The Peabody Explosion of 1915 In the early hours of 21 June, 1915, residents of Walkerville awoke to a frightening noise- the Peabody Leather Label Overall Company had been bombed. Although Peabody had contracts with the British Army to produce uniforms for troops since the onset of World War I in 1914, it came as a surprise that Walkerville would be the target of such malicious actions. With the shocking...

This week’s Throwback Thursday picture of the Consumer’s Warehouse located at 166 McDougall Avenue, was taken on January 13, 1956. This local business opened in the mid-1930s on the block between Park and Chatham streets. The Windsor Farmer’s Market was on the opposite side of the street, and Big Bear Markets’ was located behind the photographer. This provided quite a few grocery-shopping options for residents living in downtown Windsor. If...

This week’s Throwback Thursday Pic was taken in 1950. The photograph is looking west on Wyandotte Street East at Goyeau.  All the structures in this image have since been demolished over the last 60 years. If you have an interested in other historic Windsor, please visit the library’s digital exhibit “Windsor’s History and Pictures”, at https://windsorpubliclibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/. SEE LARGER IMAGE...

The final installment of our Throwback Thursday Pic of historic Christmas Cards series from the Bowlby Family Collection dates from December 21, 1909. It was sent from Detroit to Margaret Bowlby from an M. Hollister. Written on the back of the Christmas card was ‘Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Your friend. M. Hollister’. If you are interested in viewing other historic images of Windsor that...

With stocking hung with care over the fireplace, three young children with their mother are warming themselves by the fire and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, is this week’s Throwback Thursday Pic. This image is from our historic Christmas card holdings that are part of the Bowlby Family Collection. The card was given to Margaret from her older sister Marion in 1908. If you are interested in other historic images...

This week’s Throwback Thursday Pic continues with our vintage Christmas card collection from the Bowlby Family holdings. This card is an illustration of a young girl talking to Santa Claus by phone to tell him what she wanted for Christmas. The card was mailed to Margaret Bowlby from her cousin Edith Bowlby in Washington D.C. on December 19, 1909. If you are interested in other historic images of Windsor, please...

During the month of December, Throwback Thursday Pics will feature a unique historic Christmas card from the Bowlby Family Collection. This week’s card features the Green Santa. The Red Santa that we know and love was created by the Coca-Cola marketing department during the 1920s. Prior to that, Santa came in many different colours and sizes. This card was postmarked December 24, 1908 and was created by the “Raphael Tuck...

The Throwback Thursday Picture this week looks northeast at Sandwich Street (now Riverside Drive) and Ouellette Avenue and was taken sometime in the late 1940s. In this view the Ritz Hotel is found on the northwest side of Sandwich and Ouellette with The British America Hotel on the other side of the intersection. Canadian National Railway station is located further up on the north side of Sandwich Street.  Today none...

This week’s Throwback Thursday picture is looking north along Pelissier Street at the YM/YWCA building and the Norton Palmer Hotel. This photograph was taken in 1932 and much has changed since then. All the buildings in this image except for the YM/YWCA have been demolished. The Norton Palmer Hotel was knocked down in the early 1970s and was replaced with Victoria Park Place condominiums. The YM/YWCA building is now used...

The date is March 18, 1958, and this weeks Throwback Thursday Pic has the camera pointed at the Canadian Bank of Commerce building located at the south-east corner of Riverside Drive and Ouellette Avenue. This building was opened to the public in 1899, and would be demolished in 1972 to make way for a new 14 story Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building that would open on May 7, 1974....