Today’s photos come via Tim Swaddling, long time reader, and host of the Train Slide Shows. These photos were shot by Matthew Kulbacki, and he’s been kind enough to share them with us.
Photo © Matthew Kulbacki
A shot looking east on Riverside Drive from the corner of Chilver. The Peabody Bridge in on the left, and the Peabody Building straight ahead. The Peabody building was demolished in 1985. The still standing neighbouring Walker Power Building is often erroneously referred to as the Peabody Building.
Photo © Matthew Kulbacki
This shot was taken after the first one. Note the wrecking company sign on the lower level windows.
Photo © Matthew Kulbacki
This shot is looking north on Chilver towards the river. The end of the Peabody Bridge is visible. It’s amazing what a presence the building was on the street.
Photo © Matthew Kulbacki
This view shows the Chilver facade and the rear of the building.
Special thanks to Matthew Kulbacki for sharing these with us. Hope everyone had a good weekend!
i got a book on Saturday at the essex train show about all the railroads that helped the city of windsor come into existence and at the end of a chapter about the LE&DRR it says that originaly the Peabody Bridge was made out of wood it was rebuilt using steel at the urging of city council great photos Matt!!
Nice old Chrysler in that 3rd shot.
I hope the Walker Power Building does not see the same fate.
If this building hadn’t been demolished imagine it, along with the walker power building and the flat iron building… this part of riverside drive could have been quite the interesting area.. See what they are doing in Toronto in the Distillery District… That should be Walkerville’s goal too.. Hope we don’t lose any more of these old industrial giants and let’s get some shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. into them!
Pony up Shane
shane thats a good idea but the city seems to have all of it’s interests west of Ouellette ave these days
Is the Walker Power Building on the City of Windsor’s Heritage list??
When I was growing up in Walkerville this building was pointed out as “the only place in Canada which was bombed by Germany……in the First World War”. On Monday, June 21st, 1915, a parcel of dynamite concealed under an adjacent sidewalk blew up, damaging what was then the Peabody and Leather Label Overall Company. That firm supplied clothing for soldiers of the British Empire and thus, Canada. Damage was done but no one was hurt. A second explosive parcel was left near the downtown Armouries but its timer failed and it didn’t go off. In the general WWI hysteria, alleged German sympathizers were blamed for many occurrences and eventually, a man with a Germanic sounding name was convicted. He declared his innocence during and after the 10 year prison term which he served.
Those are great photos! Ive never seen it in colour before.
Gary, I wasn’t able to make it to the train show. Whay’s this book called?
I’m extremely jelious! Lol!
Is the Walker Power Building on the City of Windsor’s Heritage list??
I heard somebody has a LARGE marijuana grow-op in one of the rented units of the Walker Power Building.
richard thats what that funny smell in the neighborhood is!!LOL
Aaron the name of the book is CONNECTED HOW THE RAILROADS BUILT WINDSOR by Michael J.T. Brode it’s 62 pages i paid $12 for it international standard book number-ISBN-978 0-9868922-3-3 printed by Print Works 382 Devonshire Road it’s not very thick but has alot of local historical railroad information as well as black and white photos(less than i would prefer)it has alot of historical info on all the railroads that played a part in putting windsor on the map Aaron i’m sure you’ll enjoy it the printer might have some in their posession or might tell you where you can pick one up
Pony up eh… Ahhh Windsor.. The city where you can’t hope for improvement in your community without being expected to pay for it.
Somebody has to pay for it. Why not you?
I don’t think this is an appropriate venue for this type of windsor star-esque back and fourth BS. All I will say is that I am not a developer or a business man with the resources. I am however a designer who has drafted up a few concepts for the building. I think that anyone who is intersted in a good investment and can afford this scale of develpment should seriously consider this structure. Walkerville is vibrant neighbourhood. This building is on a prime piece of land. Even if it took 4 million in renovation plus the cost of the building (i believe its up for 1m)… you’re looking at $83 per sqft, thats the cheapest real estate in the city… and on riverside drive to boot!! If I had the cash or even the access to credit that these developers do.. I’d invest in the building in a heartbeat.
