Located on Francois, between Seminole and Tecumseh Roads, David Maxwell was built in 1928, in what was then known as East Windsor. Ford City was renamed East Windsor when Chrysler Moved in to their new plant at Tecumseh & Walker.
The School was designed by the Windsor firm of Pennington & Boyde, who designed numerous other schools, homes and churches across the border cities.
David Maxwell today, following an unsympathetic addition on the north elevation to create a fire escape.
David Maxwell 80 years ago, shortly after construction in 1928.
Despite a terrible addition…
… Touches of the past can still be seen.
The neoclassical entrance is a nice touch. I wonder why they didn’t just build a staircase from the inside of the north side wall instead of the outside? All they had to do was cut a hole in the floor, add a fire escape, and they could get away with a drywalled inner wall instead of another brick wall, which would have also cost the school less money. The loss of classroom space would have been marginal. It only looks like a 4 foot wide staircase. Loss of architectural value and excessive spending of taxpayer dollars seems to be the theme of the day in this city.
Who was David Maxwell?
I’m not sure who Maxwell was. However, most schools at that time were named for school Trustees – John Campbell, Frank Begley, Benson, or school pricipals – W.D. Lowe, Alicia Mason, etc…
One way or another he was involved with the school board. This was built in East Windsor, and has had the name since new, so maybe he was the education guy for Ford City/East Windsor?
I believe David Maxwell was affiliated somehow with the Windsor Star. There is a portrait of him in the school with a plaque. At least there was from 1968 to the mid seventies when I attended there.
Being an alumnus I can recall a fellow classmate doing a speech on him, he was involved with education and championed for a better environments for students i.e bigger windows, better lighing etc. As for the stairwell as I recalled the classroom entrance doors were at the very end of the hall.
Andrew, do you have any history/old photos on the Bell Central Office located next door to this school on Francois? (shown in photo #3)? Or any of the other Bell buildings, especially the one on Goyeau St.?
Hi Mike,
Are you the Mike Kenney who used to live on Arthur road?
Reply to Dan , yeah could be an old neigbor
Yes, Mike we were neighbors. I lived right behind you on Pillette.
Scooter, no old photos, but I have an architect listed somewhere for botho of them…
To Dan nice hearing from you give, it has to have been 20 years or more, say hello to the other D .
Hi Mike,
Hate to tell you, but it’s probably closer to 30 years. We’re not getting any younger!
I’ll tell Dave you said hi.
Gezz, i now go to herman just down the road but my class what the 75th class to leave maxwell so we were in charge of digging up stuff from the schools past and i dont think i ever seen this picture
I was wondering if there are any records of the students who attended David Maxwell School in the late ’50’s and early 60’s? I attended from Grade 1 to graduation in 1962.
hello everyone. any body remember my brother peter and myself. we attended d maxwell from 1950 to about 1955. in grade 8 i was a pratrol guard on pillette ave. we lived at 1589 norman rd. peter was and is still mates with alan kramer, lloyd ferguson who attended at that time. would like to hear from anybody from around that time. i know it was only a short time ago!!!!
hi paul;i certainly do rember you;i lived at 1518 norman rd.i was also a cross walk guard at pillette and arther.would really like to hear from you.pillette was my papper route from techumsey to seminal.retired from navy 37 years;living in halifax.looking forwardto hearing from you
JERRY
Hi everyone:
I helped organize the party at the Alouette Club for the 75th anniversary of David Maxwell. I attended Maxwell from 1955 to 1963, and in grade 7 and 8 I was the safety Patrol at Pillette and Alice. Girls and boys alternated weeks as safety patrols. Bob Yovanovich was the captain of the patrol. The patrols from the south side of the school formed up at Francois and Alice and the patrols from the north end formed Francois and the other cross street, and we marched in to the front door of the school. There were regular inspections and we had to polish our belts with white shoe polish and fold them a special way. Remember the yellow capes? Great memories!
Margaret Eisler
Hi I’m looking for class photos from David Maxwell 1955 to 1963.
I’d appreciate any help finding them.
Jim Hall 519 7351706
Hello everyone. I lived at 1583 Norman Road and attended David Maxwell School from 1953 to 1962. I was also a patrol boy at Reginald and Arthur. As a result, all the patrols got to go to the Detroit Tigers baseball game and the end of the school year. I seem to remember using a lot of bleach on that belt as well as the white shoe polish. I have fond memories of the school. It was hot though, no air conditioning in those days.
theres a few names here that I remember..i went there from 56-64..lived on Bernard..called me beanie when I was kid…unreal..almost a half century ago
I attended Maxwell from 1960 to ’68. I lived on Tourangeau. I believe kindergarten Nd grades 1 and 2 were in the little white classrooms across the street. We did not get into the actual until grade 3.
Hi all,
This is my gg grandfather! If anyone has information, photos, anything, please let me know! I would love to see the picture that is hanging in the school or any memories associated with the beginning of the school.
Thank you so much!
Shann