The photo above is from 1929, and shows the new garage of Easton-Edwards Chevrolet. The description said it was on Goyeau near Tuscarora. I always thought it was an interesting looking place, and wondered what happened to it.
Then in a newspaper from 1952, I stumbled across an ad from Downtown Chev Olds.
The photo, gives us a better view of the building and an address!
You can see the building noted above in the aerial photograph from 1961. Looking at the building in this view, you can see that like many old urban dealerships, the roof was used as a car lot.
This 1937 map, gives a good idea of the layout of the building.
Here is the site today.
If you visit the site, or even look at it in Google Earth, so can clearly see where the building stood, by the layout of the smaller skinnier parking lot on the site.
It’s a shame we lost that one…
PS -> Don’t forget doors open next Sunday!
Wow! What a great building that once was! But I am not surprised that a parking lot is there now. That deco style building would be an interesting addition to downtown.
I still don’t understand why the bus station was never put there or on Central Chrysler’s lot. I guess it makes more sense to put it near an urban village. Because I know so many people like to live next to or near a bus station.
The president is shown as A.E. Stedelbauer. There are Stedelbauer Chevrolet dealerships in Kitchener and Edmonton. Could they be related?
Does anyone know, when this one was taken down?
Stedelbauer at one time also was associiated with the then newer GM dealership at Parent and Tecumseh Rd. E. which opened under the name of L.T. Rowson. The 50’s after Ford left Windsor and other cycliical economic downturns in the city were tough on car sales and the business went through several owners until a decade or more later finding stability under a Bill Howiitt namepllate. One of the owners, I think Rowson, had an association with a downtown nightclub, before it was known as the Top Hat under Mike Drakich, and the restaurant across the street, the Dashboard in the bus depot.
Mr. Rowson built Rowson’s Tavern- famous for all the chicken you can eat with the longest bar in Ontario.
Mike Drakich purchased the tavern from Mr.Rowson.
WOW! what a great building. i bet that would have made a great venue for small concerts now or…….not like we need any more, a great bar! not one of them kiddie clubs, somethin more…….. pub-ish.
andrew, you’ve been pulling all these “happy new year” and “merry christmas” greetings from some pretty big time companies with no sales pitch attached! the best you get now is “christmas in july” and “new holiday employee pricing (see in store for more details. not everyone is eligible for advertised pricing but we won’t tell you that until we have ypou in our office and get you all excited about being able to afford something then we hit you with the real price and you get really sad about it and we laugh and tell you to hit the bricks) for everyone!!!! “
The original owner of dane kane chevrolet cadillac oldsmobile located on division rd also had a previous dealership located downtown windsor that was another name which he purchased. does anyone know if this may be the dealership he bought when he started out his buisiness?
I have an old Windsor newspaper with a full page ad for Downtown Chevrolet Oldsmobile (October 18, 1958). If anyone is interested in it let me know.
I found a vehicle and price list from 1933 showing all vehicles sold by chevrolet and oldsmobile starting with Model 200 5 passenger standard coach at $781.00 to the model 795 5 pass special sedan with trunk at $1640.00. The name J. Oneil is stamped on it. I found it in a hidden staircase going to my attic.
In 1965 my father purchased his first brand new car a Ford Galaxie 500 XL from the Ford dealer in downtown Windsor .. If i remember right it was Webster Motors right about where the old police station was.. I was 11 years old .. The color was Prairie Bronze with Palimino interior ha ha
Webster Ford was on the south west corner of Windsor Av. across fron the old courthouse next to City Hall, they also had a used car lot on the south east corner of Tecumseh Rd. at Walker.
Great find, That handsome young salesman (sales consulatant now a days)in the Downtown Chev 1952 newspaper ad (Christmas Greetings)very upper right,well,that’s my Dad, William (Bill) Ardiel(now deceased 2001) and with much sadness my mother passed this past summer(2012). Dad and Mom (nee Margit Chick)adopted me and my sister Julia in the early fifties. They adopted me just before this ad was placed. Dad (BILL)or BILLY as he was known also,was son of Mr & Mrs. Harris Ardiel of Windsor. Harris ,his father my adopted grandpa whom I sadly never met, was owner and president of Windsor Motors, the Windsor Bulldogs,and president of Ontario’s Major Hockey League in the late 20’s amd early 30’s and at the time of his death . Harris also with my Dad’s only older brother(J.R. Ardiel)of Windsor raced hydoplane boats and were claimed world champions holding titles and records in the British Commonweaalth and all through North America and abroad. Dad and J.R. joined the R.C.A.F and the R.C.N. respectfully. They entered WW2 late due to their young ages and as their training ended so did the terrible war. Dad returned to follow his dads footsteps in the car business. I have photos all through my life as a Riverside/Windsor boy along side me with dad always close by and all the brand new cars (demos)he brought home after a good days work. He sold GM products for 50 plus years service and worked and managed in dealerships as the likes of Downtown Chev, L.T. Rowson, H.D Bryant to my recollection and after many great years as old Riverside and Windsor natives and with sadness that day, we moved to Leamington as Dad bought his into his Dream, his own dealership in 1969., the Ray. A. Young GM Dealership(Pontiac-Buick-Opel)on Mill Street. then moved a few years later to a bigger building on Erie Street North Leamington(Bill Ardiel Motors Ltd. Pontiac-Buick_GMC Ltd).(Now in 2012 known as Leamington GM )a(T.Rafih Group). Wow, seems like yesterday, but it’s not. Dad again in his father’s (Grandpa’s) Harris Ardiel’s footsteps sponsored many minor Hockey teams and for many years. Dad as I have just found out recently, was a also a labour union organizer and representative in and around the dealerships in Windsor. (weird too is that my little sister just retired this year with CUPE as a national Rep. Windsor office), I would have too say, I guess in her dad’s early UNION footsteps. We all miss my Dads,(BILL’s)and a.k.a.uncle Billy’s great cantor and memories of much lore left behind with us and his love and the old school (which we all don’t practice enough)straight in your eye look and solid hand shakes he was an expert at and much noted for. Thanks Everyone, Thank you, Old Riverside my first love and my Home and My Birth place, The great City of Windsor’ for the best memmories of my Life and I am sure all our family. What a great web Site, Please any more site pictures or dealership stories or bloggers and such please share with me and others, it’s greatly appreciated. Yours and best regards to everyone, Bill’s son, JAY ARDIEL, Leamington.
Before Dan Kane, the dealer on Windsor Ave. just north of the beer store was James chev olds. An olds parked inside had a bomb underneath it and it blew overnight sending glass a block away as the whole shop was nothing but windows. This was 1968 I believe. I was cruising with my best bud Larry when this thing went off. We were on Wyandotte when she blew.
Hi i found two downtown chev olds steel badges these were attached to your rear plate for advertizing what year did this company start and change hands.?