A piece of Windsor's colourful history will soon have a permanent home on its riverfront.
Restoration for the former Streetcar No. 351 is nearly complete, and the City of Windsor is shifting its attention to a fundraising effort to pay for a display in the Odette Sculpture Park.
After a period of public consultation, the city will build an enclosure for the trolley to protect it from the weather and other elements.
The streetcar will be the highlight of the new Celestial Beacon, one of five beacons on the riverfront being created as part of the city's Central Riverfront Implementation Plan. The Celestial Beacon will be the one furthest west, near the University of Windsor and the Ambassador Bridge.
The Preserve and Protect initiative for the enclosure has a $100,000 goal. Already, $20,000 has been raised.
The city has also teamed up with EnWin Utilities and YourTV Cogeco to create a documentary video about the streetcar's history. For over 20 years, it was part of the Sandwich, Windsor and Amherstburg Railway. When the city switched to a public bus system in 1939, it retired its streetcars.
In the fall of 2017, Windsor City Council approved the $750,000 needed to restore the 1918 streetcar to its former grandeur. The funding for the restoration came from a surplus generated by the city hosting the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships, along with money from a fund set aside for capital projects.
The restoration work is being handled by Blenheim-based RM Auto Restoration.
Fundraising for the enclosure began in mid-November 2018 and will continue for a total of 351 days.
In addition to donations, t-shirts are being sold for $30 apiece. To order a t-shirt, contact Nora Romero, the city's corporate marketing and communications officer, or visit the fundraiser's official website.
