In my opinion one of the nicest buildings on Wyandotte Street. This white terra-cotta clad Beaux-Arts stlye building was originally commissioned by the Merchants Bank Of Canada. It was designed by the firm Of Hogle & Davis of Montreal in 1912.
Hogle & Davis designed many locations for the Merchants Bank, from Halifax to Calgary. It was announced in 1921, that the Bank of Montreal would be taking over the Merchants Bank.
This photo, and the one above it date to 2002, when the building was vacant after being closed by the Bank of Montreal.
There is some great details cast in the terra-cotta on this building.
After sitting vacant for a while, the building was purchased by a salon, and it spent a few years as the home of T’Dye For, before becoming the Gourmet Emporium.
This building is one of the few happy examples, of adaptive reuse in Windsor.
Above is a photo of the building during construction, from this photo, it is hard to tell, but you can see the construction work around the main entrance.
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In the construction photo I like how they didn't level the trees there. They built around them. (I wish we had tree coverage like that now).
This is one of my fav buildings in Windsor period. You should take another photo soon and post it. They now have a period wrought iron fence for a cafe and it looks outstanding. Plus it is nicely lit at night.
One thing I like about this area is the adaptive reuse of older buildings. Too bad the vast majority of other buildings in this city don't see these improvements. Downtown sure would benefit.
Driving down Wyandotte in this area is like driving back in time. Some of the shops still have awnings, dressed windows and look so welcoming. Nice groupings of retail, office and restaurant. I agree with Dave, it is one of the nicest buildings in Windsor....love the detail on this building.
This bank was robbed in 1959. An excellent description can be found here: http://www.walkervilletimes.com/great-robbery-59.html
I love the trees in the construction photo. It's sad to know they're gone now. I love seeing old pictures where the trees were just young, and then compare them to photos of today and see how much things have grown.
it would make a great bank
Does it still have the BOM sign along the roof?
Andrew, was the Merchants bank at Riverside and Ouellette still in use at the same time as this, or was this built to replace it?
I agree with you Paula about it beeing like going back in time on that stretch. My wife and I were walking down there not terribly long ago, and I was saying to her how if you just eliminated most of the traffic, the sites and the wafts of yeast flowing thru the neighbourhood would be very much as it was 80-100 years ago. I think its the yeast smell that really does it for me, as its that smell that built that beautiful little town.
Thanks for the post Andrew!
very nice photos of the old bank facade i'm curious about the bank that stood on the s/w corner of ouellette and riverside dr.they were supposed to disassmble it and work it into a future building...but knowing how windsor operates i don't think it will ever be a reality
gary, I think the fascade is sitting in a wearhouse out on Rhoades dr.
When I was working in the 60's I did the banking there, the tellers still behind barred counter, and the huge safe in the background, its funny how you dont appreciate buildings lke that till its too late.
Yes the bank of Montreal sign is still on the building. That is a spectacular building.
Gorgeous.