This old factory on Walker Road was last home to Schukra before they built their new factory in Lakeshore.
At the very south end of the complex, covered in metal siding, is the original building, built in 1936.
The building was originally home to Duplate Limited, who made safety glass.
For years, I always wondered what was under that siding…
An ad showing the complex, from December 1962.
Here’s what’s under that siding…
From the Windsor Daily Star, August 15, 1936:
…Of glass and brick construction, the 190 foot by 75 foot building symbolizes the very latest in industrial architecture. So striking the front of the building, with its yellow brick and large windows, that passing motorists may well mistake it for a library or other institution, rather than an industrial plant.
Flanked on each side by panels of glass bricks, the entrance is specially (sic) striking. A modernistic archway of stone features the doorway (sic)
In high school, we would party in it. It was called the factory and was quite abandoned..
Nice deco/moderne front office. It looks like it was squared off some time ago. I am sure this will be demo’ed soon and yet another vacant lot will sprout up in Windsor.
It’s hard to believe that our factories had such nice exteriors. I can’t believe that the owners cover over the Art deco facade with Aluminum sometime in the last 47 years. I wonder if the original exterior is still intact underneath the metal casing.
My father worked at Duplate Glass in the 50’s and 60’s until they moved the operation to Hawkesbury Ontario. The Hawkesbury plant will be closing later this year. Such is life in the 21st century
…unfortunately that is right, Guy. Everyday there is more and more news of something closing and it’s not right. Countries such as China’s industrial power gets stronger every day and ours gets weaker and no one seems to care. Unless we decide to work over there, we should start looking around at the big picture here. What’s been happening for the past 25 years is slowly beginning to show signs of what is to come and it’s only going to get worse. I didn’t plan on skewing off into this tangent but it saddens me to hear of closures and more job losses every day. It is a fact that countries with a strong industrial base always prosper. Look at Windsor- it’s a perfect example. How many industries used to be on Walker road alone like this one? How about McDougal? Yes, it’s the information age but we still need tangible items that are manufactured. Canada and U.S are being beaten up badly in this sense and something radical is needed to slow and stop it.
Sorry fellow IM readers- just wanted to share a thought or two!
As always, great site Andrew- I love looking into our past.
Unbelievable! What moron would cover a Streamline Moderne facade with corrugated steel cladding?….oh….sorry…probably the same morons behind the stucco refacing syndrome that has Windsor in it’s grasp!
I remember when I was in grade school (John Campbell) in the early eighties, we went to that factory for a school program known as ‘Project Business’. At that time, there was a manufacturer in there that made all of the fiberglass chairs and figurines and so forth for the major fast food companies. I cannot remember the name of the company (and I used to know it religiously) but I do remember that we took a class tour through the plant while they were making stuff for McDonald’s. All I can remember is that it was called “——– Manufacturing’. Does this ring a bell with anyone else?
That was Arnold manufacturing. They manufactured seats and tables for McDonald’s until they found out it was cheaper to make them in Tennessee in the 1980’s?
Now only $3.95 / sq. foot!
Jim, it’s kind of weird then, that I’ve been to a plant in Tennessee that makes folding chairs, stackable chairs, folding tables, small BBQs, etc and they found out that it’s even cheaper to make the stuff in China.
Hey All, not sure if anyone’s driven by, but this building is now completely demolished. Looks like they are still in the process of cleaning up the debris.
RobS, yes I noticed a couple weeks ago that it was nearly gone.