I drive past this building nearly everyday on my route to and from work, and there has always been something about it that caught my eye. About a month or so ago, I noticed that the lower doors were boarded up, and driving past it at night, I didn’t see any lights on… đ The kiss of death?
It is located on the west side of Howard between Hannah & Tecumseh.
Despite one of the worst repointing jobs ever, the building has some interesting architectural detailing, and interesting brick work.
Built in 1926, the Howard Block has had a long hard life. When it opened in 1926, the ground floor was home to the Bank of Montreal in the northern most retail unit, G. Sgrazzutti & Co. Tile was in the middle, with E.W. Brown’s Drug Store in the southern most unit.
Up top, there were two occupied apartments. One was home to E.W. Brown, and the other was home to Painter and Decorator – Fred Scarboro.
One of my favourite features is the carved pediments over the doors. Likely original, it’s amazing that they have survived 82 years without being tossed aside.
The dreaded utilities disconnection notices. Gas, Hydro & Water are shut off. Hopefully the water was drained from the pipes before the freeze set in…
There is an interesting band of tile work that runs along the lower level of the building. I wonder if it is original to the building, or if it was the work of Mr. Sgrazzutti’s Tile Company when he moved in?
Looking though old directories, it looks as if the building served as the “Maple Leaf House Hotel” for a very long time. From about 1940 until the late 1960’s early 1970’s when the buiding spent some time vacant.
From what I could gather the Maple Leaf House, seemed to be a rooming house/flop house.
Hopefully this building is saved or at least well mothballed, as its loss would leave a huge hole on the Howard Ave. streetscape.
I delivered mail on this stretch of Howard Ave. back in the early 90’s and, although I admired the building itself, it was one of my least favourite stops. It was impossible to keep track of who actually lived there because it was so transient and even the store fronts were rented out as residential. There were about 12 mailboxes tacked up around the entrances and on “cheque day” I’d have between 15 to 20 welfare/mother’s allowance cheques to deliver. A real prince of a slumlord owned/owns the place and I doubt he put a dime into it. A shame, really.
I have also thought this is a pretty neat looking building. It does sound like it’s had a pretty rough life – what a shame.
can i post a picture in comments i have a nice one of this building
didnt work
its here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Beltguy/decrepidWEB.jpg
My friend used to live next door. There were always some kind of issue going on there but the outside architectural elements are all in decent shape surprising enough.
I think this will meet the wreckers shortly as well.
For one it is because of the economy and high vacncy rates. The otehr reason is that it is old so therefore according to Windsor’s past history it must go.
One wonders what type of shops were in the building. It strikes me as being the kind of storefront that was fairly common in residential or semi-residental neighbourhoods that would house a soda shop, maybe a barber shop or little grocery. Anyone know the rental history of the building?
Thank you Andrew for posting this building. This was the building I was refering to when you posted Tires Nov. 19.
It used to live at 1615 Highland across from the parking lot for the Maple Leaf Hotel in the early 1960’s.
The hotel was a booming place back then.
The tile work was on the building at that time and a friend of my father occupied a room upstairs. It was a boarding house for travelling construction/ironworkers. It was a rough place to drink. I remeber many a fight spilling out into the parking lot.
I remember the room had wide base boards and some interesting wood work in it. My mother had me bring my father’s friend ( GUY something ) dinner once in a awhile. It may have been sectioned off of one of the original apartments.
By the mid to late 60’s we were not allowed near the place because it was a closed up building. Occupied by homeless people or bums a we called them back then..
There was a sign on the front ( Howard side )of the building for years that stated Closed until further notice ” Gone Fishing”. I was always amused by the sign. It was a long fishing trip I guess.
The other empty house I referred to Nov. 19. That was also filled with homeless at the time was next to the railroad tracks between the Beaver gas station ( The Tire Store now ) and the junk yard.
This must have been a beatuiful home in it’s day. Two story with lots of ornate wood work. It was torn down at the same time as the gas station to build the Tire store you posted on Nov. 19/08.
Keep up the great work. I love the web site.
Gary B – Thanks. I didn’t realize it was the same place until I started digging into the old directories.
Was the bar on the ground floor fronting Howard, or was it off the back?
I assume the parking lot is long gone, or was it not behind the building?
Your welcome
I haven’t been down Highland in awhile. You have peeked my couriosity. I will check if the open lot is still there that was used for the paking lot.
The Bar was in the back on the ground floor. Most patrons went in through a back steel door opening into the alley. There was a business in one of the store fronts. I can’t remember what it was. It wasn’t a variety store more like a construction company office or some thing like that.
We had to go to Ray’s variety at the corner of Highland and Tec. across from Harry Guppy school. ( That became Commerce high school now Cathlolic Central )
The others sotr fronts had covered windows and I believe were used as storage for the bar because you could see chairs and tables through the cracks.
I would be interested if you could find out about that old house near the tracks.
Thanks. Keep up the great work. I really enjoy it.
this building is in total dismay. the past owners were very neglegent and im pretty sure theres still a foot and a half of water in the basement from the dilapadated boiler in the basement. sad to see such historic buildings turn into slums…
Drove by this building and it is currently under renovation. It appears that new studs for interior walls were going up in the unit on the far right hand side. I didn’t think we’d ever see this building occupied again.
Anyone have any ideas what is going in there?
Hi again, I have just been going through the site the last two days and already posted on another item about Temple Baptist/Olivet Baptist/ Banwell Churches. My grandparents lived on the other side of this building and down the alley about 5-6 doors at 1646 Highland Ave. As a teen I lived near by at Howard & Hyde and hung out on Highland. All my friends were there. I spent so much time at my grandparents that by the time I moved into the area; I already had a slew of friends to hang with. Anyway this building had a little corner store in the bottom right store front during the mid to end of the 70’s. It was run by a nice older couple of European decent. I believe at the time it had a Pepsi button style sign that hung at 90 degree’s from the building. I seem to recall that the couple lived in the back and above the store…. there was the counter with the cash register running parallel to the back wall of the store from right to left. At the far left it was open so they could walk in and out from behind the counter and behind that on the back wall in the far left was an opening into the back living space; which was the kitchen area. I remember being in the store one day and the lady was there and her husband came in the front of the store and through to the back into the kitchen carrying a half a pig. It was cut in half from top to bottom, snout to tail and the insides were all face up as he passed me. I was disgusted at the same time as curious. I had never seen such a thing before. Never forget it.