I got an email from reader Mark F. who asked about the band shell at Jackson Park, that’s tucked behind Windsor Stadium.
You can see it in the Google Earth Map above.
I dug into the history of the band shell, while working on the Windsor Modern book.
This band shell was built in 1959, and designed by Windsor Architects Johnson & McWhinnie. It replaced an earlier band shell that was destroyed in a fire in 1957.
Today the structure sits unused, and covered in graffiti. The doors on the stage are welded shut, and the area around the stage is used as a storage yard by Parks & Recreation.
There are some interesting musical decorations flanking the sides of the stage.
The back of the building reveals several doors. For loading instruments, maybe dressing rooms or washrooms?
The building was built very close to Windsor Stadium, and I am assuming that when the west grandstand was built, it blocked the band shell, and rendered it obsolete. It’s too bad, because if there’s one thing we’re short of is outdoor musical venues… Unless you like the blacktop parking lot feel of the festival plaza…
More of our history siting neglected. This time as a storage yard. Jackson Park used to host Motown acts, I wonder who graced this stage?
Anyone out there have any memories of this place when it was in use?
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During the fifties and sixties a lot of events took place there including countless band concerts and "battle of the bands" venues. High schools would also hold pep rallies there. There were actually grand stands for the shell on the backside of the west stands for the stadium. They were, in fact, two separate venues. The freedom festival which now adorns the river front started at and used to be an annual event at Jackson Park. All of the rides and concessions and events weere held there. It actually was a lot better than it is now. For whatever reasons, the City opted to move everything down town and so things go. It would still make a perfect venue for such things as the Blues Fest.
Wow. What a suprise. I've lived in Windsor my whole life and never knew this existed.
City of Windsor summer student Parks&Rec employees used the band shell as their breakroom.
Oddly, I didn't realize there was still a bandstand there but I remember being taken to a real, live Minstrel Show at the original venue, the one that burned down in '57 (though I don't remember that event either. I was ten in '57 and our house burned down about then so I was kinda preoccupied.)
The old one was open in front and you sat on the lawn (I'm pretty sure) and I recall white scallopy trim around the arched proscenium. The inside of the shell was also painted white and I think there was blue involved. I may have attended other shopws there but the minstrel show is the only one I remember for sure.
I remember going to the battle of the bands there in 71 or 72.We as the Windsor Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps used the place to practice at also.To bad it should still be used for out door shows.I also remember the Freedom festival being in the park.
I remember seeing a flyer a week ago on the Jackson Park Hearing Committee or something for Feb 8? It was a hearing on changes or future uses/events for Jackson Park. Maybe someone should mention outdoor music venues here for the bandshell. But, then again you may get a lot of noise complaints from the high rises and they may find it's more trouble than it's worse.
I guess if you're living in a downtown high rise and can put up with all the noise from nightclubs in downtown, you can tolerate the noise from the blacktops of Festival Plaza...
They could even do a second Art in the Park to Willistead at Jackson Park, but who am I kidding. In this economy?
I remember Air Supply played there in the late 80s early 90s? I forget when exactly. I didn't go.
I recall the bandshell being mentioned during a TV report (CHWI I think) about the impending demolition/replacement of the existing seating at Windsor Stadium. Can't remember the details but I thought it involved (possibly) making the venue viable again by way of the removal of the west grandstand. Could be wrong.
And I will add--from everything I've seen, Johnson & McWhinnie sure had an eye for the flair of mid-century modern--just look at the lines on that simple bandshell--they sure loved that blonde-colored brick too, didnt they!