Happy Friday everyone. Another week down, but sadly three more weeks still until the next long weekend… Up today is an old photo taken along what was then Sandwich Street looking east. Taken in 1915, this was shortly after the onset of WWI. As is typical for an old photo of Windsor, everything you can see is long gone.
Despite the date, and the rising popularity of the horseless carriage, it’s interesting to note, there are no cars visible in the photo, only horses. The storefronts beind the horse, is the current location of the Cleary Auditorium St. Clair Centre for the Arts. Note the sign for the Imperial Hotel, later known as Lee’s Imperial Tavern
Above is the same view today. Nothing remains to identify the location today.
Enjoy the weekend, and the return of Festival Epicure. See you back here Monday.
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Nothing remains not even the businesses. Sad to see that Windsor's downtown was larger then than it is today.
Even with that silly streetscaping they did on Ouellette (Pellisier looks better) our downtown still looks cold, uncaring, boring and devoid of any feeling or design.
Some people may not like the canyon of buildings on either side (where is the river?). The river back then was purely an industrial highway, and treated as such with all sorts of refuse and waste dumped in it. It's likely that the river is much healthier than it was 100 years ago. While it is sad that these buildings are gone, those buildings were never intended to be examples of architecture, just serving a purpose to house a business.
I'd like to see Windsor develop a real skyline, the aborted Chrysler building makes me sad, though if it were full size, it would likely have even more vacant floors.
Every time I walk along the river I am thankful those buildings are tracks are gone.
I don't know, JB. Those were some beautiful buildings, the Merchants Bank on the NW corner of Ouellette stands out in my mind. Then of course there's the British American Hotel, Crawford house...the list goes on. I see what you're saying about them really only being buisness, but almost every building houses a buisness. All those places could easily have and probably would still serve buisness today, most likely resturants and bars with fantastic patios and decks built onto the north sides of the buildings. There was plenty of room between the buildings and the river front to still have green space and walking trails. Plus, its not like the whole northside of the drive was buildings either. They really only extended from Ouellette to Church. You'd still have a good 6.7 kms of green space with open views. They would also be prime spots for conversions into condos or apartments above. I think downtown would be much more lievly then it is today had those buildings remained.
The railyard...yes, its nice that its gone but we should have left some articles to say what had happened there for over 100 years of the city's history. Actually, I think that we should have left the train station and 3 or 4 tracks right where they were. Having VIA right in the core would also benifit the city.
i have to laugh when i see photos of our skyline and then see detroits our tallest building is the casino i think i read somewhere in the star back when the chrysler building was still in it's planning stages that it was suppossed to be 28 floors but council with it's herd mentality wanted a uniform skyline what a joke
If you check the history of the Crysler building it was the developer that changed the height, Lack of interest for space, the mayor or council did not decide this.
I remember being outraged back in 2000 when plans to take down the Norwich Block came to pass. Here we are, 11 yrs later and the Chrysler building is nothing more than a white elephant. What I never understood was that, if Windsor doesnt lack one thing, it is VACANT land! The Chrysler Building could've been built elsewhere alone the water, leaving the Norwich Block intact. The buildings on that block were built around 1850 ... and were taken down 150yrs later for a parking garage and 12 story stub - shame on Windsor, yet another mistake.
Totally agree with you Christopher. It's a shame, and terribly embarrassing,
I came back to Windsor for a visit and was to see all the bars and empty stores . At one time it was nice to walk downtown and go window shopping and having a cup of coffee . What they should do is put back in the shops and have coffee cafes . At least when people come to the casino they will have a place to go .
I left Windsor 21 years ago and came back for a visit and me to was surprised to see downtown a mess . There are bars and massage parlours . While walking i didn't see to many seniors walking around like at one time . That is not the Windsor i remember . I don't know what the mayor was thinking when he allowed all the riff raff , to come into the city . I hope he cleans the city up . Downtown has a lot to offer . I know if i were to visit the casino , i would love walking around doing a little shopping and eat at a nice place . Speak up and get your downtown back . I still think of Windsor home ..
I remember going to Lee's Imperial Restaurant with my Aunt Franky who was friends with the
owners, Bo-Ki Lee I am not sure if that is the spelling of it, but i remember him as it was yesterday. His family lived in an apt building on Pitt street that is now a shop of some sorts. What a great picture , brings back a lot of memories.
thanks