AM800 Citybuilding: Windsor Public Library – Ghost Walk of Historic Sandwich Town

(1 October 2025)

On this week’s AM800 x Centre for Cities City Building Segment, Dan MacDonald sat down with Mary-Lou Gelissen, librarian at Windsor Public Library’s Local History and Genealogy branch in Sandwich Town.

Relocated from downtown Windsor, this branch has embraced the history, architecture, and identity of Sandwich Town, becoming a hub for preserving and sharing our community’s stories. From maps and yearbooks to resources on the Underground Railroad, the collection is connecting not just Windsor residents, but also researchers and families across North America.

Mary-Lou highlighted how the library is more than a reference point, it’s a space for community contribution and growth. Whether you’re tracing your family roots, a homeowner learning about your neighbourhood’, or a city builder engaging with Windsor’s past, the library’s resources play a vital role in shaping our collective future.

Libraries connect us to place, memory, and to one another, ensuring that our history continues to inform how we build stronger, more connected communities.

Listen to the segment below.