Photo Du JourWindsor

Former Imperial Bank Building

September 12, 2006
285 Ouellette Ave., at University Ave. stands the former Imperial Bank. The Imperial Bank, merged with the Bank of Commerce in 1961, to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). Built in 1920, and designed by Architect Charles Cobb. Here is a photo of the bank under construction. In the architectural sculpture surrounding the front door, one can find among the Lion Heads the old…
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DetroitPhoto Du JourWindsor

The First Gondola Plan

September 11, 2006
In 1970’s the idea of a Gondola linking Windsor & Detroit was first floated. The firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls of Detroit were comissionned to create and engineering report on the feasibility of the “Feasibility study Detroit/Windsor aerial…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Old Canadian Tire

September 6, 2006
Up today is a photo from a few years ago, showing the old Canadian Tire. Probably the last “major” retailer to pull out of downtown. I used to go to this store all the time, it was old and neat, it had two floors, and stairs… Stairs? Not any more, the slobs…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Cock Brothers

September 5, 2006
While digging through my parents garage last night looking for something, I came across this old claim check nailed to the wall. Do any old Windsorites have any memories of these guys? 340 Pitt St. E. no longer exists, it was plowed under for the Casino in the early 90’s. A check of the 1937 Fire Map, shows 340 Pitt E. as being on the north side of the street. The building is listed as…
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Photo Du JourWindsor

Another Highland Park

September 1, 2006
The days leading up to the Great Depression, were a boom time for real estate speculation in Windsor. Many land brokers and dealers from Toronto to Detroit, opened offices and tried exploiting South Windsor as the ideal location to be, as soon as the Bridge was built. Many…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Club Lofts Part II

August 28, 2006
As we covered in the November 4th, 2005 Photo Du Jour, the Club Lofts Condo conversion project is humming along. The main covered entrance has taken shape, and the brick cladding is up. They still need to bring in the Windows and finish the interiors… December seems…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Casino Expansion

August 21, 2006
As the Casino’s across the river in Detroit work at building their permanent facilities, Casino Windsor is well underway with their expansion project. The expanded Windsor Casino will contain a second hotel tower, and a 5,000 seat auditorium. The expansion is the tower on the right. This weekend’s Windsor Star also contained this small blurb: CASINO EYES TOP ACTS Casino Windsor will…
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Photo Du JourWindsor

All gone...

August 17, 2006
A follow up trip (Aug. 9th & Aug. 11th) by the Vetran Plumming site, finds everything demolished. All that remains is this stubborn little brick corner. The Moen sign is still visble, barely. A panoramic shot showing the expanse of empty real estate. Two building…