Photo Du JourWindsor

Seagrave Fire

July 16, 2007
Thursday night/Friday morning saw a fire over on Walker Rd. at the historic Seagrave Factory. For a bit of background on the building, see this post from March 20th, 2006. Luckily the fire that has been ruled as arson, didn’t cause any major damage to the century old building. Fire officials estimated about $250k in damage, but ruled the building free of structural damage. Most old…
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Photo Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Downtown - 1905

July 13, 2007
So, 102 years ago, this is how Riverside Drive looked. The saddest thing about the photo above is that over the last century we have managed to demolished every last building visible. To get a similar view today, you would be standing in the middle of Riverside Dr. In front…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Windsor Castle Cafe

July 12, 2007
This vintage brochure dates to about 1935. This house was the residence of Vital Ouellette and his wife, and originally sat on the corner of Ouellette & Chatham. In the first few years of the 20th century, the Bank of Montreal bought the land on the corner of Chatham…
Essex CountyPhoto Du Jour

Wyandotte Indian Cemetery

July 11, 2007
Today’s entry takes us down the River towards Amherstburg, and to the Wyandotte Indian Cemetery. When this cemetery was established, it was located on what was at the time the Anderdon Reservation. The Historical Marker at the cemetery Chief Joseph White’s final resting place, the last Chief of the Wyandottes. A photo of the Chief, from the 1909 Fred Neal Book “The Township…
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Photo Du JourWindsor

Then and Now - Drouillard Road

July 10, 2007
Above is a shot looking north on Drouillard from Wyandotte St., during the Ford Blockade of 1945. Sadly everything north of the Windsor Co-operative Bakery has been demolished. The stairs are now fenced in and filled in with concrete. The entire Drouillard Road Subway is…
Old PhotographsPhoto Du JourWindsor

Chrysler Canada Plant no. 1

July 9, 2007
Today’s entry is for Paul, who recently asked for more information about the old Plant no. 1. Plant 1 stood at the n.e. corner of Tecumseh & McDougall. The site now occupied by a shopping plaza. Plant 1 was originally the plant of the Maxwell-Chalmers Motor Car…
Photo Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Dominion Fish Hatchery - Sandwich

July 6, 2007
Here’s another old postcard to take us into the weekend. This one dates to about 1909, and was published by Fred Neal. Neal was a local historian who document life in Sandwich with his book “The Township Of Sandwich” which he published along with a series of postcards in 1909. Some History about the Fish Hatchery: It was established in 1875 as the fourth Government run fish…
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Essex CountyPhoto Du Jour

Lost Essex County - New Canaan

July 5, 2007
Today we head out to the middle of the county, to another point on the map. Behold New Canaan! It was a little disappointing to head to such a biblically named locale, and not even find a church. This view is looking over the River Canard River Bridge towards downtown. 48…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Graham-Paige Motor Car Factory

July 4, 2007
Thousands of cars a day stream past this old brick factory on Wyandotte St. E. most if not all of them without giving any thought to the history of this former Automotive Assembly Plant. Like many old factories, it was great to live super close to work. This factory pumped…