Today we take a look at one of the downtown buildings from Windsor’s past. This building stood on the s.w. corner of Ouellette and Chatham St., where the Royal Bank is today. Romanesque in style, the building was designed by architects Maycock & Newman. The three story building was built with shops on the ground floor, offices on the second and the third reserved for Lodges.
It was originally commissioned by the mayor of Windsor at the time, Oscar Fleming and I believe his brothers. Somewhere along the line, the building became known as the Victoria Block.
The final design varied slightly from the rendering above, as the corner turret was never built. It was a very impressive structure, and was home to Kresge’s until the night of December 23/24, 1945.
At 12:05 am on Dec 24th, a fire was spotted in the building, and the blaze was described as “the biggest fire in Windsor’s history”.
The fire raged all morning, and into the next afternoon, and when all was said and done, the building was destroyed. Damage was pegged at $1,000,000 (adjusted for inflation, $1 million 1945 dollars = $12.7 million today)
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“The photo above shows the Victoria Block as it looked in the cold light of early dawn after the fire that destroyed its stores and offices was subdued by the eight-hour fight of the Windsor Fire Department, directed by Chief Clarence J. DeFields. The fire was discovered around midnight and the fire trucks arrived at the downtown intersection at 12:05 am. At the time the picture was taken the firemen were mopping up the smouldering embers deep in the debris of the three-story building and one of the firemen can be seen directing a stream of water in the interior as others try to shovel away the thick ice formed on the sidewalk. The ice hanging from the walls of the Victoria Block gave it a Christmasy look but hide the black smoke stains that the ruined building will present to Ouellette avenue. Another fireman can be seen atop the Woolworth building to the left as he inspects the damage done to it. At one time it seemed that the fire fighters would not be able to save the adjacent buildings.”
Kresge’s rebuilt on the same site, and the site is now home to the Royal Bank.
I would have been quite happy with the Kresge building rather than the turd of a building that RBC sits in now. It is now a proverbial dead zone for pedestrians because of the design (much like the TD bank buliding now).
Perhaps the banks can stop playing “shuffle cards” with their buildings and stay in one place for some time? They have done so much damage destroying existing buildings only to replace them with the cold look of glass and steel.
I remember Kresge’s. They had old wooden floors and three eating counters. One to sit at in swivel chairs and 2 stand up counters. I remember buying an album (that ‘s how we listened to music) there on occasion, probably $2.00 and change.
The third floor was reserved for Lodges? As in Masonic Lodges?
What a beautiful building. So sad that it was destroyed by fire…but it would unfortunately have received the wrecking ball by now anyway. I had no idea that this building had ever exsisted in that location. I was only familiar with the replacement Kresge. This building is very much like Kresge buildings in other cities that remained in tack into the 1980s. Wouldn’t Oullette Ave be beautiful if for even two blocks all this style of buildings were rebuilt and little shops were renting the ground floors…together with the cultural centre, we might have a small downtown to be proud to shop in again. Downtown is such a mish-mash of styles (if you would call it that)…no appeal to set up shop downtown.
Kevin, yes, I’m pretty sure that’s what was meant. Prior to the Masonic Temple being built, do you know where meetings were held?
Paula, I agree. There is no cohesive feel downtown.
The downtown of Windsor has been dead for years, not good stores, because people ran to the
shopping centers Dorwin Yorktown Gateway and then to the malls. Now the threat is big box stores and more suburbs.
If you want a vibrant downtown you need major retailer national chains, Windsor never had them except the dimestores.
If downtown had major ofice boom maybe store would come back. Donot hold your breath.
I miss Kresges !!! I use to love going up them stairs in the back….to the washrooms…..and as i was going down the stairs i could see the whole store from above…..miss them old wooden floors ….feels like yesterday……my first store where i bought make-up and records….and clothes etc…everything LOL how i miss shopping downtown !! it breaks my heart now ! ;(
Andrew, I recall seeing pictures of the buildings the lodges met in before the current Temple was built. They’re in the museum display in the Red Room. I can’t remember the years right off the top of my head, but I have to drop by the Temple today anyways so I will check and post it tomorrow.
I came across a listing in Vernon’s 1919 Directory for the Masonic Lodges meeting in the Davis Block on Riverside Dr, next to Smith’s, I believe. Here’s the link: http://www.archive.org/stream/vernonswindsor00vernuoft#page/562/mode/2up
Stumbled upon this…my great grandfather was the fire chief (C.J. DeFields)
I found this link through the Walkerville Reunion site on Facebook. The fire chief, Chief Clarence J. DeFields was my mom’s father (my grandfather)serving on the Fire Department for 48 years! He was also the General Manager of the Goodfellows of Windsor, who raised money for food and necessities for the needy people of Windsor, especially during the Christmas Season.
Ha, hi Holly (my cousin…
Cheif Clarence J. DeFields was my great grandfather, his son (my grandfather), Clarence E. DeFields was a district chief in Windsor for several decades. The family was also very active in the Windsor Yacht Club.