One of my favourite buildings on the Grace Hospital complex, is the Brett Building, at the corner of University & Oak.
The photo above appeared in the Windsor Star – December 12, 1953:
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“The steel girders going into place for the new nurses’ residence at Grace Hospital are giving shape to the building which has been so long needed by the Salvation Army hospital. The building, which will cost approximately $550,000, will accommodate 141 students and will include 79 single rooms and 31 double rooms. This residence is expected to be completed by August 1954, and will replace nine separate homes in the area where the students are now living. In the photo above, riggers are shown as they work on the steel framework of the nurses’ home. Construction of the residence started in August. Architect for the building is J.C. Pennington and general contractor is Dinsmore Construction Limited. On the ground floor level there will be classrooms and laboratories as well as recreational space for the student nurses.”
The photo above (and at the top) was taken right around the time that Grace Hospital was wrapping up operations.
Here it is a few years later, all boarded up.
A view of the cornerstone from 1953.
Today it looks unkempt, and dirty. Hopefully this part of the hospital is included in the rehabilitation plans for the Grace Site. Otherwise if it is demolished, I think it would leave a massive hole in the University Avenue streetscape.
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According to the Windsor Star, “About 64,000 sq. ft. of the site, largely facing Oak Street will be demolished, while the remaining 230,000 sq. ft. will be rebuilt”.
I think We can all see where this is going…Welcome to Windsor.
The Brett building is maintained as part of the plans (north wing) of the new long term care project.
If they ever get started. They are just starting demo’ing again. I hope it becomes what they wanted it to (along with landscpaing) but I am seriously holding my breath on this one.
Well i live across the street from Grace hospital on Oak st and they have been working on it all day so far…as they promised to start on Monday…..its so loud and i hate it but its better then leaving it the way it has been for years now…. hope they keep the corner part of it, but i heard from workers they will demolish it unless the plans are changed….and yes welcome to windsor ! 1953 aint even old ! its such an eye sore right now….houses dont even cost alot in this area due to the hospital looking so bad in this area ! I have high hopes and im still retoring my home and putting money into it….the news keeps coming around to my house cause there amazed in how much work i invested in my home with this eye sore being across from me !
My mother lived in the Brett Building while a nursing student, then worked her entire career in the hospital. Her kids and all her grand kids were born there, and when she died, her memorial service was conducted in the chapel. Seeing the place this way makes me so sad. I’m eager to see the eyesore gone, but they need to preserve some of the old place, for people who knew the place so well.
Yes Keith alot of older women tell me from time to time about the nursing school days and how there were so many houses where the parking lot is now on oak across the brett building and how she use to live there while attending school and many maemories…. plus the tunnel thats below it going to the other hospital beside it…..
The First nurses residence was next door to my home on Crawford Avenue.
A large home, well maintained, and busy with young women, and strict rules.
I know I am a little bit late on posting a comment but hey!
I am very sad to see this building go… It’s been 19 years since I have been in there seeing as how I was born there.
Little unknown fact to many: SHANIA TWAIN was born in this very hospital!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