Photo Du JourWindsor

Dougall Avenue Overpass

May 8, 2006
Today’s PDJ is not really an exciting or terribly intersting subject, but it is notable. From an engineering perspective this bridge was quite a feat. This came from the engineering firm of M.M. Dillon of London, Ontario, who are still around: This is one of two overpass structures at the entrance to Windsor. Over 1200 yards – all concrete except footings – was poured at each…
Read more
Apartment BuildingsPhoto Du JourWindsor

Maple Apartments

April 19, 2006
I am always amused by the practice of false facading. Take the Maple Apartments for example. Here’s a building with stone trim an a great yellow/oranage brick facade. As you can see along the side, cheaper brown comon brick was slapped up there. If there is one thing…
Photo Du JourWindsor

Kasle Steel

April 18, 2006
Back at the end of March, on the end of the Canadian Motor Lamp post, there were some comments posted about terrible places to work. Burningrome had posted that the worst place to work in Windsor “had to be Kasle Steel over on Sprucewood by the racetrack – ancient, decrepit, hot, noisy and unsafe as hell!”. I’m not sure if the safety level has changed since the…
Read more
Photo Du JourWindsor

Dominion Forge

April 6, 2006
On Seminole across the street from the former Motor Lamp factory is the massive Dominion Forge Complex. Once home to giant stamping presses that fabricated parts for the automotive industry, the complex today is used as a warehouse. Stories have it that the presses were so…
Photo Du JourWindsor

East Windsor Steam Bath

April 5, 2006
The other day, I was cruising around the Ford casting plant that is due to close, looking for a good spot to get a photo of it. Across the street was this mysterious little place. There was a closed sign on the door, yet no listing on-line or in the Phone Book for this place. I have no idea if it is operational or if it is the Windsor equivalent of a Schvitz? What is a Schvitz you ask? It is a…
Read more
Photo Du JourWindsor

Irony

April 4, 2006
It’s funny how things end up coming full circle. Over in the Ford City district of Windsor we find this: Today it is the home of the “New Song Church”… But in 1937 it was the “Temple Hotel & Beverage Room”. From a bar to a church.
Photo Du JourWindsor

Alicia Mason Vocational School

April 3, 2006
Located in Windsor’s near west side, on the corner of University and Cameron is this school building. Designed by Windsor’s pre-eminent mid-century architecture firm Johnson & McWhinnie, Alicia Mason Vocational School was built in 1957. It had been closed…