Windsor / Detroit 1950's Era Mystery Photo

Take a deep dive into a vintage photo taken at the Windsor / Detroit riverfront.
It appears that the photo was taken at some point in the 1950's.
We take a look at the clues in the photo and tried to determine when the photo was taken.
And what event was happening at the time.

[@wilga80]

I remember the Police tricycles. I was born in Winsor December 1951 and we moved away 1959-60. I still have most of my relatives living in Windsor. I love seeing your KZbin videos.

[@cameronhucker2787]

Love your work Mike! Amazing discoveries and very entertaining!

[@AmB39]

High quality channel. As a Windsorite it’s one of my favourites. Keep it up!

[@keenanmoore264]

So friggin cool.

[@rivardamy]

More amazing work Mike! Love it! Thank you!

[@jjwhyte14]

Top notch production, as always. I was born in Windsor in 1969 and lived in Essex County for 29 years. You should be given the key to the city for your great work documenting Windsor’s history!

[@lauratoffan38]

I am an academic historian and recently wrote a best-selling novel on a Windsor spree killer from 1966, titled " Watching the Devil Dance." I would be so pleased to receive a copy of the Slasher Killings book and am very impressed by your interest in Windsor history. Great job!

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

I absolutely love your book. I have read it and constantly recommend it to friends. Sadly, I gave the Slasher book away already.

[@lauratoffan38]

Thank you for that. @@MikeEvansWindsor

[@robg8784]

Fantastic Thank you Much Micheal!👍

[@weatherboi]

Great research "Sherlock" Evans.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thanks!

[@littlepaddy7444]

Take a look at the two Windsor Police cars behind the Sevicars @1:18 , they are 1957 Fords. Great video, thanks.

[@shaggybreeks]

That is a stock photo which could have been taken at another time. And those are 1958 Fords. 1957 Fords had round tail lights. Otherwise, almost identical design. 58 Fords had quad headlights 57 had only two headlights, fwiw.

[@tompiperson46]

I have been enjoying your videos about Windsor. I noticed the 1955 ford 2 door hardtop so I believe you are right about the time the picture was taken.

[@DarthHater100]

Great video!

[@bradlevantis913]

Great research.

[@Slipshott]

Mike, in regards to the date of the mystery picture. The picture was not taken in 1956. Most likely in 1955. Ontario licence plates in the 50's alternated yearly between white on black and black on white. Even years were black letters on white. The Plymouth with a plate is either 1955 or 1957. The other cars that have no plate on the front were Michigan cars, Michigan stopped using front plates from 1944-57. The motorcycle plate (if shown in colour) , blue would have been 1955, black,1957.

[@one_degenerated_ontarian]

Love this history!

[@cambrian3358]

I was going to subscribe anyway, but I'll take a chance at free book too. Looking forward to the next video.

[@HomeFlower]

Mike, your content is top-notch. Where can I get a copy of the slasher book?

[@547mooph9]

Then I'm betting '55. The 1955 car license plates were white lettering on blue background; the 1956 ones were blue lettering on white background.

[@tamarapurplesweetgrassmacg1175]

Very cool. Ty

[@keenanmoore264]

A deep dive on some prohibition photos/stories/history would be amazing.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Great idea!

[@MrFullService]

Latest model cars here are Dodge and Buick, next to each other, both from 1955. Now, a true sign in the photo which tells us that it's from no later than early '59, possible even as early as 1955 to 1956, is the presence of the Hotel Norton in Detroit. This is the shorter building right in line with, and directly in front of the landmark Guardian building. The Hotel Norton was demoed in '59 to make way for Minoura Yamasaki's "Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. Bldg.".

[@Hoffa6988]

Someone recently asked me about the Slasher killings...thanks for reminding me it was one of Brode's books. I'll have to look for it.

[@jamesmoore9511]

Obviously it's a picture of a "limited class hydroplane" race or testing session on the Detroit river. With the hydroplane driver sitting on the bow of his none running race boat. This is not an "unlimited hydroplane", like run in the Gold Cup Race, much smaller. Seattle and Detroit were major rivals in this.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

I think it may only be obvious to someone who was alive at that time. Or perhaps someone who is interested in boat racing. Remember, the boat races are only seen from the American side. Canadians can't see them because of Belle Isle.

[@shaggybreeks]

This is exactly what I was thinking. I lived in Seattle at the time, was a huge hydro fan as a kid.

[@hilariousname6826]

Why is everyone looking at the grassy knoll? Wait - sorry - wrong photo -

[@charliemckenzie]

Possibly the Tug Boat races?