As an example of the area’s long history of NIMBY-ism, I present the case of the Sandwich West Telephone Exchange building….
From the Windsor Star – Saturday August 18, 1956 –
PHONE FIGURES – The proposed Bell Telephone exchange building for Sandwich West Township will be capable of providing 20,000 homes with telephones. Presently the company’s move to erect the building is being blocked by district residents who claim the building is “commercial and out of harmony” with the surroundings. However the architect’s drawing of the building shows a brick and stone construction with attractive aluminum trim. The building will be built on Radisson Ave. if and when the company can obtain a building permit.
Bell To Try Plea Again
Officials of the Bell Telephone Company of Canada will meet Monday with Sandwich West Council to seek right to build a new exchange on Radisson Ave.
To date residents in the area have voiced complaints that such a building would be “commercial” and “out of harmony” in the residential area.
On the basis of these complaints Sandwich West officials have refused to issue a building permit.
However, Bell officials have pointed out the building will be an attractive one with brick and stone facing. It will be trimmed with aluminum. The two-story building will also provide for off-street parking.
If the “five-bar” exchange is built it will be capable of providing 20,000 telephones. It will allow for vast residential expansion in Sandwich West and relieve the load now being carried by Windsor.
Looks like Bell won in the long run… 🙂
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P.S. – Happy 4th of July weekend to all my American Readers! Have a good long weekend!
thanks for the post andrew! now for my question………where is this??? did it end up getting built on radisson? i’ve been up and down that street on google maps but can’t find anything on a corner, with a huge lot that seems to fit a building look. i do seem to remember SEEING it before…..but i just can’t place where.
oh and did you get my e-mail about the sub station on hanna, or did i turn into spam? lol
you may not have found it interesting but i just want to make sure you got it.
thanks again andrew!!
This is two or three blocks away from St. Paulins Chruch, right?
This is on the corner of Avondale Rd. and Beals St. It’s known as the Bell Avondale Central Office.
corner of avondale (formerly radisson?) and beals, if I am not mistaken.
it’s hit the big 50, bring on the wrecking ball.
If you knock down this building, you’d knock out phone and internet service for South Windsor/LaSalle and most of southern Essex County… This building will be here for a long, long time. It’d be way too expensive to build anywhere else.
Although, they could stucco it… 🙂
Hey Andrew do you have any pics or info on the history of the peabody bridge and/or building?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm think of all the copper wire sitting inside…………………………
The building can be fine if they just did something with that gaudy entrance. Perhaps replace it with double doors surrounded by glass block.
Too bad they took out the old school Bell logo- t added a certain charm to the place….