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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Correction for the Power & the Glory. It was Claude Pinard and Ken Koekstat playing in the Power and the Glory. Founding members. The first year we were paid to play during the change ups of bands. I left after the second year to turn professional at the Riviera Motor Hotel.
Ken Koekstat
Our band (The Fereration)played there in 1967. We came in 3rd place and played 3 songs that were on the big CK at that time - brown eyed girl, light my fire, and hey Joe.
Bobby Jay and the night hawks came in 1st, and the sounds of windsor 2nd (aka power & glory).
I did a 5 minute drum solo in the middle of one of songs, and was recognized for that by the judges.
Those were the old day, and I was almost 16 - but drove my own car home after.
Still remember it well
Our Lead guitar player still plays at legions etc. today Bob Boyle(BB & the DJ's)
Gib
i REMEMBER THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS IN 68 OR 69 FOR THE OLD FREEDOM WEEKEND WAS BOB SEGAR vs MICH RIDER..............FORGOT WHO WON .....BUT GRETA BAR BANDS FROM MOTOR CITY
thanks to kenny for correcting Claude Pinards name. The band also included Rick Ingals, Tony Caputo, Dave Pratt, Kenny Koekstat and Gary Fields as the members who were there.
special mention to the Lonely Knights, who always battled with us.
At the time that parades ended at Jackson Park and there was a carnival set up, the area that is now the Rose Garden with the airplanes was all grass. This is where the carnival was located, just south of the Sunken gardens. If you look at the really old photos of today's JP , you'll see in 1900 it was a fairground and the buildings were being used by the 99th Regiment. When it was decided to develop JP into a passive park, walking paths, flower beds, there was no more room for a carnival. The large grandstand ( where the overpass is today) had burned down, then Ouellette was extended. That was pretty much the end of Emancipation Day and Fireman's parades downtown. Too bad because it was a wonderful way to grow up. I went to Kennedy in the late 50's and it was always an incentive to school startup because the Fireman's carnival was still there for the week after Labour day.
I don't remember much about the "new" now old bandshell built late 50's early 60's. I do remember very well the old Grandstand which was huge. It was the remnant of the Windsor Jockey Club racetrack. It was almost victorian in style with a high roof and I would estimate a couple thousand seats at least. it haD space underneath for offices, storAge, and parks department equipment during the early 1950's. From about 1949 till it burned I went many times with my parents to hear the musical concertS called "Music Under the Stars" sponsored by the Ford Motor Co and I believe the Windsor federation of Musicians.
During the war the space beneath and adjacent to the grandstand was occupied by a military unit the No 2 Ordinance Field Park. later that unit was renamed # 6 Technical Regiment RCEME and moved to St Luke Road Barracks. Name later chnged to 29th Technical Suadron RCEME AND NOW PART OF THE 31 sERVICE bATTALION.
iN THE 50'S THE OLD RACE TRACK STILL WAS AN OVAL INFRONT OF THE GRANDSTAND AND TH BANDSHELL WAS A SEPARATE STRUCTURE ACROSS THE TRACK, IN FRONT OF THE GRANDSTAND, A FEW YARDS TO THE EAST . i REMBER IN 1953 FOR THE 100TH aNNIVERSARY OF fORD A DISPLAY OF FORD CARS AND AN aNNIVERSARY SHOW THAT ROLLED THE CARS, INCLUDING THE fORD 999 RACER AROUND THE TRACK AS WELLAS A MUSICAL SHOW. tHERE WAS ALWAYS A SHOW IN FRONT OF THE GRANDSTAND ALONG WITH AN ADJACENT MIDWAY FOR THE eMANCIPTION dAY cELEBRATIONS
Ford 50 anniversary 1953, 110th 2003.
correction 100 th 2003, sticky key.
anyone remember the band called AMITROF? I heard they were great in windsor. what were the name of a band at the battle of the band called bob something? i'm not sure of the name. just curious, I heard they placed 3rd and were only were put together over a short time
in the 1970's battle of the bankds