Happy Friday once again, today’s post takes a look at the D.M. Ferry Seed Warehouse that used to be on the corner of McDougall and Riverside Drive. It stood until the Casino came along, and the entire area was cleared.
This photo rests with the George D. Mason collection at the Burton Library. It was built in 1911.
A detail shot of the front entrance on McDougall.
Check out this neat old streetlight, that was some set up they had in the pre-WWI era.
Have a good weekend everyone! See you back here Monday.
Interesting stuff
Those would have made some great lofts.
This building was a gem! I think it had just be restored, when it met the wrecking ball
*been
Of course at that time the Casino was King and our city council was so busy kissing their butts that nothing would stand in their way, they could desecrated the most sacred ground in the city if they wanted.
They spent about 5 million dollars restoring this building but less than 2 years later, I believe, it was gone.
I wasn’t even aware of this. Too bad, since the renovation of old warehouse districts in other North American cities has been such a powerful catalyst for revitalization.
Once again the city is blamed for owners of private property selling or developing it for their own use or gain. If you want to live in a country where you have no rights, then move some where else.
The great rush for condos on the riverfront was shot lived,many where promised, few where built. Remember the Phonick on Ouellette?
The city councils of the past, and present have made many mistakes over the years, but most people that get elected continue to be elected again and again, if their so bad they should be out in one term.
Do not blame the candidates for running, blame the voters who elect them.
check out the crazy looking street light on the pole at the corner when i look at photos of windsor from long ago and look at how it is now it saddens me because it seems like were going in reverse this city is turning into praire land with all the vacant lots all over the place
an Albert Kahn gem- long gone!
wasn’t that a lawyers office for awhile before the wreaking ball got it??
I worked in this building on the 4th floor from 1976 through about 1982 – at first for AAA Furniture Finishers, then, I rented an art studio in the area in the upper right two windows (Southwest corner, top floor). The elevator was the spooky, slow freight type with a huge metal gate door that slammed down when you used it. I spent many days, and nights working in that building and I have 8 mm film and stills (recently found) I shot from the rooftop, which was accessible via a stairway. (not sure we were supposed to be up there)
We held fireworks parties on the roof, and it was one of the best views of the riverfront in that day. The trains tracks ran just in front on Riverside Drive – I could watch it all at any time I wanted. The place was full of small businesses, and artists. I met a lot of interesting people in that building – many long gone now. I miss that studio – it was $75.00 a month to rent. We need artists spaces like this today.
Any time I have ever played music on the stage in the Casino, (the Showtime Lounge stage was exactly where the building used to stand), always had this spooky feeling I had “been there before” – because I had been.
Great post Andrew, plenty of memories from there.
P.S. i rigged my own doorbell by dropping a wire down from my 4th floor studio to the door on McDougall Rd. entrance (seen in second photo), they locked the door after 6PM every night. When friends would come to visit they had a way of getting hold of me… I had no telephone access in the building, so never knew when people wanted to get hold of me when I was working there.
ALSO… kiddy corner to this building was the Windsor Market, and on Saturday mornings the guy that ran the restaurant on the second floor made the best bacon and eggs you could get…. I think it was $2.00 with coffee…. I had everything I needed in that ‘hood… even Stanley’s Tavern was next door if we ever felt like having a beer, or a hot dog for lunch.
Tearing down is called progress. Its too bad that the folks who were born after 1990 or maybe even a little earlier will never get to see what us baby boomers got to see as we watched Windsor grow.
Back in the 60’s I use to help my uncle and his son on Sunday morning’s to clean this building. I loved riding the elevator, as we would have to use it to take all the garbage from the businesses that was put in the hallways down to the bin outside. One of the businesses handled AMT model car kits and they would put all kinds of kits and parts in the hallway for the garbage which we would take home and put together. Good times then.
Bernie
Sad loss.
Really is too bad we lose all these gorgeous buildings and homes.
When I see pictures of downtown Windsor from the past I cannot even compare it to what it looks like today.
It was spectacular for a smaller city. Vibrant, busy…
Now it looks like some kind of apocalypse happened sometime around 1980, they rebuilt and tried to modernize it in 1999 (even though they’re modernizing it now in 2012).
Terrible disgrace.
if Eddie thinks the downtown is going to be like it was years ago he’s crazy the one thing that is missing is quality stores “shopping”
Any quality stores downtown where local, except for Reitmans, and A&P and Dominion.
Loblaws folded their stores layed everyone off and left.
No national chain stores of any retail type where ever in DOWNTOWN Windsor.
Memories are always rosier than facts.
Richard – thank you for proving to everyone here not only do you not know what you’re talking about, but you have absolutely no knowledge at all of Windsor’s history. It will be much easier to ignore your completely ignorant comments from now on that you attempted to write off other’s opinions by making a boast abou something you obviously know less than nothing about.
Carl, I haved lived in Windsor since 1959. and before that was a frequent visitor like once a week. My mother went to Patterson high school, my greatgrandfather an a great uncle where
two of Windsors original six police officers in 1870.My greatgrandfather was the longest serving police officer in Windsor,1870-1922, died on the job.
My comments are based on what I saw, maybe you do not agree but life was not a bed of roses in the rose city.
A shame that you dishonor your proud family heritage with your obnoxious ignorance towards Windsor’s history and the people who appreciate Windsor’s history.
I recall Heintzman’s, Jack Fraser, Tamblyn’s Drug Stores (later Boots an international chain) Kresge’s,Zeller’s, Woolworth’s, Metropolitan Stores, Dominion, Loblaws, A & P, all the various banks, Laura Secord’ Le Chateau, Dacks Shoes, Bata Shoes, Maher Shoes, Coles Books, Radio Shack all being national chains with stores downtown. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some. Downtown Windsor always suffered being in the shadow of downtown Detroit but there was plenty of variety to choose from.
When city council starts doing what they are supposed to do (ie: look after infrastructure, tax exemptions, promotions) and the DWBIA starts doing what they should do (task force for bringing new business downtown IE: Quality SHOPPING) then maybe our downtown will get better. Until then lets just stop catering to just visitors and instead start looking at residents!
It certainly looked good before WWI. What did it look like in a couple of years before it was razed?
The building was neglected for a long time but the restoration was a success. The brick was cleaned and all the original details were kept. The interior was rehabbed and was beautiful.
….and then it got torn down.
yes …and then… they tore it down.
This was neat for me to see as I had an ancestor who worked here at this location and also the one in Detroit back in the day!