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August 2011
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Today’s picture is a reader submission, from a reader named Jeannette, who came across this photo at her mother’s house.

The sign on the fence reads “Royal Yeast Cakes”, but I’m not sure if it was a sign or merely advertising. Her mother who is in her 80’s thought the building may have been from her old neighbourhood where she grew up around the Cadillac/Wyandotte area.

Through the magic of Google, it would appear that Royal Yeast Cakes were produced by the Gilette Corporation, likely not made here.

If it looks familiar to anyone, or any detectives out there, I would love to hear your thoughts, I would guess about 1910 for a date on this…

Andrew

View Comments

  • 1910? With the horse buggies out back it could be even earlier. But I am just guessing.

    The picture looks like something from a French village.

    A very nice clear picture.

  • There are some misleading elements to the pic - look closely above the left door, the bricks have fallen out. The window on the left is boarded up, there is more brick damage near the bottom under that window, the roof is a mess and the banner type sign across the top is peeling off. With the exception of the buggy, other elements in the photo may indicate a newer date- I don't know but when did fire hydrants come into common use? The power lines also have a newer look to them. Any thoughts?

  • I picked 1910, it can usually go five years either way... Up to WWI horse and buggies were still common on Windsor roads despite the Ford Plant being set up in Windsor since 1904...

  • I KNEW IT!

    http://heritage.windsorpubliclibrary.com/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/heritage&CISOPTR=543&CISOBOX=1&REC=13

    Apparently a copy of this photo has at some point been forwarded to the Windsor Community Museum. The captions at the bottome of the photo in "subject" indicate that it was at or near Pitt and McDougall. Although, I've found the captions on a chunk of the stuff on the site to be inaccurate. The title is or "Hay and Feed Store", speaks of the disrepair of the building and that that banner tells of an up coming Horse Show. It says that's a coal hopper on the right behind the fence so this place probably ended its life as a coal distribution center. It mentions the Royal Yeast sign but only says that its on the fence, I would bet its just an advertisment.
    Whatever this place was originally, and I'm thinking a side by side tennement, it was built very early in this communities beginnings.

    Either way, thanks a bunch Jeanette for the photo, and thanks for posting it Andrew!

  • Thank you to all! I will tell my Mom that she truly has a wonderful piece of Windsor history.
    Jeannette

  • Great detective work, Aaron. I knew by the end of the day it would be solved, by someone. What a great site.

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