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Caption: Such the impressive structure. It soldiers on to this day as the Mettawas Station Mediterranean Restaurant. (No, I have not tried it) Once the station was declared expendable after the railway ceased operations thru here, it sat vacant. A determined effort by the locals saved it.
The station that once served Lake Erie, Essex and Detroit River Railway was built in 1889, solely of local fieldstone and timber, by Hiram Walker. Business was brisk since he also had a hotel and casino down by the lakefront.
Once upon a time this busy main line location had a yard, water tank, freight office and spur lines to various industries that located close by. They included grain facilities, fruit storage and especially tobacco businesses. I believe that was a tobacco establishment you can see behind the station. I do know it is now the site of many new homes...... (note MoW car behind station)
The rail line is gone and the Chrysler Greenway trail corridor opened on the site in 1997.
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Would have been a fairly busy line in 1977, about as busy as today’s Windsor sub, and CTC to boot.
Reading up on this place before I posted; I was really surprised about the gambling halls, hotels and resorts here, all footed by Hiram Walker, “the name in booze” back then.
Beauty. Still is. I can say I’ve eaten there, shortly after we moved near the area 10 years ago. Highly recommended….really neat seeing the upstairs and inside architecture.
And yes, all newer homes and subdivisions in behind where factories once stood.
Can this be time machined to my existing (posted) photo? If not….motivation to do so! Lol
Sure thing, Todd. When the weather is a little better and you are out for a drive, by all means. My faded neg is almost 50 years old now.
I’m going to try that place come spring. Last time by, the benches and tables were out front as well; but I had just eaten elsewhere…..damn!