From a postcard I have, postmarked 1959. However the photo dates to 1956 as “Goodbye My Lady” is shown on the marquee at the original version of the Palace.
The caption on the back of the card reads:
Ouellette Ave., at night
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
The principal business and shopping street.
THAT’S HOW I REMEMBER DOWNTOWN WINDSOR! IN THE 70’S IT DIDN’T CHANGE AT ALL.
ALL IT WAS….WAS ALL STORES AND SHOPPING! THEN WHEN THE MALL OPENED UP IN THE LATE 70’S EARLY EIGHTIES, DOWNTOWN WAS DONE! NOW ALL YOU SEE IS BARS , BARS, BARS! SO SAD!!! PEOPLE DON’T TRUST HAVING STORES DOWNTOWN AS MUCH BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE ARE DOING IS DRINKING AND SMOKING OUTSIDE AND CAUSING MORE FIGHTS. AND VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING AS WELL… DOWNTOWN USE TO BE PEACEFUL…. YOU WALKED DOWNTOWN AND YOU COULD HEAR THE LIGHS ON THE STREETS HUMMING.. I HAVE MEMORIES AND NOBODY CAN TAKE THEM AWAY….THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS….THANKS FOR THE PICTURE ANDREW!! GOOD ONE!!!
Looks like a great hang out place for cars! I wonder if people ever go ther too!
Wow…this is what they should aim to make downtown again. Gone are the stores with their lights shinning bright in the night, gone are the people that would shop at them. All that remains are building after empty building that make our city look more like slums, than a tourist destination, or “the place to be.”
It looked even better a hundred years ago. Here’s a PDF download compilation on the history of ouellette street with various postcards, with pictures of the Ritz Hotel, Manning House, and the old post office. http://www.walkerville.com/postcards/postcard-sample.pdf
David,
That’s an incredible collection! I don’t think I’ve seen as many old images like that of the area. I think these postcards will become even more valuable as reference once those that pretend to be our city leaders realize that we should return to the streetcar mode of tranpsort, if not by choice now, then by necessity later. These images will show how it was done, how people walked and socialized on the streets being connected with the community rather than, say, typing away in solitude to a blogsite. (though the best blogsite ever!!)
I know it’s off topic but has anyone been able to get pictures of the Grad House lately, I know it’s slated for demolition this month. I would go and take some but my camera is out of commission being repaired right now. Also, I don’t know if anyone on here has taken note of the massive amounts of construction at the bridge recently, they are really forging ahead with the construction of the tolls/customs for the twinning of the bridge. I wish this city/province/federal gov’t would get their acts together and come up with a plan for our new crossing, because something needs to be done and done soon, and unfortunately Matty Moroun is the only one stepping up (for his own good) and he’s going to destroy Olde Sandwich town in the process.
Blair, I haven’t but the end should be coming soon. I’ll try and get by over the weekend or ealr next week and shoot some of the Grad House.
does the back of the postcard have the postcard publisher information on it?
Pauila, it reads: Published by Sigal Brothers, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
hi, I am really impressed with the wealth and quality of your website images, wow, nice collection. I am on a search for any images or information about a Windsor Ontario business in 1956 called Border Cities Wire & Iron. more particularly I am searching for an image of one of it’s owners, or major share holders William (Bill) A. Morgan. Any info or images you have would be greatly appreciated.
thank you
Robert.
Here ya go Robert, this is all I can find so far:
http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=1620
There are some other links posted in that link that might further your search, but i can’t access them here at work.
Good luck, and stick around!
Oh…and I like your paintings BTW!
Yes! Robert – your paintings are wonderfu1!
I love the tree on the hill in Roberts paintings. It looks very art nouveau.
on street parking and 2 lanes of traffic now it’s no on street parking and 1 lane of traffic and windsor calls this progress????