First off I apologize. Today was supposed to be Part II of our look at the Elmwood Casino and Hotel. However, on my way home last night, I passed by one of my favorite streamlined buildings in the City (not that there are that many…) and noticed that someone had massacred it.
Then
Now
Then
Now
Nice touch painting over the exterior tile work.
More tile details.
These pictures are from April
Granted she was looking a little rough
She looked a little more run down recently than she did in this photo above taken in November 2004.
Was beige paint on sale? A new door replacing the original, and plywood over the curved glass panes, and paint over the tiles.
The only positive I can see, is that the flag pole is in use again…
I’ve come across old ad’s from the 1960’s that show Collautti Tile in this location, and according to this history of the business, they moved to 2490 McDougall in 1947, which would match the architectural style of the building, and would explain the tiles on the exterior…. 🙂
It’s a shame that after 60 years, it was half-assed repaired.
I took some shots of it last year, which I think I may have sent along at one point. I was attracted by the neat tile inlays on the side. Wonder why they couldn’t take a moment to mask them off while painting?
two words: too lazy
It’s interesting what some people find precious and what others won’t take 5 minutes to mask off.
Illustrates the challenge of preservation, I guess.
When I look above the south side window, I see clapboard, which is surrounded by a stucco facade. it’s not even cement and block like a true streamline. It’s not worth preserving. It looks 10 times better now painted than the vandalized and graffittied hit piece of junk it looked like before. It was graffittied more than those pictures reveal. I wish they’d finally paint that horrendous looking, heavily graffittied hunk of junk at the northwest corner of McDougall and Hanna. I’ve been looking at it each day now for how many years?? At least the plating factory across the street had the decency to paint their warehouse that was hit with graffitti.
A really nice, true streamline that should be designated is the one at the corner of Wyandotte St. W. and Pelissier. Now, if that one was boarded up and painted beige, it would be worth screaming about.
Andrew, there is this house on Florence st. right near Sand Point Beach, this house is completely round, it’s solid brick, painted over I’m sorry to say, but quite interesting. Do you know anything about it? Also there are a couple of old factory buildings on Riverside Dr. right near the beach, one of them has a very faded painted sign on it that says “Riverside Brewery” Do you know anything about these buildings? I see them almost everyday, and always wondered about them. Thanks.
That “round” house has always interested me. It’s one of two in the city I’m aware of and I’d like to know more about the story behind these two homes. Are they 1800’s vintage? If you Google this type of home they appear to be very common in the U.S.; someone even keeps an online catalog of them.
I would love to take a peek inside. I feel bad, it’s looking a little neglected and is in need of some TLC. Thanks for letting me know, I’ll check it out on Google
David, no clapboard. That building is all stucco over blocks. As for the factory that was painted “silver”, it looks like shit.
Mary that house was built in 1957, other than the date of construction, I know nothing, There is one in South Windsor at the corner of Ducharme and Kathleen, just east of Howard near Roseland. That one dates to 1964. Those are the only 2 I know of in the city. Of the two I like the Florence one the most.
The two buildings are both long abandonned. The first one with the painted sign is the old Riverside Brewery. Built in 1923 by architect Albert McPhail. The other one was the Monarch Liquors building built in 1928 by architect Albert Lothian. Both are only in use as gravel docks.