Downtown Windsor 1969

Take a stroll down memory lane with an aerial photograph of downtown Windsor and Detroit from May 1969.
Revisit some long-lost Windsor landmarks.

[@bonriver9420]

I was 23 years old in 1969. I worked downtown at the U.S. Consulate which was located at 500 Ouellette Avenue on the 5th Floor (It was closed in 1970). Ouellette Avenue was a bustling street in those days. There were so many wonderful stores downtown back then like Smiths, Bartletts, Birks, Business Girl, The Scotch Wool Shop, Ed Laird's, Kresges and The Linen Shoppe, just to name a few. I remember, as a kid, getting my shoes at the George Wilkinson Store on Ouellette. The Prince Edward Hotel and the Norton Palmer were the hotels where most wedding receptions were held back then. I remember when the Metropolitan Store blew up. That was a terrible tragedy. The downtown area now is a far cry from the vibrant area it was back then. The Devonshire Mall had a lot to do with killing the downtown.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thank you for the information.

[@truthbtruth8559]

I was store manager a few doors down from Lazare's Furs at 481 Ouellette Ave in 1978-9. It started out as a government young adults work training program in order to learn new skills, then the store owners offered to hire me under their payroll, which I gladly accepted. Our store was a custom picture framing and gifts called Noonday Graphics, owned by the Awads. I loved my job there! They were wonderful employers who taught me that fascinating trade. It was my first cash balancing & safeguarding position. We had one sweet senior lady working part time whose nephew is/was a famous actor named Patrick McGoohan for those who remember him. She was so proud of him! Her husband drove the delivery van for Lazare's Furs and would bring her to work and home. A super nice couple who I'm sure have passed on long ago. Everyone at Noonday Graphics were a wonderful group to work with. Fond memories! ❤ Thank you again, Michael for another great Windsor memory video! 🥰

[@RoboBoomStick]

Windsor is a big part of my blood, there are a few streets names after my family and one of my great grandfathers was a Bablo boat captain.

[@AgathaLOutahere]

That little two-lane tunnel between Windsor and Detroit is cute. Smallest cross-river tunnel I have ever driven through. Those chimneys weren't from heavy industry in downtown Detroit. They were probably from a power plant. Even Manhattan Island had that at the time.

[@lauratoffan38]

Another great video.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thank you 😊

[@seasonschange4337]

That was very familiar to me. A blast from the past. It was the last time I lived in Windsor. Brought back memories. Looks like a lot is not the same, but that's what happens as time marches on. Thank you, Michael.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

My pleasure. Such a great photo with so much going on.

[@weatherboi]

Great video, thanks for the memories.

[@wilga80]

Loved it. Thank you.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

My pleasure. Thanks 😊

[@garrickpattendendesigns]

I was born 1 year after this. June 19th 1970. Great to see the photos of Windsor from the earlier years too.

[@cleojazz1]

We had our wedding reception at the Cleary in July,1969. We spent our wedding night at the Holiday Inn across the street on the water side.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

My aunt had an office in the Holiday Inn. For a few years, we watched the fireworks from her balcony. It was the best.

[@joelyons3713]

Very cool!

[@timmorin69]

Awesome video!! Thank you so much for sharing. I remember when most of the waterfront was train tracks. I moved to Windsor as a 10 year old from New Brunswick in 1992. I lived at 264 Pierre ave. (4th house from the river) and would always play down at the river with my friends. Most of the train tracks were removed by that time but there were rail road ties everywhere and the big locomotive turn table was still there ( at the foot of Marentette or Louis ave) and we used to play on it. I believe they began turning that land into parkland in 1994 or 1995. I also remember the pea body bridge from that area and when it was torn down. Riverside drive was closed for well over a year for that project.

[@Kennymac8251]

Great video. Brings back a lot of good memories from my hippie days.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

A little not before my time but still a great time for our city. Try and count how many vw bugs there are in the video. (It's alot)

[@nozecone]

Yup, that's the way I remember it! (Btw: Geo. = George).

[@scottlarsh3119]

👍

[@wilga80]

You could have or should have mentioned the Tunnel BBQ. I liked going to that place up until the early 2000's. I was living north of Whitby back then but loved to visit my relatives in Windsor regularly.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Great spot. Have you tried Tommy's BBQ?

[@wilga80]

I have not tried Tommy's BBQ. I will try them the next time I am in Windsor. Thanks.@@MikeEvansWindsor

[@JSimpsondotca]

Thanks for sharing this Mike! What a quality photo! As always I love the 'background vocals' you add to bring the video to life. Memories: city buses that were useful, Saturday morning gym & swim at the Y on Pelissier, watching Jaws at the Odeon at the Holiday Inn, seeing Lily Tomlin at the Top Hat, the big stairs in Adelman's store, the downtown stores, etc, etc, etc...

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thanks for sharing the memories, John. 😊

[@rivardamy]

Oh wow, Mike, LOVE THIS! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MORE!

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thanks Amy. I saw you in a commercial during the Redwing game yesterday. I told my daughter I knew you!

[@rivardamy]

@@MikeEvansWindsor aww! I love it! Thanks so much!!! 😀😀😀

[@ronnyber]

Awesome Video Michael!

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thank you Ron!

[@wientz]

Old photos have a resolution that shames computerized images....the amount of detail available when zooming in is amazing considering the massive view captured by that single photo...and nice work in finding a bunch of it.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

There is some great resolution in the old photos.

[@cliffordjohn5122]

very cool...any chance you have anything like this about leamington? ive always wondered about the "old town"

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Nothing yet on Leamington. I'll keep an eye out.

[@cliffordjohn5122]

Thanks

[@MegascopsManorsOwlHouses]

Cool video…just a point of correction. The Prince’s tour of Canada would not have started upon his arrival in Newfoundland as it wasn’t a province of Canada until 1949.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Good call!

[@selectooldave]

Politicians had more to do with what happened downtown.