One day going through the microfilm, I came across this ad for the Ryancrete Model Home.
I did a pass along Mathew Brady and found the house still standing at 415 Matthew Brady. The address listed in the ad as 205, was for the old numbering system of the Town of Riverside.
The house appears to be pretty unchanged from the outside from when it was new in 1950, it even still has the original railing. When I took these photos of it earlier this summer, there was a sold sign out front, so the property has recently changed hands.
Ryancrete was an invention of the Ryan Builders Supply company that used to be located on Detroit Street just west of the Ambassador Bridge, as seen above in an ad from 1954. The company was run by Leo and John Ryan, who both lived on Riverside Dr. in the town of Riverside.
Neither the company or the building remain today. The site on Detroit Street, is a vacant lot, that is fenced in down by the river.
that’s a nice little house. i’m not too fond of the aluminium siding but can’t really complain since it’s been so well kept. i’m curious to see these “crack-proof” walls though after half a century!
Too bad I like the building better than the house. But it is interesting to see that the house is made to look a bit like limestone.
That was my grandfather Leo Ryan. John was his brother. The park just before the Pumping Station on Riverside Drive East near Lauzon road was just named Ryan Park.
I have a photo of my grandfather’s brother, Vincent Ryan, on Leo Ryan’s boat on the St. Claire river taken in 1950. Leo Ryan was related to Vincent Ryan somehow. I am trying to find the connection. Look up Vincent J Ryan on Ancestry.com or email me for more info. (robinga12(at)yahoo.ca
I lived in that home for 16 years. Sold it 5 years ago. Solid. We called it the bunker. We always felt safe. All walls are 13.5 inches thick. Two layers of blocks with one half inch of insulation. The main floor was poured concrete on top of steel IBEAMS and cinder blocks. If it was not for the heating bills I would still be there. Very cheap to cool in the summer. Some of my winter heating bills were over $600. Still great memories and a great place to raise kids.
glenn