Here’s a tour I’ve had on my hard drive for a while. I’ve been meaning to post this one for a while, but haven’t been able to find the time to sort though all the photos. This week will be tour week, as I clear though my hard drive and post some photos, I’ve been meaning to for a while.
When I was preparing for my exhibition last fall at the Art Gallery of Windsor, I had the opportunity to visit Huron Lodge before it was demolished. The photo above might look familiar to some, as it was in the exhibition and it also graced the front of my book Windsor Modern (if you haven’t got a copy, pick up a copy today, it makes a great gift!)
The front of the building looks forlorn, and shabby, after almost a year of vacancy.
There was some tile work along the front wall, as well as over the door.
Here is a detail shot of the tile work…
The building is interesting with its rounded lines. It beats the monotony of the square or rectangular boxes that are built today.
A view from the rear of the area in the photo above.
A view of the pierced masonry brickwork that runs along the outside of the piers.
Another view form a different angle.
Inside the building was a rendering of the first phase of construction from architects J.P. Thomson, entitled “Windsor Home for the Aged”. Hopefully it was salvaged prior to demolition.
Looking toward the rear exit.
A social area of some sort, almost looks like a cafeteria?
The front waiting room, reception area.
The plaque on the wall for the first phase of the building in 1960.
The plaque for phase II from 1967.
A view of the chapel.
A stage in one of the common areas.
A very old photo of the Queen.
These clocks were everywhere in the corridors. There was at least 50 of them. Not sure if they were salvaged either.
A view of a typical room.
A typical corridor view.
In the basement, I came across the laundry room.
An unknown room of some sort…
A beauty salon/barber shop.
This diploma from the Ontario College of Art from 1932 hung on a wall in the basement.
A staff lunchroom perhaps?
The “cedar room”. Like a sauna without the heat. I couldn’t figure out what the cedar room was for? Moth proof storage maybe?
Stay tuned for a another visit somewhere tomorrow…
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Bob C> I really can't remember the cedar room, sorry. Its was probably used for storage with those coat racks on wheels, like a coat check in a bar. It was probably located in the basement with all of the other storage rooms of that ilk. That basement had all sorts of interesting nooks and storage areas.
Doug Shirk> The architecture in the building was so dated, yet new, like bell bottoms or leg warmers, but it was different than any other building around it, so it stuck out like a sore thumb on huron line, which is what I loved about the place. And it was so lived in, which gave it a lot more character.
Also Bob, that drawing probably went to the surviving family of the guy who drew it. Most of the artwork in the place was done by residents, a lot of it was really beautiful, including that charcoal.
Seeing that one picture of those old hallways reminded me of the week I and a co worker replaced all of the baseboards in the entire building. memories......
So, where did the seniors and this corporation move to? The Royal Marquis Hotel off Howard?
Interesting shots. Almost sad. How did you get in to take all th pictures. Must have been a little eerie.
Yes, I think the Cedar room was in the basement...
David - They all moved to the new Huron Lodge out at St. Clair College.
VP - Top secret... :)
Very intriguing exterior design but rather mundane, standard issue institutional interior spaces. Been away from the old home town so long that I cannot recall the precise location of this former building. Where the heck was it?
The corner of huron line and tecumseh, right behind studio 4.
The area with the funky ceiling fan and outdated fixtures was the dining room for the residents of the 400 wing. The lunch room was indeed that, way in the back of the basement. The cedar room, in the basement, was a mystery, and never explained to my knowledge. The artwork was divvied up, first among the Art Gallery, we were told, and who knows what happened to the rest. The salvageable fixtures were supposed to have been utilized by the demo company; otherwise, all was lost. There was supposed to have been an auction, but that did not materialize to my knowledge.
Andrew, I'm surprised you didn't mention the mysterious tunnel that lay in the bowels of the building, behind heavily locked doors in the basement. Did you get a chance to get in there? And was in filled in with the demo? BTW, we were told that one could exit it through the sewer north of the building.
The Cedar room was in the basement and was used initially for storage of Fur Coats and other fine garments owned by the residents. That was a staff room and the one of "unknown" sort I believe was used by the engineers. The two other areas of interest were the Alzhiemers unit and the tunnel that was supposed to make it's way to Marlborough School. The brick that dated Huron Lodge as 1961 is now located in the front lobby of the "new" Huron Lodge located at 1881 Cabana Road East.
The Cedar room was in the basement and was used initially for storage of Fur Coats and other fine garments owned by the residents. That was a staff room and the one of "unknown" sort I believe was used by the engineers. There was tunnel that was supposed to make it's way to Marlborough School.The cafeteria is the dinning room used for those residents that lived in the front of the building.The room with the stage was the Auditorium which doubled as the bar from 2 to 4 p.m. The brick that dated Huron Lodge as 1961 is now located in the front lobby of the "new" Huron Lodge located at 1881 Cabana Road East.