Up today are a few old souvenir photo postcards of Windsor from the late 1930’s.
A view of the Detroit Skyline from the Windsor Waterfront.
A dull and drab shot of Jackson Park. A possible “worst. postcard. ever.” nominee.
The Grotto behind the St. Mary’s Academy in South Windsor.
A neat shot of the tunnel entrance on Goyeau.
Totally agree with your assessment of the Jackson Park shot – it looks as if the gardens are recovering from a war.
On the other hand, the Detroit skyline at night is extremely atmospheric, like a tableau from a period movie.
It looks like they just planted the sunken gardens, where my parents later had their wedding photos taken in 1971 when it was in full Trudeau era bloom.
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Yes, old photos of Detroit at night had that Gershwin-esque atmosphere — the streetlights tend to be over-exposed enough that it creates this great warm and intense light around the buildings, giving the impression that it was a hive of activity complete with all big city allure.
Which was likely what was happening in Detroit at the time.
Part of the reason of the dull and drab of Jackson Park postcard, is it was taken in black and white after all.
I had to leave a memory of the old St Mary’s Grotto. In 1964, it was already off limits because the structure was unsafe. Many a teen girl spent time hiding from the good Sisters, to have a smoke. For those of us who used it for religious contemplation, it was a lovely little quiet sacred area & I have not ever seen it’s historic simplicity duplicated since.
As for St Mary’s Academy itself, the decision to destroy such a beautiful & historical complex for more generic South Windsor homes, can never be forgiven.
A Repeat >>> I remember as a student in the mid 1960`s…marching up three fights of stairs to the classrooms… all hardwood floors … oak staircases…stained glass windows…the 4th floor housed the student residence…& some retired clergy…we`d hang out in the “Grotto” (usually to smoke) at noon & recesses or wonder around the two courtyards or the orchards , hoping the Assumption boys would dare drive around the grounds & leer at the St Mary girls … on occasion some of our duties as day students included dusting the parlours on the main floor in preparation for a funeral service for a nun (“sister”)…or the annual “mother & daughter tea”…there was a grand auditorium for the theatrical events the students put on …wonderful old stage with “practice” rooms (ie piano) surrounding it…the locker rooms & lunch rooms were in the stone basement… there was an old “cage” type elevator we`d sneak rides on (or press the button to pull an unsuspecting pasenger (usually a “sister”) back down…the Chapel was beautiful ( the only part of the building salvaged )…we`d wear our “beanies” for sevices…What a sin that this building was not treated as heritage !!!
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