Old PhotographsPhoto Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Top Hat - Part I

September 11, 2007
Once upon a time, Windsor was the King of Entertainment. Supper-Clubs with big-name entertainment was common, among the biggest were the Elmwood (covered recently here, here and here), The Metropole and the Top Hat (which we looked at back in May). Today we look at some historical promotional material graciously donated by Sam Drakich. A few shots of the interior of the Top Hat from a postcard…
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Photo Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Windsor Waterfront - 1930

September 7, 2007
This photo was taken at the foot of Caron Ave. looking toward the Detroit skyline. The most interesting thing about this card to me is the ship in the foreground. It is the Vedas, the bootlegging ship owned by Harry Low. From the Walkerville Times: When prohibition came…
Old PhotographsPhoto Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Univeristy of Windsor

August 31, 2007
For all the students heading back to school next week, here’s a look back at the beginnings of the University of Windsor. Campus looked pretty bare back in ’54. University Centre, built in 1962, is at the heart of the University of Windsor campus, an…
Photo Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Old Post Cards

August 20, 2007
This past weekend, I came acorss a few old postcards for sale at Magpie Antiques & Collectibles. They don’t follow any particular theme, but they were just something I thought I would share. Both cards date to the mid 1960’s. NEW METROPOLE SUPPER CLUB 917 Walker Rd., Windor, Ont., Canada For a new adventure in dining try our FABULOUS SMORGASBORD served every day 5 to 8 p.m.
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Old Newspaper StoriesPhoto Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Elmwood Part II

August 16, 2007
This postcard dates to the late 1940’s and shows the original building before additions. The building today. A postcard from the late 1950’s of the entire complex. Like taken after the motel was built in 1956. A view of the lobby of the motel building. Classic…
Great Lakes BoatsPhoto Du JourPostcards

SS Noronic & Hamonic

July 25, 2007
Back in October 2005, I ran a peice on the SS Hamonic with help/contributions from T.R. Anderson II. I was going though some old post cards, when I came across this one of both sister ships. Both of these great ships of the Great Lakes met tragic endings with fires. The…
Old PhotographsPhoto Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Devonshire Racetrack

July 24, 2007
A recent question from a reader brought up the subject of Devonshire Racetrack. As Windsor tries to shed its “sin city” moniker, a look back at our history shows we’ve always been the playground for what the Americans can’t have. There was a time when Windsor boasted 3 Horse racing tracks. The Windsor Jockey Club, Kenilworth Racetrack, and Devonshire Racetrack. Horse…
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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 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…