Old PhotographsPhoto Du JourPostcardsWindsor

Ambasador Bridge Construction Part 1

July 22, 2008
Here is a recent arrival at International Metropolis Headquarters. I acquired a set of vintage real photo postcards of the Ambassador Bridge construction. All the cards are marked “American Commercial Photo Co. Detroit”. From what I can tell, the photos are from both sides of the river, some in Detroit, some in Windsor. Judging from the subject matter, I would hazard a guess that they…
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Photo Du JourWindsor

Foundry Check

July 21, 2008
Big thanks as always go out to Darren, who’s keeping track of the progress of the demolition of the foundry… He sends along these photos from last week. As you can see in this photo, the Albert Kahn designed foundry section is about 50% gone now. They started…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Bon Friand

July 18, 2008
As everyone is aware, Windsor has probably one of the best independent restaurant markets in Ontario. While on my bike ride out to Lakeview Marina for the now infamously cancelled Peche Island day, I rode past the Bon Friand Vietnamese restaurant and made a note to go back…
Old PhotographsPhoto Du JourWindsor

Long Gone

July 17, 2008
This house was located on the corner of Church and Vera, one block north of Wyandotte St. I was reminded of this house the other day when I drove down Church St. past the now vacant lot, and stumbled across this photo the other day while looking for a photo of the Nisbet Inn. I took this photo in late 2001. The house despite being chopped up into four or five apartments, still retained elements…
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Photo Du JourWindsor

131 Elliot Street West

July 16, 2008
Photo from 2002 when the Nisbet was still open One of the most frequent questions I’ve had lately has been the status of the former Nisbet Inn at 131 Elliot St. West. Here’s the scoop. The property owner is an out of country investor. Apparently he owned the…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Bank of Montreal Destruction

July 14, 2008
These photos were sent along by a regular reader of the site. He was there when they started the demolition of the bank on that Sunday Morning, and his photos catch the destruction of the architectural elements that City Councilor Dave Brister specifically requested be saved if possible. I would think it would have been possible, if the operator hadn’t smashed it to pieces. That just goes to…
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NewsPhoto Du JourWindsor

Checking in at the Foundry...

July 11, 2008
Regular reader, and Ford correspondent Darren, has been sending regular photos of the Foundry demolition along. Here are some photo he has sent me over the last month. June 7 June 9 June 9 July 2nd, Darren heard a giant crash, and looked outside only to be greeted with a…
Old Newspaper StoriesPhoto Du JourWindsor

Bali-Hi Redux...

July 10, 2008
Back in March in this post I wondered if the Bali-Hi was a chain with the twin in Detroit as seen in that post. From the Windsor Star – August 1956 FIRST IN CHAIN – Windsor’s newest hotel will be ready early in 1957, with construction starting next month.