Excellent we’ll have a parade for you down Ouellette Ave.
ok children behave yourselves
Ah perhaps you’re right joe… I’ll be more like the average windsorite… Tear that shit down!!!… Don’t care what goes in its place.. As long as it has lots of parking! You know we could really use a McDonald’s in walkerville… Maybe one of those fancy double drive through ones!
Scotty, the building is on the register but not designated.
If you want to live in shit, leave it up.
Who said anything about McDonald’s?
Have a Sanka. You are a too tense.
Joe, you are laughable.
I see “shit” all the time with stucco being put over nice existing brick; vinyl siding or aluminum covering gingerbread on century old houses; too many parking lots in core areas without any landscaping; in fact too many parking lots period.
This building had a vibrant life until the WFD came by and did their notorious “not fit for use” applications. They used these same tactics to demo Patterson Collegiate and remove beautiful tiger oak doors from a Walkerville apartment building. Yet didn’t say anything about wiring or bbq’s on balconies.
The WFD does this to get buildings closed and demo’ed for the city (their history is there for anyone to look at why older buildings were demo’ed so much in the 1960s, 70s and 80s).
YOu are a typical Windsorite who only looks after their own few dollars andnever the betterment of a city. Yet we wonder why Windsor eats it’s own.
Have fun in the stagnation that Windsor has become since 1965. It is your ilk that has created this stagnation.
Ba Zing Ga!
I come on here to look at old sites and to read about the history of the area. I do not come on here to read the juvenile comments of 2 opinionated people who may not have all the facts. this is not a forum for personal attacks.
Shirley – Joe is a troll, the others are productive members of this website. Trolls are treated as such in an appropriate manner, ie pointing out their utter incompetence.
Hello All: I’m very glad that there is still considerable interest in this Heritage landmark. Like Shane, I agree that this building has tremendous redevelopment. In fact I have a very viable proposition for this building and its relationship to Walkerville and Ford City. So Shane et al if you’d like to meet for a coffee with your drawings and my business concept. If Scotty “Shoes” and the others are also interested in sitting down with us that is very welcome also. I can be reached at (226)348-0777 or by email at kimbafreeman@gmail.com
There is no grow-op in a rented unit in the power building, as there are no rented units in the power building.
Now, is their any history on those apartment buildings at Riverside and Chilver, and is there an overhead shot of the old bridge? I can’t quite picture how the road was routed.
Steve, The Grier Apartments on Riverside Drive and the second apt Building (Victoria) on Chilver were built by Charles Chilver (Chilver rd being named after him. Before amalgamtion with Windsor it was called Victoria Rd).
The ones on Riverside are a bit more opulalent with oak trimming and stained glass on the inside. Built-in oak china cabinets. There are two-bedroom and three bedroom apt’s. In the basement the stoker had his own apt and on the otherside was a doctors office.
Charles Chilver himself lived on the main floor of one of the three bedroom apts. (Apt homes they were called). He passed away there.
The name of the building was after his grandmother. Who was deeded the land by the crown for her husband’s involvement in the War of 1812. The land used to stretch all the way to Tec. rd.
It was built in 1912. The apts are still very much in tact with a few still having original light fixtures. All still have original brass door knobs, wood floors, trim and the stained glass.
The Victoria building has gone through quite a bit of remodeling and hasn’t retained the charm it once had.
As a former resident I can attest to the wonderful place that apartment truly is.
My great grandparents lived on the top floor with a 3 bedroom apt on the right side in The Grier Apartments. I spent most of my early years to 18 in that building. It was truly enchanting and great memories. Both my great grandparents passed away there, so there could be quite the party with Charles Chilver. I would love the opportunity to visit there again, but doubt the new tenants would allow a walk though. lol
I remember going to Junior Achievement in the 70’s in the Peabody building.
I LIVED AT 247CHILVER YEARS AGO AND WONDER WHEN THEY WERE BUILT