As a child I spent a lot of time at 4-22 Foch (pronounced F-ahh-sh).  Yep, that's how we referred to it: 4-22 Foch.  It was the home of my grandparents, Joseph Brinley GEORGE and Dorothy May (EVANS) GEORGE. 

I inherited a box full of treasures that once belonged to my Grandma George.  Inside the box was an envelope which contained all of the papers with regards to this house at 422 Foch Avenue.

Now, I have not gone to the land records office to check when the house was originally built. However, I have in my possession mortgages, deeds and a quit claim that provide a detailed history of the owners of this little, three bedroom house located on Lot #64 on the North side of Foch Avenue, Windsor, Ontario.

The first mortgage is between George Howes, Plasterer and William J. McKee, Lumber Merchant, 133 Salter Avenue, Windsor, Ontario.  The amount of the mortgage was $3300.00 and dated 24 February 1927.

 Next, there was an Assignment of Mortgage between William J. McKee and John Rickards, Gentleman and Flora Rickards, wife of John of 801 Albert Street, Windsor.  This was dated 17 May 1927.

There is a Deed of Land between the Guaranty Trust Company to Flora Rickards dated 6 November 1930.  Flora paid the trust company the sum of $1.00 and "other valuable consideration" for the land and premises on Lot #164. 

The next document dated 23 June 1936 is a Quit Claim Deed from Susie L. Hough, married woman of Amherstburg, Ontario to Edie Evans, 15 Milverton Blvd., Toronto, Ontario.  There seems to have been some previous question as to the title of the land at 422 Foch.  This document clears up the title as Susie agrees to "execute presents for the purpose of barring and releasing her dower in the said lands."   

A Declaration was made by Flora Rickards on 24 June 1936 stating that John Rickard died 14 March 1929, and Flora is the sole surviving tenant.  It appears that following her husband's death, Flora got behind in paying the taxes from 1932 to 1936, as well as the water bill for the first quarter of 1936.

The house was sold to Edie Evans for the price of $1450.00.

Now you may be wondering what all of this has to do with my grandmother, May and her husband, Brin  George.  After Brin and May were married in March 1931, they moved into a house located at 1114 Moy Avenue in Windsor.  This was during the time of the Great Depression, and Brin soon lost his job at the Canadian Pacific Railway.  The family story is that Brin and May 'lost' the house on Moy Avenue.  I don't know the exact date that this happened.

Well, it just so happens that Edie Evans was the sister of May George. Along with their father, Robert B. Evans, Edie, purchased the house on Foch Avenue for May and Brin to live in.  Edie sold the house to May on 8 March 1945 for the sum of $1.00.

May was the sole owner of that house from 1945 until her death in 1981.  Brin became ower after May died.  He lived there until 1983.

Dorothy May George in front of 422 Foch Ave., Windsor, Ontario, circa 1964. Edited digital image of original photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Windsor, Ontario, 2005.

Dave George in front of 422 Foch Ave., Windsor, Ontario, February 1964. Edited digital image of original photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Windsor, Ontario, 2005.

  Brin George in the backyard of 422 Foch Ave., Windsor, Ontario, April 1964. Edited digital image of original photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Windsor, Ontario, 2005.

I drove by that old house back in the Spring.  It is still there.  It looks a bit different from when Grandma and Grandpa lived there, but I suppose that is to be expected.