For the next few days, we’re going to take a look at some of Windsor’s sub-division history.
Up first, is this ad that ran in the Border Cities Star September 24, 1920. Being beside the land that was designated as the General Motors Corporation Subdivision, some developer decided to try and cash in on that, and the name of the head of GM Canada, Sam McLaughlin, with this subdivision.
As you can see by the map, the area north of the tracks to Tecumseh Rd. ended up being fairly built up, however the area south the the Tracks to Grand Marais, never really took off at the time. I think the area south of the tracks must have been McLaughlin Park II.
Note the area labeled Hiram Walker & Sons to the right of Walker. This is the area occupied today by the Chrysler Plant. It was originally a farm for Hiram Walker.
This is the area of the City where the cross streets are named after WWI battles, south of Met Hospital. Lens, Alsace, Vimy, Loraine, Verdun, Ypres, Amiens, Arras & Somme.
Most of the houses look to be of mid to late 1920’s style. I’m guessing that this new subdivision took a while to get going, as evidenced by this ad that ran December 31, 1928, eight years after the initial ad…
A sample of the houses built in the area:
This one above is probably one of my favourites in the city. It’s so different, with the recessed doorway and the use of clincker bricks.
From the Border Cities Star - December 6, 1924, almost a century ago to the…
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…
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LOL. Two large public grade schools, one of which is under major reno, the other of which is featured in a photo above, three bus routes to get in/out of the area, a sprawling mature park and community centre to the south, library branch (for now) to the north, decent albeit not complete complement of stores, ie. bakery, deli, dry cleaner, pharmacy, doctors offices, bank, etc. along Tecumseh road (which is not what it was 30 years ago but what isn't). Sidewalks servicing the streets with the exception of I believe Moy and some sidestreets. Plenty of elderly neighbours - including the one next to me - make do without a vehicle at all for this very reason. As a resident of James' old block, I find the area very walkable. Not perfect. But not anything like you have described it, Urbanrat.
I've lived in this very neighbourhood for 22 years, and I walk right past these streets everyday. I agree that it's one of the nicest places in Windsor. However Andrew, I think the McLaughlin Park part of the development is on Byng and Turner roads, and not so much on the WWI named streets. The homes on Byng and Turner are much more modest. Also, according to the map in the ad, if the Windsor/Walkerville border is where the map shows it is, (which is generally at Gladstone) then chances that this particular development did not reach all the way up to Kildare. The development on the WWI streets and Kildare, Chilver, Windermere, Lincoln, etc. are most likely from the Kerr development only, or another development. I know there are many Arts and Crafts style homes reaching all the way over to Parkwood, near where the wartime houses were built during WWII.
Kevin, you might be right on that. The map isn't all that detailed, and it's hard to tell what's what.
I based my guess on looking at the area south of the tracks, and how far west it went. Also the General Motors Industrial Site is split on the map above with what looks like a road diving the two halves. I took the split as Kildare. as GM has always fronted Walker Rd.
If this wasn't the McLaughling Park Sub, then that would put this in the GM Sub.
I grew up in the house on the left in the photo above Hugh Beaton School.