Windsor

Well time has run out for the mid-century guest house. Demolition is set to begin today down at the waterfront. Built in 1957 by the firm of Johnson & McWhinnie, the guest house was made possible by a bequeath to the city laid out in the will of E.A. Cleary. Cleary left $500,000 to the city when he died in 1955 (adjusted for inflation that is equivalent to about 3.8 million in 2007 dollars)…

Next up on the chopping block is the 1920’s era Field house in Wilson Park. As you may or may not know, the city agreed to a land swap with the school board. In exchange for taxpayers giving 3 acres of Wilson park to the School Board to build the replacement to Benson School, we’ll inherit a vacant lot where the current 80 year old Benson sits. Guess what’s planned for that site?

Well, well, well… How’s a little weekend demolition for you? Smacked down on a Saturday, with a legal challenge pending by a group of students, the U of W, ever the visionaries demolished the 1929 Harry Gignac house. Despite claims of needed repairs, the whole second floor was demolished, but the chimney stayed standing. Usually when buildings are poorly maintained, the first thing…