Lost Windsor

1280 Ouellette - 2001

November 22, 2021
Going through some older photos the other week and I came across this one from 2001. Taken 20 years ago it shows what was then last known as the Bavarian Inn at 1280 Ouellette. It was home to many low income residents in the early 1990s before the utilities were disconcerted for non-payment and the residents evicted. Built in 1957 and designed by Windsor Architects J P Thomson Associate…
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NewsWindsor

Book Release Party - November 30th

November 14, 2021
Hello readers! As you know, I have written a book and it’s out now. It makes a great Christmas gift too for the Windsor lover on your list… I’m pleased to share with you that there is going to be a book launch party on November 30th from 7:00 pm to 9:00…
Old Photographs

Windsor Waterfront - 2001

November 1, 2021
Was going through some older photographs this week, when I came across this one from August 2001. It shows a time when the waterfront pumping station was still in ruins and not attached to the shore. As you can see on the right side of the photo the path system was at this…
Lost Windsor

Westwood Hotel - 1941

October 25, 2021
A view of the Westwood Hotel from June, 1940. The Westwood was later known as Bronson’s and was demolished around 2001. The building was popular with workers from the nearby salt mines, and was a popular stop during the prohibition days. This ad from 1941 gave instructions to drive along the riverfront road (Sandwich street) near the Windsor city limits. Dinner and dancing nightly (except…
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Lost WindsorNewsWindsor

Windsor: Then & Now

October 17, 2021
I am happy to announce the release of my new book Windsor: Then & Now. Local publisher Biblioasis approached me back in the winter of 2020 with the idea to work with them to prepare a new addition to their collection of local history books. We talked back and forth about…
Lost WindsorOld Photographs

Edgewater Tavern - 1938

September 26, 2021
Situated on Riverside Drive, just east of the junction of Little River and beautiful Lake St. Clair, is Edgewater Thomas Inn, famous along the Border as a rendezvous for many a brilliant gathering.An extensive remodeling program, completed this year, has completely…
Notable WindsoritesOld Newspaper Stories

Fred Neal - 1855-1931

September 12, 2021
Fred Neal was a local historian, who’s early work “Township of Sandwich, Past & Present” left us an invaluable record of early days in Sandwich. If you don’t have a copy, or have never read it, a copy can be found here: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/swoda-windsor-region/23/ Below is the news of his passing as it ran in the Border Cities Star November 13…
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Lost WindsorOld Ads

Fast Automobile Ferry Service - 1928

August 29, 2021
A neat old ad from the Detroit and Windsor Ferry Company, touting that they had the “fastest ferry service in America”. By the time this ad was published in the 1928 Ontario Tourist Guidebook, the writing was already on the wall for the Ferry service. The next…
DemolitionOld Ads

Osterhout's Confectionary - 333 Ouellette

August 22, 2021
Regular reader John, sent me an email the other week pointing me toward the 1928 Motor Tourist Guidebook of Ontario which got me lookin at all the old ads and this one for Osterhout’s caught my eye. From McAlpine, J. D., “Tourist Guidebook of Ontario…