This old news photo was taken July 23, 1932 at Devonshire Racetrack. Back when horse racing was illegal in Michigan, people used to flock to the Windsor tracks to see live racing.
A neat view of the old clubhouse that fronted Howard Avenue.
Also visible in this old photo, along with the Detroit skyline, is the old Windsor Gas Works. The Gas Works were located on the spit of land bordered by Howard, between Grand Marais and the 3rd Concession.
To this day, Union Gas maintains some services at the site.
Have a good weekend everyone, see you back here Monday.
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Fantastic post Andrew - I remember the exact site and ruins before they built the Mall - we used to hike there, there was a pond, a bush... and many stories to tell.
You must check out the new book by former Windsorite/Author Lloyd Billingsley - "OUR TIME AFTER A WHILE, Reflections of a Borderline Baby Boomer". It is a story about Windsor/Detroit back in the 1950/60's - Devonshire is referenced. I can't stress enough how much everyone that grew up in Windsor, especially South Windsor, should read this exciting story. They are actually Lloyd's memoirs, I read the first draft a few years back.
From an online source: "All baby boomers are children of their time. In Our Time After a While, writer Lloyd Billingsley backpacks into that time, the tail end of the tail-fi n era, in its very birthplace. In the motor cities of Detroit and Windsor, the streets, schools and parks jostled with a vast cast of characters. The author charts their adventures, and the sound track no border could stop, and which would spread around the world. This was long ago, but like Bob Seger the author is still humming a song from 1962, and still looking back in wonder. In Our Time After a While, his fellow baby boomers and all others can join him. Memories are made of this."
great post Andrew! these are fantastic shots, unbeleivable. i wish windsor could pull this stuff again. imagine the hustle and noise with this and the CASO roundhouse and yards across howard going on at the same time?!
thanks alot!
I just discovered your site and as a former Windsorite I'll be back for more. I grew up near the airport and in 1963 until 1965 when I moved my friends and I would hike across the cornfields to Devonshire to play in the ruins of the grandstand. There were also strange pieces of wood that looked like the fronts of cars that we used to make rafts to float on in the pond. Years later I learned that at one time there were stock car races at the old track and these wooden front ends must have been used on the cars.
On a more grizzly note a waitress went missing from the Hi Ho at Howard and E.C. Rowe (better know as 3rd Concession) and she was found at or near Devonshire but an arm or leg was missing. We used to look for the missing part but I'm sure we were always happy that we never found it!
I am interested in pictures/stories about the Rendezvous Tavern in particular
about the "rum runner days". We have a family connection to the tavern ownership
and I would like to learn more about its history..
i am looking for anything on the jockeys in the years of 1929-44 my father in law race at this time his name is JAMES BERNARD LOGAN, he also race greyhounds.If anyone has info e.g pics,awards etc etc i would really appreciate answers thankyou for your time