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Carving of the Holy Family
This piece is carved in the style of Francois Baillargé
(1757-1830). It is possible that this gilded woodcarving was the
tabernacle door of the 1787 Assumption Church, which was replaced by the
present Assumption Church in 1846. Gift of Walker Insurance Agency.
59.105 |
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Police call box
The first cast iron boxes were put on Windsor street corners in
1922. Fifty-two were eventually installed. Previously, it had been
almost impossible to contact an officer on foot patrol. Some of the
boxes had a blue light that would flash to alert a passing police
officer. If an officer required assistance on the street, a key would be
inserted into the box. This action activated a device that punched out a
code on a paper at police headquarters, giving the location of the box.
Gift of the Corporation of the City of Windsor. 76.1 |
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Fire buckets
Fire buckets were used prior to 1856, when pumpers were introduced
and replaced the bucket brigade. The hand pumper was brought to the area
after a fire in 1849. This machine pumped directly from the
river, but tended to clog with sand. |
If it
failed, buckets were called back into use.
Following the purchase of a steam pumper, oak cisterns were built
at strategic locations, along the River. They measured c.10' - 12' x 5'x
5' deep. Often, the cistern ran dry before the fire could be put out.
Mr. Cameron, 1st mayor of Windsor, set up the first waterworks at foot
of Langlois Ave, which are still visible today. Pumpers could then work
off hydrants. A proper fire department was set up after the fire of
1849. Before that, the community relied on volunteers. Detroit often
sent their own men over to help out. Gift of Macdonald Historical
Collection. 57.4
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Octant/Sextant
This instrument was used to determine the latitude, in terms of
degrees of elevation of sun above horizon at high noon (High noon was
located with another instrument). This octant/sextant was used on the
Great Lakes by Capt. William Malott, born 27 September 1822. |
He began
sailing on the lakes, and built a dock on the lake front of his
home property in Gosfield South.
He later moved to Kingsville and built a dock there. After he
sold this dock, to the government, he became a harbourmaster. He
was a commissioned Captain of the Essex Militia, 1856. He died
in Kingsville 5 March 1890. Gift of Macdonald Historical
Collection. 57.79 |
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Ferry Ticket for the Argo
The first steamer to sail the Detroit River instated in 1833 by
Captain Burtis, before which they used horse-boats. There were two Argo
ferries; a more conventional single hull steamer replaced the first in
1848. 79.17 |
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