DemolitionOld Newspaper StoriesOld Photographs

The Centre Theatre - Wyandotte Street East

December 18, 2022
Plans for an east side neighbourhood movie house, first came up in the 1930s, but the onset of the Great Depression but those plans on hold. Once the economy improved enough the onset of WWII further delayed the theatre’s arrival due to a lack of building materials. Finally with the war over, the project was announced in January 1947. Designed by theatre architect Eric W. Hounsom of…
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DetroitOld Newspaper StoriesWindsor

The First Fireworks - 1959

July 4, 2022
After a few years away due to COVID the annual fireworks returned to the riverfront this year in spectacular fashion. However it got me thinking about the history of the fireworks, and exactly how the first ones were handled in the media… I decided to go back through…
Notable WindsoritesOld Newspaper Stories

Chief Clarence DeFields 1877-1965

January 30, 2022
Today we take a look at the life and times of Chief Clarence DeFields, Windsor’s longtime Fire Chief. He was a fireman with the Windsor Fire Department from 1900-1916 when he became the chief. He served as Fire Chief for 30 years, from 1916 until his retirement at the end of 1946. Below are articles that ran about him at his passing in 1965, and another one from longtime Windsor Star…
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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…
DemolitionLost WindsorOld Newspaper Stories

Downtown Demolitions - 1961

July 26, 2021
From the Windsor Star – November 15, 1961. An article about the impending demolition of some buildings as part of the urban renewal plan. 12 BUILDINGS TO BE WRECKED Downtown Landmarks Included Site of Court One of Areas To Be Cleared The city is calling for tenders for one of its largest wrecking orders. Most of the structures to be torn down are involved in…
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Old Newspaper StoriesOld Photographs

711 Riverside Drive East

June 13, 2021
A return visit today to a site we visited back in 2009. 711 Riverside Drive East, on the south east corner of Riverside Drive and Louis Avenue is an old building, that’s obvious to anyone driving past. I recently came across an old newspaper article from 1958, claiming…