I recently received an email from a former Windsorite who was looking for some information about the Dominion Twist Drill. Her Father was an employee there in the late 1930’s to early 1940’s. When he went overseas for WWII, he was given a good luck bracelet. The back is engraved “Good Luck – From the Employees of the Dominion Twist Drill”.
The building is located at 1880 Assumption, just east of the corner with Chilver Road.
The Building has a cornerstone on the front dated 1942, and shows up on the job list of architect David J. Cameron.
However the building also is present on the 1937 Fire Insurance Map. Check it against Google earth today, and you can see it is the same building. Maybe the office on the front was added or expanded in 1942?
Today’s view shows there was a slight expansion on the left side of the plant to fill in that sliver of the plant to make it a rectangle. Also looks like part of Border Cities Wire and Iron was absorbed on the right hand side. Maybe a new facade in 1942?
Does anyone out there have any information about the Dominion Twist Drill Company? Any relatives out there who worked there? Anyone who had a relative there during WWII? Any other “Good Luck” bracelets?
i wish more buisness’ weather they be industrial or commercial would start putting awnings back on their places again. for some reason it seems more…..neighbourly, more community type people. does that make sense? this is a nicely maintained building!
Andrew – i think you’re right in that there were quite a few changes, and they probly all happened in ’42. the sliver to the left for one, and then probly a good 3/4 of the dominion office supply co and wire works, paint shop all wiped out. if i’m reading that insurance map right then that would’ve leveled the office as well. so the offices were probly moved to the front. a new east wall (where we loose the stone over the windows towards the front of the building. the back 4 windows are much larger and more in tune with an older factory) and facade would be needed too since it was just wrecked. all that parking lot was the wire works and supply.
all that yakin for me to say: yup, half the plant demoed, offices moved, new facade, 1942. lol
in the last picture Andrew, above the windows it looks like a faded painted sign. could you tell if that’s what that is or is that just faded bricks period?
Sorry no info on the Drill Co. But the facade was added around that time (1942) as I asked the people who were restoring the same facade in about 2002 if they were adding another one. They told me they were just restoring it and that it was not the original, though they didn’t know what the original facade looked like.
Andrew: I was rather suprised to find pictures and some info about Dominion Twist Drill. My father was the last president and owner. He died in 1974 and DTD was sold shortly after. I have what I think is a picture of the original building and one after that. The time frame of which I speak, it was owned by Mrs. Agnes Eager. She took over after her husband died. My understanding is that DTD actually started out in Detroit (or near by) and was moved over to Walkerville in the 20’s but I am not sure of this. I also have a picture of the employes and their families at an annual picnic I believe taken in mid to late 40’s. I also have a picture dated Dec 1949 in front of what looks like the original building. I would be very willing to share these pictures and would love to swap info.
Dorothy Krause
I have a photo taken during WW2 with the employees in front holding a Victory Loan Flag and what looks like some of the Essex Scottish there as well.
My grandfather worked there for many years and retired about 1967. He is in the 1940’s photo as well but I don’t who any of other employees are.
http://oldtimecorner.x10.mx/photos/VictoryLoanDTD.jpg
I also have another picture of him at the door with another man.
http://oldtimecorner.x10.mx/photos/HarryDTD.jpg
This building has a small house beside it on the right side and then one window and then the doorway. I can’t see the entire front of the building in this shot. I would like to see other photos if anyone has any and also like to know any other names in the photo.
http://oldtimecorner.x10.mx/photos/VictoryLoanDTD.jpg
Sharon
With respect to Sharon’s picture and the “house” in the corner – it isn’t a house but it is the old freight building for the train station at Assumption and Devonshire.
My grand father use to own the Dominion twist drill company, I think it was at Winsor, Canada, right across from Detroit, His name was Charles Bolda, he lived in Dearborn, Michigan, that would have been in the late 1930″ I would have remembered, I was born in 1936….