Photo © Bob Baillargeon
A few more today, from the Bob Baillargeon collection, again many thanks to Bob for sharing these photos with us. Hopefully Bob finds some more scans to share in the new year, these are some great photos.
The first shot from 1975 is looking north on Ouellette, the traffic light is at Riverside. I like the old Windsor Raceway sign on the right.
Another shot looking north, this one think is taken looking north from Wyandotte towards Maiden Lane (although google maps lists the alley from Wyandotte as Maiden Lane), and the old Tunnel Bus waiting room. All of these tunnel buildings bit the dust in the early 1990’s with the tunnel plaza expansion/remodelling.
I remember when I first came to Windsor taking the tunnel bus to Tigers games and coming out upon my return via Maiden Lane to Ouellette Ave.
Anyone else have any memories similar to that?
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Photo © Bob Baillargeon
I remember coming back from some concert with a friend and I couldn’t find my birth certificate, my only i.d. at the time and after everyone else was gone on their way, he looked back at me and said “get out of here kid”.Probably would not happen like that today.
Just wanted to say thank you to Bob for these incredible photos! I cannot get over how clear they are… I think someone might be hiding a time machine in their garage… 😉
When I was growing up in the fifties, I made regular trips to Detroit on the tunnel bus, “shopping” with my Mom (though it was mostly window shopping). she’d save American coins she’d get in change and rarely had to exchange money for our day trips. I remember the novelty of two or three cents on the dollar sales tax in Michigan. I also remember when the Canadian dollar was worth more!
Smuggling small purchases through customs was a life skill. My Dad “rolled his own” but liked “tailor mades” for social events and Pall Mall brand, the carton opened and the packs tucked away individually was a popular “stocking stuffer” or small gift for Father’s Day or the like.
One door off Maiden Lane, opposite the old parking garage, led to the toll gates and the platform where you waited for the Detroit bound bus. When you came back, after the frisson of nerves before the perfunctory pass through customs, you exited straight ahead through the mall of an office building onto Ouellette, past a barber shop, a newstand, a lunch counter, elevators and various other shops. I remember the novelty of going up in those elevators to the office of some doctor or dentist years later.
Reading the comment about required i.d., I only ever had my birth certificate, a tattered green paper, tearing along the folds, but my mother and father had “border crossing cards” from the forties, photo identification issued – I believe – only to border city residents who crossed frequently. They were postcard sized and protected in leather bound celluloid sleeves.
I used to dance on the detroit scene on channel 62 every friday back in 85 and yes i always took this way to catch the tunnel bus……..your saying you cant anymore Andrew? really?? since when? well i have been driving since 86 guess i wouldnt know then lol
I used to dance on the detroit scene on channel 62 every friday back in 85 and yes i always took this way to catch the tunnel bus……..your saying you cant anymore Andrew? really??
i repeated ??? lol heeeeeeeeeee computer is acting weird? lol
Lilly, since the early 1990s. Now you have to go to the mina bus station downtown are if the bus is on the way to the tunnel you can flag it down (unless it is full).
Wow, that is an odd post. IT should say go to the main bus station downtown or flag the bus.
Back when the Tunnel Company operated the tunnel bus they turned around on their propertiy, and only drove on the streets in Detroit.When the tunnel Co. ended bussing the SW&A, Trasit Winsor took over.
When I first moved to Windsor (1993/94) the Tunnel redevelopment was–I think–were underway or nearly complete–however I do remember exiting the Tunnel Bus on the return to Windsor and coming through an “Arcade/Mall type” corridor and out onto Ouellette Avenue…at the time I believe it was the National Trust building next to what was the Best Western Rose City (now the Holiday Inn).
wow someone else with a tattered, folded, ripped green birth certificate. used that for so many years, not until I was married did I get a REAL birth certificate. thanks Claire for that reminder, I remember going thru the customs on a baptisim certificate too, times have changed.
Lilly,
Are we talking the “new dance show” with R J Walkins??
I remember those red Raceway signs! They must have still been around in the mid 80s.
Luc- No the old one with nat morris haaaaaaaaaa
Lilly,
That’s awesome….It’s time for the percolator!!
that Maiden Lane pic shows to the far left where the cab stand used to be. We struck it rich when some American cam off the Tunnel Bus wanting to take a cab to the Windsor Raceway!
Yes, these were the good old days. Unfortunately we’re heading into a much worse time. USA is now practically Nazi Germany. There are bright spots, though. http://www.thecomingdepression.net/
A little off-topic, but when I was running the Detroit Marathon last year and this year (we ran over the Ambassador Bridge) it looks like there is a pedestrian crossing. I know the border crossing bridge that goes over Rainy River (International Falls, MN/Fort Frances, ON) you can still walk across the bridge and you walk right into the customs office at the end of the bridge.
With the Ambassador, when did they start restricting pedestrians from crossing?
Jonathan, when the Bridge Troll, Matty Maroun, bought it in the late 1970s I believe. People have speculated it was because of suicides but that is just BS.
Wow does that take me back. When was the last time you saw a ’65 dodge monaco, a ’75 chevy caprice and mercury montego on the streets of windsor?
I was not born then,but it looks much better then,then now.
Jarod m windsor was much better wwwaaayyy back then not like the trashy core we have today
know one has mentioned the SOUTHWOOD HOTEL it is built on the higest land in the city .it is still there on wellington ave,and you can meet friends you have known for 40-50 years
Jonathan> You could even ride your bicycle across too, it cost .10
What hotel stood on the northeast corner of Riverside and Ouellette? I can just make out a slice of it behind the raceway sign.
I can’t remember the name of it now.
🙂 … nevermind. Just saw the post explaining it all. I’ll be heading down to the riverfront tomorrow (today?) to take pictures of the foundation wall. I had no idea.