazas on the fringes of the city, the state of vacancy can be attributed to those who run the city.
How are they going to get that vertical sign down??The way the building looks now it appears that that sign can pull the whole bulldind down.
History and the story of the brave that fought for Canada is being lost as most Windsorites do not know the history of the cenotaph.
The cenotaph was erected on Giles in memory of the soldiers that were camped on Giles for the Boer War and WWI .Giles was the limit of the city and was a creek.Sadly little is taught of Windsor’s and Essex County brave men and women who served this country.
If Detroit city council can vote to impeach Mayor Hip Hop Kilpatrick, and the Canadian parliament can bring down an entire government [remember the glorious reign of Prime Minister Joe Clark?] with a non-confidence motion, why can’t we have a recall vote for Mayor Boyscout Francis and his sycophants on city council?
George, because there is no provincial legislation to do so. I would call and pester your local MPP. But then again if it is Sandra or Dwight they will just call you a negative person and say you have an agenda.
I may be wrong–but I if the sign isn’t already down today–I would guess they will do it on the weekend–perhaps Sunday morning when interupting traffic on Ouellette will have the least impact.
Andrew
Realist tried to rent an office downtown, but the 110 power and the old infrastructure just didn’t cut it. Again, business will go where they can buy their best deal.
I live downtown and I want to support it financially, but I am unable to buy the limited services that I could 10 years ago.
The City, however, made a big error by allowing the land on the east to be sold to Pointe East. People will also go where its convenient. Downtown needs a big shot in the arm but attempts by many have always fallen not only short, but flat on its face.
Art can be the saviour of this town.
Hi Andrew
I’m intrigued by the fire insurance map. They seem to be a constant reference. Can you tell us more about it?
Jim – The fire insurance maps are a large format set of maps that cover every property in the city. They were used by the insurance companies back in teh day to determine the size of your building, materials it was built from, surrounding areas & hydrants, etc…
There are some from the 1890’s, 1910’s and 1930’s. There are cpoies at both the municipal archives and museum available for browsing.
Was Gilley’s Cue located in the upstairs part of the building? Or was that on Tecumseh Rd. ???
If i recall the structure on the corner was a Leons furniture store and next to it was an A&P grocery store, before it became MOthers.
Before all of thet, Leon’s, it was Rose Furniture, owned by the same family as owned Rose Bowl.
Before all of thet, Leon’s, it was Rose Furniture, owned by the same family as owned Rose Bowl.