First off sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. I was sick on Monday and actually lost a day somewhere this week.
See if you can guess today’s victim of the great urban blight?
If you guessed the crazy cool streamlined Anderson’s funeral home, you are correct!
In case you forgot, here’s what it looked like when it looked good. Now it looks like every other turd. This has got to go to the top of the list of egregious violations against architecture.
Obviously, whoever ordered this “renovation” doesn’t care, but just so he/she knows. It looks like shit now. Congratulations.
Damn shame. I will be driving by tonight to have a look.
Wow. I thought the last picture was the “after”. Then I read it.
What a shame! I’m fairly sure that this property is on the designated list, and received a plaque about 11 years ago. I thought this meant that exterior renovations had to be “historically suited”. As with anything, there are always loopholes I suppose.
i’ve seen this latest victim of stucco alot lately thats too bad not to get off topic but yesterday i watch the workman take down the PALACE THEATER sign from the top of the building and today while walking down Ouellette it was within about 5feet of the covered sidewalk i think the funeral parlour looked better before they decided to do the stucco job if it’s not on the endangered list it should i think it’s been in business for 90or 92 years
I noticed that on Wednesday and just about puked in my mouth.
I mean WTF? Why? The facade was beautiful and unique. Now it looks like all the other stucco turds in the city.
The city has to stop this urban blight before it destroys everything.
I was furious when I saw this the other day. I loved that building. It was a beautiful mid century piece of architecture. Perhaps they are jealous of the stucco disaster down the street (Jannise Bros)
This is probably the most disappointing application of stucco I’ve seen to date in Windsor, mainly because (as others have noted) it’s being applied to one of Ouellette avenue’s architectural crown jewels. The Anderson funeral home has always been a favorite of mine.
I wonder what will become of the legendary marque that adorned the top of the building all these years? Will it return? Or will they just put a row of ju-jubes there??
Not cool, this building was a gem
they must get a good price on stucco by getting it in big volumes LOL
Does anybody remember the main parking entrance off Ouellette ? As I recall , there was a covered carport flanked by 30 foot spruce trees on either side and above the carport was the words Anderson’s Funeral Service in script with pale blue back lighting.It really stood out in the evening and made you feel that you were entering a place of dignity and respect. The Anderson family would be rolling in their graves if they saw this facility today.
From Art Deco to Bob Stucco!
Wow. Since early 1952, three of my family were buried from Andersons.
A buddy worked there and was proud of the structure and his profession.
And… wasn’t it a three-storey building?
Umm, I’m not a fan of stucco on brick or limestone, but I thought it was a stucco facade prior to the renovations. If it was stucco, it has to be redone after so many years. You either have to take off the old stucco or secure to old facade with some base like styrofoam and put a new coat on. Did anyone actually see them cover up the green tile? Are you 100% positive they are not going to put the historic elements back up? Did anyone bother to ask anyone inside first? Stucco doesn’t last an eternity like limestone or marble. A lot of slander and very little facts presented.
To even call it stucco is wrong. It’s styrofoam and spackle and some kind of spray stuff. And then they get the yobs who are doing it to cut up different geometric shapes and they plop it onto the surface as if it’s some kind of architectural detail. Check out the boxes they are putting at the base of the supports that hold up the car port portion of the building.
When is the city ever going to wise up and stop this crap from happening? It is infuriating. I cannot say that I am aware of any other city that does this.
I think there is one company that must be responsible for convincing building owners to do this. It’s misguided and ugly. It reminds of the 90s when shop owners were convinced by some lame assed awning company to replace their old, “unsightly” neon signs in favour of those vinyl lettered, illuminated awnings. You know, replace a neon sign that is still functioning or maybe needs a little face lift and that has been around for 50 years, with a nice, new vinyl lettered awning – that may last about 5 years before the letters start to curl up and shrink and peel off… Does anybody remember the first Pat and Hanks Fish and Chips sign with the fish wearing a top hat? In neon… so amazing….
Can anyone offer a history of ownership for this business? I am interested in the legacy of local, family owned facilities and their heritage. I know this facility has been in Windsor for years.Is it still family owned ?
Don’t hold back Chris! I agree with you 100%. Old style stucco is actually quite elegant and durable. I manage a historically designated stucco clad home built out of ceramic block and stucco which has requiored very minimal exterior maintenance for the past 50 years! As to the new “stucco” – give it a good boot and see what happens!
in the past twenty five years their has been a buyout of local funeral homes, large groups have taken over many family buisness. I am not sure whitch local ones are still localy owned.
Windsor Chapel Funeral Home and Families First are, to the best of my knowledge, two of the last independently/family owned funeral parlours.
i had a look at it yesterday the guy who was the boss of the stucco people was talking to the manager out front on the sidewalk part of it on the parking lot side is finished it is a dark gray/green with black trim it actually looks half as decent
From what I saw, and I could be way off.. But the side of the building already had the 2 tone stucco job… light brown base with darker accents… I would imagine that (and I could be wrong) that they intend to carry this scheme into the front of the building. So I’m not convinced that they are simply maintaining the stucco and intend to return it to the existing style and colour scheme. From what I see it looks like the owners see all the other homes around the area (like the families first stucco palaces) and are trying to “modernize” their facade to “keep up with the joneses”. I truly hope this is not the case, and as another writer wrote they are simply maintaining the existing stucco with a new coat.
Well I drove past her today… The treatment is almost complete. They have added some faux Doric style columns and cornice to match. The colour is the brown scheme as I suspected. The original art deco style is completely gone. Another piece of architecture defaced by a complete disregard for a once beautiful example of local architecture. This is case and point where the facade could have been completely refaced in the original style with absolutely no extra cost to the owner. With JP Thompson Architects still practicing in the city I would be interested to see what they have to say about all this…
Another sad day in Windsor
Sorry one more from me… Today I noticed the iconic ‘V’ shaped columns that once elegantly cradled the canopy on the South side are gone and replaced with stucco box columns.
The owner of this building should be ashamed of what he or she has done. Such a complete disregard for the heritage value of their building and the city. Shame on you Anderson Funereal Home, there is no excuse for this!