Photo © Bob Baillargeon
Taken in 1975, and from the Bob Baillargeon collection, many thanks to Bob for sharing photos with us. This photo is taken under the earth inside the Windsor Salt Mine.
Anyone out there ever been in the mines? Sounds like it would make a great Doors Open location too, although it today’s day and age of liability, it’s very hard to get places like this open…
I hear stories that once upon a time there used to be Salt Mine tours, open to the public and for school children, etc… Someone must have some stories to share.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Crescent Lanes first opened on Ottawa Street in 1944 at 1055 Ottawa Street, opposite Lanspeary…
Above is a photo of the home of Mr & Mrs Oswald Janisse, located at…
in 1917 two Greek brothers Gus & Harry Lukos purchased a one story building on…
Photo from Google Streetview A long time reader sent me an email the other week…
An unremarkable end to a part of Windsor's history. The large vacant house at 841…
One for the lost Windsor files, is this house that once belonged to Joseph Reaume…
View Comments
They used to take the first year geology students on tours and I do recall the possibility of public tours but never did get there, one of those local attractions one doesn't get around to unless entertaining visitors from other parts, I suppose. Driving cab, I once picked up a trip off a boat at the salt mine's dock, driving way out along the pier which was covered with salt as was the road through the yard. Guess ice wouldn't be much of a problem!
You are correct Andrew, there are no more tours available. The greedy lawyers and the persistent slicing and dicing of our laws is what stops things like this from continuing.
Many houses with basements in LaSalle can be heard the blasting in these mines.
Thanks for such an interesting photo. Hopefully there will be more.
I am sure any tours would be out for insurance sake, I often thought though that perhaps some smaller tours would be a good fund raiser for some organization such as the United Way, I know I would buy a raffle ticket on a chance win an opportunity to view them.
Windsor Salt or Canadian Salt, actually is owned by Morten Salt, a U.S. company. Salt is mow mined by using hot steam to liquify the mass into brine and then the water is evaporated, leaving the salt behind.
1954 there was a salt mine collapse on the proprety, it swallowed up a mine building. Anyone have info on that?
I know we like to vent against insurance companies and lawyers but I suspect the tours were just too big a hassle.Really what's in it for the salt company. Better brand loyalty?
The fence of death has been put up around St. Anthony Of Padua on Parent.
I ACTUALLY WENT FOR TOUR IN SEPTEMEBR OF 2005.THEY HELD A TOUR AVAILABLE TO THE EMPLOYEES FAMILIES - MY NEIGHBOR AT THE TIME BROUGHT ME AND MY MOTHER DOWN...IT WAS VERY NEAT...IT ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE THE NORTH POLE WITH ALL THE SALT CRYSTALS. THEY GAVE US HARD HATS AND WE DROVE ABOUT 20 MINS TO THE CURRENT BLASTING LOCATION - WHICH IS CURRENTLY - IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT - UNDER GRASSY ISLAND.I REMEMBER THE TOUR GUIDE SAYING THAT THE POCKET OF SALT REACHES SOUTH TOWARDS THE MOUTH OF LAKE ERIE AND THAT THE SALT BLASTING WILL EVENTUALLY HIT THE BOBLO AREA IN ABOUT 30 YEARS - I WORK IN LASALLE AND EVERYDAY AT 3:10 PM I FEEL THE BLAST RUMBLE UNDER MY FEET- REALLY COOL!
I heard from someone that took the tour a few decades ago that salt corrosion was so pervasive, machinery had to be replaced regularly. Vehicles would be brought to the surface after years of service and would then literally fall to pieces in the relatively moist atmosphere.
I'd love to see a map of the entire mine system if there is one available. It would be interesting to see how far reaching the mines are...
WENT ON A TOUR WITH A CHURCH GROUP ( sorry) back in 1957. It was very impressive. we were told to wear an old pair of shoes as the salt would ruin any leather. Public tours were limited even then. It's a mine with all the possibility of danger of any mine.
I was also told at the time that some shafts ran under the US as well. I don't know how true that is.