Today’s post is a bit of a big one… But this is only the tip of them…
I’ve been long interested by the small neighbourhood hydro substations. Many blend in almost seamlessly into the surrounding area, with only the “Danger High Voltage” sign tipping you off that these buildings serve another purpose.
I’ve noted the ones I know of any, and information I have about them. If you know of any I’ve missed, please post their location in the comments. Many are being decommissioned, and likely in danger of eventual demolition.
The Gordon Fuller Hydro Substation. Pelissier & Shepherd. 1959
Walkerville No. 1. Built by the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario in 1914. According to records there was a duplicate located in Windsor, that was greatly expanded in 1922. That building was taken out of service in 1943. Walkerville No. 1 was in service until the early 2000’s and is now home to Design Studio g+G.
Substation #55, on Prince Road at the intersection with Vaughan St. Built in 1956, it replaced an earlier temporary substation on the same site.
I stumbled across this one by accident this past weekend. It’s located on Bloomfield Road at the intersection with South Street.
Substation #42 a.k.a. The Oliver Perry Substation. Wyandotte and Crawford. Designed by David J. Cameron, it was built in 1942 at a cost of $137,000
(about $1.9 million in 2010 dollars).
California Avenue & College Avenue. This tin box is known as #51, built in 1951. This one was built to help increase power in the area from the River to Tecumseh Road and from Josephine in the east to Brock St. in the west. Total cost for this one, land building and equipment was $58,973.65 (about $509k in 2010 dollars).
The Mac J. Brian Hydro substation. Built at Chatham & Bruce, in 1954 at a cost of about $131,000 (a little over $1 million today). The hydro report at the time has this description:
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“…a modern building has been built to conform to zoning by-laws and to harmonize with the assumed future character of the area.”
This old substation is now decommissioned and appears to be vacant, and getting shabby. Located at Marion & Niagara, about halfway between Walker and Howard.
The former Substation #41. The older brother of the Oliver Perry Station shown above. Built in 1941 by David J. Cameron. This building was decommissioned a few years ago, and is currently in private hands undergoing renovation.
Substation #53. Located at George and Milloy, and also designed by David J. Cameron. Started in 1953, it was completed in 1955, and replaced two older obsolete stations that were located on the n.w. corner of George and Seminole.
This is another vacant decommissioned substation. This one I believe dates to about 1919/1920. Located at Hanna & Elsmere.
Located on McDougall & City Hall Square, the William Anderson Substation was designed in 1961, by engineer Les Ingersol. The story goes that the pole on the left side between the wall and the roof was not part of the original design. As soon as the concrete pour was done, the roof immediately began to sag. Nothing tried at the time could correct the issue, and the solution was to work the pole into the final design.
1967, Johnson & McWhinnie. Grand Marais & Parent.
The next three are ones I am aware of, but didn’t have pictures of… So these ones come from streetview.
Lauzon Road & Little River Boulevard. Decommissioned substation, converted to retail use. Probably the smallest of all substations.
Grand Marais & Walker. This dates back to the 1920’s or earlier as well…
McDougall just north of Erie. This one was at one time the nerve centre. Many substations could be remotely controlled from this the central substation.
Looks like the house design, was just repeated over and over again… At various locations across the city.
Anyone know any locations I’ve missed?
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I remember going by that Substation on Marion and Niagara almost every day when I went to school at Desantis (now the Science Centre). When we were all kids back then we used to dare each other to touch the fence thinking it was electrified because of the sign
love the lettering “prime” on the lauzon/little river substation. very cute. i walk past the william anderson substation every day and love the block work on the half wall and wall.
I don’t know if you missed any, but you certainly found some I didn’t know about and included both of my favorites; substation #41 on Seminole and the one in my neighbourhood at Hanna & Elsmere. I’m glad to think #41 is being cared for, it has such beautiful lines. I hope the building at Hanna and Elsmere also finds a happy second lives.
Another “house”. George at Ontario St
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Ontario+St,+Windsor,+Essex+County,+Ontario&sll=42.300802,-83.01158&sspn=0.049516,0.132093&g=Windsor,+Ontario&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FSXNhQIdF84N-w&split=0&hq=&hnear=Ontario+St,+Windsor,+Essex+County,+Ontario&ll=42.321904,-82.986211&spn=0.001547,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.321883,-82.986059&panoid=sg8vqpKl_VQ-rvS2M5_NGA&cbp=12,246.41,,0,3.89
Good topic, I was going to suggest it a while back, I particularly like the one on Prince that even has an attached garage, there used to be one at Edgar and Homedale in Riverside, it is now a vacant lot with just the slab foundation remaining.
I’ve always liked the Oliver M Perry and the Gordon Fuller.
i agree, great topic.
Kathryn – i grew up in the little yellow house across from the one on Hanna. i’ve always loved it and i wish i had the cash to convert it into a home. i remember a real good fire on the transformers as well that they couldn’t put out. i also remember a power outage in the neighbourhood but we still had power for some reason. it makes me sad to see all the windows smashed out of it.
i’ve also always loved the big one on walker and G.M. as well.
the one on mcdougal must have been built at the same time as hanna i would think.
here’s another at Kenora and Northway in South Windsor that looks like the Johnson & McWhinnie atGrand Marais & Parent.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=windsor+ont&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=42.860344,78.837891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Windsor,+Essex+County,+Ontario&ll=42.279271,-83.050407&spn=0.0015,0.002406&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.279307,-83.050299&panoid=ACOALHWJEKgfPh6uLGow-Q&cbp=12,17.18,,0,5.1
Nice. Check the work of Toronto artist Robin Collyer – he looked at transformer houses. Bad website, but see the 1988 photos
http://www.ccca.ca/artists/artist_work.html?languagePref=en&link_id=187&startRec=49&cnt=243&ord=asc
I used to live on that intersection at Pelissier (address 1492?) and Shepherd and would see that substation daily. Unfortunately, the house I lived in (early 90’s) has seen better days and looks like it is falling down. I lived in that house (for about 4 years). I remember lightning hitting one of the lines above that station once and the crack of thunder was so loud, it broke a window on the house. Thanks for the memory as I no longer live in Windsor.
Thanks Tom & Aaron.
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Aaron – I think you’re right, it looks identical. According to the list of works Doug Johnson relayed to me, there was only the one on Grand Marais on it… However I guess once you pay for the plans, there’s nothing to stop you from building another…
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Great post here Andrew – really love all those little buildings.
we’ve been working for some time to have the one at niagara and marion torn down and turned into a parkette. enwin wants the city to buy and raze the building.
The “tin box” substation at California and College Avenues has finally met up with a can opener. It is nothing but a pile of scrap metal at the site today, May 10. The transformers in the yard were removed last summer and it was decommissioned. Most of the property around the site is owned by the University of Windsor.
You caught the station at George and Milloy, but there is also one further north on George, at Ontario. I had never noticed either of them until your post made me open my eyes a bit! I pass them every day.
My father lived in the house next to the station on Marion (917 Marion … I think) He said it was an empty lot when he was growing up. They would play ball there all summer. So I wonder what year it was built. His family lived on Marion until about 1953.
are you able to reno these homes and live in them, if so are they dangerous in any way. i am wondering if there is any contamination that would rendor this property dangerous