Today we head back to Brighton Beach for a return visit to what once was.
As each year has passed, the number of homes has shrunk, and the condition of the roads worsened. The end between Sandwich St. and the River has really become worse since the residences along Water St. have gone. Now unless it is summer time and dry, or unless you drive a large SUV/Pick-up many of the roads have become pools of standing water and mud, and largely impassible.
Here is another home along Broadway that was demolished in the last few years.
Urban Prairie at its finest. A fire hydrant protects the trees and weeds.
The Dainty Rice Factory. A long time Brighton Beach industry.
Healy, Page & Chappus. The names of the original developers of the Brighton Beach Sub-division.
A driveway leads into a vacant lot. Now home to great volumes of illegal dumping.
Yes, there is actually a beach. Brighton Beach is the only remaining section of natural shoreline along the Detroit River on the Canadian Side. It is actually quite a tranquil setting…
…except for the belching behemoth across the river.
More urban prairie. Street signs mark roads with no structures.
On my last visit this overgrown house was still standing and occupied.
This one, one of the newest houses in the sub-division, was hit by the Brighton Beach Arsonist late in the Summer of 2006.
Gone.
Gone.
Still standing.
For an area that is rapidly disappearing, there was an odd amount of roadwork being done a few summers ago. New crossing? That’s my guess.
Built in 1929, the house at 2177 Victoria Avenue was originally numbered 1545 Victoria, pre…
Crescent Lanes first opened on Ottawa Street in 1944 at 1055 Ottawa Street, opposite Lanspeary…
Above is a photo of the home of Mr & Mrs Oswald Janisse, located at…
in 1917 two Greek brothers Gus & Harry Lukos purchased a one story building on…
Photo from Google Streetview A long time reader sent me an email the other week…
An unremarkable end to a part of Windsor's history. The large vacant house at 841…
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The brick garage in the picture with the address 465 is actually still there.
The brick garage in the picture with address 465 is actually still there.
Hi Andrew
I also lived in that area. I was born and raised on Wright St. north of Sandwich and also attended St.Thomas Aquinas School. The church and old school was condemed and finally tore down about 1960 or61. I'm now 61 and still miss the old neighbourhood. Does anyone remember when there were houses right on the beach? Sure would love to see some photos of when the beach was inhabited. Your comments brought back a lot of memories.
No one ever seems to talk about the cultural activity which presently exists in Brighton Beach. I believe that there are some strange characters acting in some strange activities. Anyone have a word on what goes on there in a sort of sub-cultural reference?
Ryan - you probly see these people if you're at the dog park, and i understand your curiosity. my work butts up against this area and the only "sub-culture" i've ever noticed back there involves an endless string of vehicles, at all hours of the day and night, heading to the dead end at healey and linsell, parking on the side of the road, and two males meeting in the bushes. never seen any strange rituals if that's what you mean. just guy on guy action. that's it as far as i know. it's not the lifestyle they've choosen that's wrong, it's just where some do it, and the desperation of some who you don't want to run into. here's an example: i was walking along the fence of the plant property in the summer and i encountered a guy who was paceing me along healey. he had on a rather long shirt and very skinny legs. i assumed he had no shorts on. when i'd stop he'd stop. finally, i asked him if i could help him and he said "maybe". it's then that i found i was right about the pants and he started doing things to himself i don't want to mention. this is no longer any place you want to explore or even go for a walk thru. it's dangerous to body and mind.
what i know for sure is just stay out of that neighbourhood aside from the park. that whole 'hood is crown land now and the port authority is handing out anywhere from $1500 to 3000 fines for anyone caught back there. generally there is no "just get outta here" from them. it's "come here so i can give you this massive ticket"
not only that, but the P.A. officer told me he has approched and arrested people back there on a regular basis who are convicted murderers, people with hand guns, knives, and all that other great stuff.
stay out, please, for you're own safety.
Another one bites the dust.
The big brick home in picture #12 just burnt to the ground about 15 minutes ago behind my plant. Total inferno.
Andrew, if I remember....I'll take a picture for you when I get off work tomorrow morning if you want it. Went I looked at it from the plant, all I could see was the edge of the wall and outlines of second floor window frames....thru the fire. It looked like someone had simply placed the home inside of a kiln (sp?)
Shout out to WFD though, they had the poor old lady "out" (not an inferno) in probably 10-15 minutes.
If there was an owner #1...hopfully they made it out. And #2....I hope they already got their cash from the government to buy out their land for the bridge or they might just be up *hit creek.
Aaron, sure grab a picture and send it this way...
Don Laforge, in that area, perhaps on Wright St. was there a huge rough-stone house there known as the 'Wright' house? Someone showed us a pic, but didn't know where it was....they thought it was called the Wright House/home. Thanks!
Andrew the photo of the newer home that you say was torched belonged to the parents of a guy i worked with at the city of windsor their last name was Ouellette nice to see a semi rural area of the city go the way of the dodo