A Walk Down Main Street

Black and white archival photograph. Street view, Several Main Street businesses on right side. Left side of the street is lined with poles. St. Joseph’s Parish visible in background on left side.

Main Street, Windsor looking west. Circa 1960s.

Grand Falls-Windsor is now the largest town in the central island region of Newfoundland. Prior to amalgamation in 1991, Grand Falls and Windsor (formerly Grand Falls Station) were distinct communities with linked histories.

Grand Falls was a company town, developed in the early 1900s by the Harmsworth brothers, who built the paper mill and founded the Anglo-Newfoundland Development (AND) Company. AND provided many services including housing, sports, and the High Street shopping district.

As the town of Grand Falls grew, people who arrived in the area seeking work or business opportunities often settled near the train station, called Grand Falls Station. In 1938, Grand Falls Station became the first incorporated town outside of St. John’s on the island of Newfoundland. Its new name of Windsor was chosen in accordance with the King’s wishes that every part of the British empire have a town bearing the royal family’s surname.

Black and white archival photograph. Street view. Main Street businesses on left side of photo, telephone poles and the railway station on right side. There are four cars on the street, and several pedestrians on the sidewalk in the left part of photo.

Main Street, Windsor looking east from S. Cohen & Sons. Circa 1960s.

Despite many setbacks in its early decades, “the Station” became home to an impressive range of entrepreneurs and activity and Main Street, Windsor grew into a lively shopping district.

Audio clip with transcript: Roy Oldford discusses Main Street.

The excitement, bustle and variety of Windsor was a magnet for people not only from more conventional Grand Falls, but from elsewhere in the region. Yvonne Courtney recalls, “Main Street was alive. It was vibrant because it had all of these lovely cars and lots of people and the sweet little Cozy Chat and the smell of the French fries. It just bustled; it was vibrant.”

Windsor had a varied community life that contributed much to the development of both towns:

“There were a lot of different cultures. Lebanese people owned businesses on Main Street, Jewish people owned businesses on Main Street, Pat F. Kearney came from Ireland. He used to have this Irish accent and we used to enjoy listening to him. He loved Irish whiskey. They were all accepted into the community of Windsor,” says John Connors.

Black and white archival photograph. Street view. Looking north toward Main Street, Windsor from St. Joseph’s Parish which is on the left side of photo. Canadian Tire Corp’n on right side. Railway crossing sign in the centre of the photo.

Looking toward Main Street, Windsor from St. Joseph’s Parish. Circa 1960s.

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