Happy Valentines Day! We’re sticking with the prohibition era breweries today. Heading east from LaSalle all the way to the former town of Riverside, and the former Riverside Brewery.
Founded in 1926, the building was designed by Albert McPhail, who designed many other buildings in Windsor. It’s amazing that after 85 years, the sign is still clearly visible.
Over the front door, there is remains of a painted sign for a Bird Seed Company that once occupied the site.
The front doorway has alternating limetsone and brick. I love the big “R” over the front door.
An impressive structure towering over the local area. It’s too bad that the best use for the building today is the sand/gravel docks to the rear. It seems to me that this building would have been perfect for a condo conversion.
Looks like “Riverside Bird Seed” ? Does anyone remember the seed factory?
Here you can see the poor old gal surrounded by piles of sand and gravel. It’s a sad same, given this building’s part in our local history, and in the story of prohibition.
An ad that ran in the paper in 1934 looking for investors.
I am assuming that the investors didn’t come, as the brewery closed in 1935, after only 9 years in operation.
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Think I'll have to add a little thing on wikimapia about that place!
I've added many historic areas of the city and county to wikimapia. I'd love it if other people could possibly pitch in and tag some places they know about as well!
:)
Interesting places, that's for sure!
I thought the Shawn M from wikimapia was the same one from here.
Meet Magnatomicflux!
My girlfriend and I were inside a few years ago. There was a small opening in the brick/block at the back, and the adjacent gravel pile was sliding into the building. You basically had to slide on your stomach backwards into the hole with all this gravel pouring in on you as you slid into the building. Getting out was even harder! There is nothing inside anymore except concrete stairs with iron pipe railings, and gaping holes in the floors where conveyors, machinery and brewing equipment used to be. The top floor had a layer of cork insulation on the ceiling which was deteriorating and falling down.
Yes Aaron, that would be me! :)
Ken and Aaron... from Windsor Public Library: "The British American Brewery was located on Riverside Dr. and Bruce St. The Brewery opened in 1883 and was know most for its production of Cincinnati Cream Ale. The brewery later operated as Brading Brewery, Canadian Breweries and Carlings. The brewery closed in 1969 when the building became the Art Gallery of Windsor, and later the temporary home of Casino Windsor. The building has since been demolished and replaced with a new home for the Art Gallery."
/\ What a terrible shame. Tear down a gorgeous building to put up a new 'modern' one.
I don't mind the look of the new art gallery, but it was unnecessary. Especially while tearing down a historic gem.
Same old story, same old city.
why don't we get some more information on this building and the one to the east on here! I love the look of these buildings, very old and mysterious, if converted into lofts, they would sell out asap because of the view and the beach!
at some point the chimney came down, from what it looks like.
Shawn M, I try to pitch-in to Wikimapia, as well! I do what I can. I try to be as accurate as possible.
I saw the building when visiting my daughter in Windsor in January 2013(I'm from Oshawa). I am fasinated with old buildings and this I just loved both of these buildings.
One thing though, I was told that both of the buildings were run by Al Capone during prohibition and under the brewery building there are tunnel's that run under the river to Peche Island. Most of the tunnel is caved in now I heard.
When I was there, I took a some of the red brick's for a souvenier and some picture's.
**Can anyone confirm what I heard about Al Capone's involvement? And about the tunnel's?
I thought it not only would make great condo's but the bottom floor could be a restaurant in honour of "gangsters & prohibition".