Norton Palmer

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• The Norton Palmer was a true gem according to one local historian I talked to who wrote a number of books about Windsor's past and could been rehabilitated but the prevailing ideology in Windsor back in the 70's and 80's worked against it and a lot of other old buildings.

• andrew, i think "what used to be" should be the title of your end of the year post. there's never anything good in those "year in reveiw" posts, and by that i mean no good news, nothing worth noting being built. just what we've all lost in the border cities.
  hell, you should make it the title and contents of a new book! (i get a cut for the idea lol)

  i seriously can't picture (well i can, but) seeing that building downtown. having to look UP at something with style, not just a second story limestone window ledge...oh, none of that anymore either (sigh)

• I worked at the Norton Palmer Hotel in 1970 as a switchboard operator. The board was the old chord & plug in type. It was very important to be very particularly pleasant & to know the regular residents' needs. There was one gentleman who wanted his newspaper on his demand & a lady who had her tea at the same time every day.I just want to say that the hotel was a scene right out of an old movie. The people were traditional from the managers to the Bellhop Captain. I can't remember his name, but, he had the most amazing way with people. He was a very large man who gave the guests what they wanted - service with the traditional southern drawl. Behind the scenes, I asked him one day why he put on such an act. He said because many of the folks who came to the hotel expected it & the tips were fantastic. I had the pleasure of running an errand for upper management one afternoon & had to go through the kitchens. The main counter was full of fresh roasted capons & it was heavenly. If I recall, the immense crystal chandelier ended up at the old Devonshire Movie Theatres. Since it hung down three floors of the central lobby at the hotel, there was no way that any other place could have captured its original immensity. I remember the lead cut crystal doors going into the bar that sparkled like an aurora borealis in the sun. Everything was spotless & polished at all times. The owner lived in the penthouse suite which was the entire top floor. The permanent guest rooms were absolutely lovely. Some of those people lived there for many, many years. It is true that the guest rooms were small, but, the mattresses were goose down & they were so comfortable. It is a shame that I lost the original receipt for the staff discount of $14.00 per night. My ex & I spent an anniversay night there. We were in a room facing the apartments that would later become the home of the still standing Casa Chevela & old The Sci Fi Store on Pitt & Pelissier where I would later enjoy working for a number of years. Thanks for the memories.

• Yikes! That was where my ex and I had our wedding dinner in 1963! Time, where have you gone?