Yesterday WRG commented on the Chrysler photo with the following:
-
I looked quickly at Chrysler Canada’s history (again at the allpar) site, and in ’64 Chrysler acquired L. A. Young Spring & Wire Limited and the Walker Metal Products foundry both in Windsor… That being said, I have never heard of, or even heard reference to L. A. Young Spring & Wire.
So here we go with another chapter in Windsor’s Industrial Past:
From “The Border Cities Star” November 8, 1927:
-
Four additions in two years, at a cost of $213,000, is the record of the L.A. Young Industries of Canada, Limited, one of the Border’s fastest growing manufacturing plants. The fourth addition is now going up and when completed it will give the firm an extra floor space of 12,800 square feet.
This firm holds an enviable position among Border industries, and its plant on McDougall Street, when provided with the addition now being built, will give employment to between 400 and 500 people. The company’s original plant – the old Ideal Spring factory – represented a cost in the neighbourhood of $600,000 when this factory and the Leggett and Platt bed spring industry were amalgamated in 1925. Since then the firm has made great strides, and as evidence of its faith in the future of the Border Cities the latest unit stands as ample proof of the manufacturing importance of this part of Ontario.
The company got its start in Windsor in 1911 with three employees, making mattresses. It was started by C.E. Platt. In 1925 it was purchased and merged with the Idea Fence and Spring Co. by L.A. Young Industries of Detroit.
The building is still there on McDougall Ave. between Ellis & Shepperd.
Here’s an aerial view of the plant, sorry… Microsoft Virtual Earth doesn’t have a photo of the front available… Judging from the rendering at the top, and the photo above, it looks like the plant was expanded again after that along the Ellis side…
Also Leggett & Platt are still around today. In fact they even still have an Automotive Plant in the Windsor area.
There is an interesting picture of the Ideal Fence Company posted on:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html
Just enter Ideal Fence Company in the search window. It is difficult to imagine the building as it is today, as the same building, but it is
Hmmm…I didn’t find an Easter Egg here or in the pictures above from Facebook…anh…just kidding have a good Easter long weekend everybody. I’ve walked by the building manys a time, it looks like it is built to stand the ages, would be a great converter to loft living.
Phil – nice find!
Here’s the photo of the Ideal Fence Co.
Andrew, there is a really interesting building across Shepherd from this one, it’s the old Windsor Trucking building… it might still be. It has a really cool clock tower, I’ve always wondered about that one…. Nice to see so many of the old industrial buildings in my neighborhood being featured, I take my dog for walks past these buildings all the time, and now I know something about them.
Well, it’s great they’ve found another use for it. I was reading in the DFP the other day that Detroit City Council passed a resolution to have the Michigan Central Station demolished and they’ve put a bunch of other vacant buildings on the list for demolition using the funds from the new economic stimulus package. Oddly, after hearing of this Detroit demo blitz, I’m gonna say I’m glad to be on this side of the motor city.
this is excelent andrew! this will help with my modeling the ETR!
Looking for any information, did the plant have a elevator in it? My mother-in-laws father worked as an elevator operator. His name was Semon Atoka, If anyone has any pictures or information of Semon could they please forward to us.
Thanks