WinnipegMiscellaneous

The fountain in front of the Government Building. Now, I stand to be corrected on this, but I believe this fountain was placed here when they removed it from the old City Hall, when it was demolished - and I believe the Government Building was at the present one at 10 Kennedy Street.

Elm Park again. This time showing a grove. Elm Park was located in St. Vital in the Kingston Row area, and closed in 1911-12. It was accessible by a pontoon bridge across the Red River. Heavily shaded with elm trees, it was used mainly as a picnic ground.

This photo has a rather strange title, it is called 'Lawn of Residence, Bank of Montreal'. Now did the Bank of Montreal have an attached residence? Did the manager live there? I bet someone out there knows!

This ride was called the Ocean Wave, and was located in River Park - another long gone recreation area. River Park opened in 1891 in South Fort Rouge and closed around 1941. This park had more rides and concessions than Elm Park.

River Park again, showing that they had their own theatre, and what looks to be a large club house of some sort. Any further information about the things we are seeing here would be gratefully received.

These two picturesque photos were taken in St. John's Park on Main Street, which is still there.

These two pretty photos were taken in Victoria Park. Although I know that Victoria Park is now closed, I have been unable to find much written on it so far. I think it might have been down in what is now the Waterfront Drive area, right on the river, and I also know that it featured quite prominently as a location for meetings during the big Winnipeg General Strike. As always, any more information would be welcome.

You saw the photos taken in 1871 of Upper Fort Garry while still in use, with Government House inside the walls, and the Hudson's Bay Store etc. This is what it had become by 1904.

This was Winnipeg's cattle yards. Note the length of the horns on those animals, I don't think they have them that long today do they?

This photo shows the inside of the council chamber of the day. I would guess that the picture on the wall was Edward V11 as he was on the throne from 1901 - 1910.

Now we are down on the banks of the Red River, and what are we doing? We are pumping sand. Whether it was to be used elsewhere, or whether it was silting up and had to be cleared, I have no idea.

This is the Red River again, but I think that is a different bridge in the background. Here we can see the steamship Alexandra which belonged to the Red River Navigation Company.

Now, let's look at some Winnipeg bridges of 1904. Our first is the Assiniboine Bridge.

On the right is the Norwood Bridge - I like the one we have now much better, don't you?

This one was entitled The Overhead Bridge, Those children didn't look too concerned about traffic did they? I had an e-mail giving this answer:
" It is the original wooden Arlington Bridge that crosses over the CPR tracks in the North End of Winnipeg. It has quite the history. It was destined for Egypt, to span over the Nile , but ended up in Winnipeg." Suzie
How interesting! So now we know - thanks very much Suzie!

We are going to finish this miscellaneous page with a visit to the fabulous Winnipeg Fair. Here we can see a display of the finest cattle, I wonder who took home first prize? Does anyone know what that round structure was on the right? I have looked at it enlarged, but still have no idea.

This is what it was like to sit in the grandstand at the Winnipeg Fair. Look at all those people, and not a single one is without a hat!

The photographer must have been standing in the same spot as when he took the one above. This time we are looking at the parade of horses.

The main reason most went to the Winnipeg Fair is the same reason they attend the Ex today. It is for the midway. Here you can see Winnipeggers of 1904 having fun. Really - they were, it was just their clothes that were sober. :-)