Back in December, 2008, I took an in-depth look at the Memorial Fountain that is located in Jackson Park.
Included in the coverage was this ad:
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IN THE MORNING
Unveiling of Memorial Fountain erected in
the memory of the Essex Soldiers who fell in
South Africa.
Military Parade through principal streets.
The unveiling was captured in a postcard, one that doesn’t show up too often, but is a neat snapshot of an important moment in our city’s past.
Neat details in the photo… Imagine climbing to the top of a telephone pole for a better view today? Banners strung across Pitt Street…
Looks like some bleachers were set up for spectators, maybe even dignitaries? Interesting to see the collection of people on the roof of Peoples’ Furniture.
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Wow. I couldn’t imagine what event could get this many Windsorites out of their homes, onto the streets, in this day and age. Maybe a Justin Bieber sighting?
Anyone know the status of the original fountain in Jackson Park? I haven’t seen it in years, seeing how tucked away our of sight it is. I can remember it looking forlorn and unloved the last time I saw it a few years ago, and now knowing exactly what it is, I can’t help but be a little angry over it’s neglect.
This is 100% off topic here but I heard the other day that Heather Bell’s restaurant on Ottawa St. was 100 yrs old. I found that kind of hard to believe but could there be any truth to this?
I think the City polished all the patina off the bronze. Idiots. Way to ruin work by Alward.
I phoned 311 today and asked when they are going to turn on the water fountain in Jackson Park and they said somewhere after the May 24 weekend they’ll get to it. Anyone know why we have to wait a month and half to get the fountains on with the good weather we’ve been having lately? I see no reason why it can’t be on today. Cut down on the flower budget and turn it on already. The waterfall/fountains in front of Caesar’s have been running all year.
I’m trying to get my bearings as if I were next to the photographer. It seems to me that I would be on a low roof top on the east side of Ouellette looking just to the west of the SW corner of Ouellette and Pitt St. W. So – where is the Laing Bldg. and all of the other buildings on the west side of Ouellette between Pitt & Sandwich? And why are the bleachers facing off to the side of the event. Is this a vintage photoshop?
SBW – I don’t know if there even was a Ottawa St. 100 years ago but I know for a fact that Heatherbell was there in 1951. My Mom would take me in for a pop after seeing the doctor accross the street. The guy who owned it was a one arm short order cook and was still there well into the 70’s before he sold it.
David – This fountain is long retired from spitting water.
Ric is right, it been polished, and during the last “refurbishment” it was ruined, the bowl, etc.. was removed.
As for Heather Bell’s.. I would be very surprised if the building was 100 years old. That area didn’t start to see development until 1910-1915. Even the Bank of Montreal at Walker & Ottawa (now demoed) wasn’t built until 1919. I think the oldest part of the Market Square building dates to about 1912 or so… It may be close, but likely not quite 100 yet…
Great look in time Andrew. I know what you mean about climbing a telephone pole to get a better look. you’d never be able to do that anywhere but a thrid world country today.
i think David is refering to the fountains in the “pond” not this one. the casino probably has a heater in their waterfall and is willing to pay he bill for it too. i would imagine we have to wait until then to assure we don’t get wacked with a blizzard or something and have the pipes freeze up. we’re pretty lucky we didn’t get one last dump of snow so far.
but cut down on the flower budget? those people had better triple it and make my jaw hit the floor this year after what they put us thru last summer.
Terry – i beleive this would be your view today:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=windsor+ont&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=42.860344,78.837891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Windsor,+Essex+County,+Ontario&ll=42.319088,-83.039981&spn=0,0.002406&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.319012,-83.039935&panoid=kLzfp2P79okLSrbcEjRGuA&cbp=12,220.99,,0,2.69
it was probly taken, like you said, from one of the low rise buildngs that were in the parking lot of today before the Smiths store expanded and made a huge beauty of a building on that spot…again, now a parking lot.
The fountain is a memorial to the Essex Scottish of Windsor who fought in the Boer War. WIthin the past 10 years or so – I don’t know exactly when, it was rededicated in a small ceremony honouring the other regiments that took part, including the Royal Canadian Regiment. There is a great military tradition in this town, but sadly, the memorials around town – and there are many – are not well known outside military circles. The Essex and Kent Scottish would have great archival information about the memorial, but it’s really only for officer’s eyes. I had a chance when I was a member of the officer’s mess years ago to see the E&K log books from that time – all hand written accounts of musters, disciplinary actions, awards, parades, exercises, etc. I’m sure those books would have tons of info on the memorial. Just good luck getting to them!
I know the memorial fountain itself doesn’t work. But, I consider the Memorial fountain a centerpiece (even though they are not physically connected) for the Jackson Park pond with the three fountains shooting water out of it. When you walk from the north, you see the grand pond with the Memorial fountain in the horizon.
These are not copper pipes in the pond. They look like painted ABS, but I’m leaning towards PVC. As long as the water is continuously running, you won’t have to worry about freezing pipes bursting if there’s a surprise overnight blizzard. It only becomes an issue if the water stops running. I used to have a swimming pool for over a decade and it was just heated by a solar blanket. Never had a heater connected to it. We always opened it up a few months early and closed it a few months late and rarely swam in it in those months. We just kept it continuously running with the automatic barracuda cleaning up the leaves.
There’s no reason for the fountains in this pond to be off this month, except for a small pittance of electricity in running the pump for the fountain.
Find your way to Virtual Motor City using google. Then see if you can find image 20170-vmc. This will give some idea of how much smaller the old post office building was, and also how the siting of the bleachers would provide good viewing of the fountain for the VIPs. Virtual Motor City has lots of interesting images of old Windsor as well as Detroit and elsewhere. It’s great for getting lost in time!