Do you remember riding the Bob-lo Boats to Bob-lo Island? This week’s Throwback Thursday Pic is of the Columbia taken in 1909. The Columbia ferry was built in 1902 and was joined by her sister ferry the Ste. Claire in 1910. The ferries operated between Detroit/Windsor and Bob-lo Island, which was located across from Amherstburg about 18 miles south of Windsor. Bob-lo Island was located in the Detroit River that provided picnicking and recreational activities for the citizens of Windsor and Detroit. Amusement rides started on Continue Reading...

The Duff-Baby House located in Olde Sandwich Towne in Windsor is the oldest standing structure in the city. This week’s Throwback Thursday Pic was taken sometime in the early decades of the 20th Century when the house was still a private dwelling. Alexander Duff built the house in 1798 to be a base for his fur trading operations. In 1807, James Baby bought the house for his family. The house survived the War of 1812 even though the Americans captured and looted the house. The Baby Continue Reading...

Lynda.com has been successfully transferred to the new  LinkedIn Learning platform.  You can now access LinkedIn Learning from our eResources – Databases page, and your learning history from Lynda.com will automatically be transferred to LinkedIn Learning. In addition to all your favourite free courses that were available on Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning will include an additional 8,000 courses and support for 6 additional languages including French! LinkedIn Learning is also available as a FREE app in your app store! Once downloaded you just need to follow these steps Continue Reading...

This week’s Throwback Thursday Pic is of Copeland’s Bookstore taken in 1949, located at 485 Pelissier Street in downtown Windsor. Copeland’s Stationary and Bookstore was a long time local bookseller in Windsor. The first store opened sometime in the late 19th Century on Sandwich Street West (now Riverside Drive West). Eventually the store was relocated in the early 20th century to 35 Ouellette Avenue. George E. Copeland was the proprietor when this picture was taken of the new location for their downtown operations, when they moved Continue Reading...

More than a year ago, WPL closed all Branches and joined with the City of Windsor to combat the spread of Covid-19.   Shortly after the closure, we held our 2020 Annual General Meeting online.  At that time, we had no expectation a year on, that we would be experiencing our second AGM in the same manner. Library staff was re-deployed to programs and initiatives supporting school curricula, enhanced online services, on-line story times and assisting customers with resources and materials questions plus a small group helped make non-surgical Continue Reading...

In light of the current province-wide Stay-at-Home order, Ontario Parks are urging individuals to only visit provincial parks close to home. Since Essex County does not have any Ontario Parks within its boundaries, WPL is temporarily suspending our Parks Pass lending program.  Please keep your eye on our website and we will let you know as soon as we are able to safely start this popular program up again....

With the temperatures warming up with the arrival of spring, thoughts turn to outdoor activities. One of those activities is tennis.  This week’s Throwback Thursday Pic is of the Walkerville Tennis Club, taken sometime in the early 1900s. The Walkerville Tennis Club located on the future site of the Walkerville Collegiate High School (built in 1922). The Tennis Club was part of the Walkerville Country Club, which also included a nine-hole golf course. In 1919, the Walkerville Country Club merged with the Essex Golf and Country Continue Reading...

Please note that Lynda.com will be unavailable on April 15, 2021 as we migrate to the new  LinkedIn Learning platform.  Once the process is complete, you will be able to access LinkedIn Learning from our eResources – Databases page, and your learning history from Lynda.com will automatically be transferred to LinkedIn Learning. In addition to all your favourite free courses that were available on Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning will include an additional 8,000 courses and support for 6 additional languages including French! If you have further questions Continue Reading...

This is where it all started with the Ford Motor Company of Canada in 1904.  Canada’s automotive industry began at the corner of Sandwich Street East (now Riverside Drive East) and Drouillard Road. The Walkerville Wagon Works owned by Gordon McGregor and a group of investors, working with Henry Ford in Detroit, founded the Ford Motor Company of Canada in 1904. This photograph was taken in January 1970 of the former automotive plant just before the structure was to be demolished. Automobile production was moved from Continue Reading...