I know that St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church (Ralph Connor's Church) is known today as Elim Chapel, and must admit, I have never looked closely at it.  However, this photograph was also called 'Ralph Connor's Church. Either St. Stephen's has undergone major changes over the years, or Ralph Connor must have had more than one church, because it doesn't look anything like the church above does it?

This was novelist Ralph Connor's Church on Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, and it was taken in 1905.  Ralph Connor was in fact Rev. Charles William Gordon 1860-1937 and made quite a name for himself with his books.

Here we are looking South on Princess Street.  The card says it is looking from Ellice Street, but as far as I know, Ellice has always been an avenue, hasn't it?

This is how the Town Hall looked in St. Boniface when it was newly built.

After a busy day shopping at Eatons, people are catching a streetcar to go home.

This was the railway strike of 1906 with the police keeping things under control, batons at the ready. This strike ended in violence, and the reading of the riot act.

First meeting of City of Winnipeg's Council was held on the second floor of Bentley's new building at north-west corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street.  Then in 1876 they erected this building which was Winnipeg's first City Hall and theatre.

However, it couldn't have been very suitable for their needs, because less than 10 years later, in 1885 they started construction on the second City Hall, which lasted them a bit longer.  Right up to 1964 actually.

This was Ravenscourt, the residence of lawyer J. Stewart Tupper K.C.  Which I believe was located on what is now West Gate.

Now wasn't this lovely?  This was taken in 1926 at Assiniboine Park, or rather City Park as it was known then.

Staying in the park, here is another photo of the lily pond, showing just how beautiful it was in 1930.

Moving up into the 50's, but still in the park, here we have the boy with the boot, who stands outside the English Garden.  He has had his own adventures over the years, including being kidnapped! Originally it was located in front of city Hall. But they found out during the 1960s when tourists came to Winnipeg that the same figure, the same sculpture exists in nine other North American Cities. And no one really knows where it came from. Only that it was probably constructed in an Italian foundry in the mid 1800s.

Another 50's photo of the park.

Children & adults again in the 50's enjoying a ride round the park in this little train. Is it still running?  I thought I heard that it wasn't, but I am not sure. My own children used to love a ride on it.

Leaving the park, but staying in the 50's, here is the Beachcomber restaurant, which was part of the Sheraton Hotel.  Look at those lovely old cars.  That was in the good old days when gas was cheap! :-)

This wasn't dated, but would guess it to be 50's or 60's also.  This was the Wigwam room at the Niakwa Hotel.

Now we are sliding right back in time again.  This time it is 1894, and we are on Main Street

Main Street again, but this time it is 1908, and technology has advanced a bit.

And a different section of Main Street in the same year.

Looking down on Main Street again at all the horse & buggy traffic

This view of Main was in 1909, is that a cow catcher on the front of that street car?  Or maybe it was for people!

Here we have the Louis Riel Monument in St. Boniface.

I don't have a date for this one, but it is the Canadian Bank of Commerce, before it became the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Here is a nice one of the General Hospital, which of course later became known as the Health Sciences Centre.  What a nice view the patients had from their windows in those days - unlike today!

This was how the Portage and Main corner looked in 1907.

Just four years later, and this was Broadway.  See the street car running down the centre?

While we are on Broadway, let's take a look at the brand spanking new Hotel Fort Garry, listed as the Grand Trunk Pacific's new hotel. The Fort Garry Hotel was built between 1912 - 1913.

Here again is a nice view of the Winnipeg Post Office - again the card was unused, so I am unsure of the date.

This picture shows the Royal Alexandra Hotel, which was attached to the CP Railway station.

Here we have another nice photo of Upper Fort Garry.  This time the snap was taken from the Duncan McDougall estate on the other side of the river. Jim Jerome, a descendant of Duncan,  sent me a black & white version of this photo that he obtained from the Manitoba Archives.  We were speculating whether the fellow you can see in the foreground might be a relative of his.

Now let's pop over to Winnipeg Beach.  This shot was taken in 1910.

and another one of Winnipeg Beach, but I am not sure of the year.  Perhaps someone can tell by the style of the boats.

On to Wpg Now

Home

Here is a nice photo showing how the juction of Cumberland and Carlton looked in 1910, the roads looked so much wider when there were only horses on them didn't they?

Still in 1910, we have the Main Street underpass, showing all modes of transportation, including a train going over the top.

Here are a couple of photos of the Ogilvie Flour Mills, the first one obviously much older than the one right.

Ogilvie Mills purchased Stephen Nairn's Oatmeal Mills in 1895, and were in business until 1983.  The building  on Higgins Avenue burned down in 1997, and the city  dragged its feet to pull down the rest, because of the expense.  It was finally demolished in Spring 2005, and cleaned up by the fall.

Folkestone Then&Now

My son just e-mailed me some photos showing my little granddaughter's first trip on this train - taken last week!  So yes, it is still there! :-)

Just a few short years later, in 1899, this is how the beautiful Manitoba Hotel looked.  It went up in flames on a bitterly cold night in February.  The fire brigade, hoses frozen, was helpless.

This photograph was sent to me by Angus Taylor of Victoria, BC, who tells me his Great-Great Uncle, John Clements built the building you see here on the site of Winnipeg's first court house, and it was called the Clements Block.  This building, complete with dungeons beneath was still there in the 70's until it went up in flames. (See picture below for story behind the dungeons) Now, we know he built two buildings at the same time.  A website on the internet states, while talking about the Union/Royal Bank annex at 500 Main Street: The land on which the annex stands was originally part of the Clement(s) Block, named after its owner, J.R. Clement(s) of Crookston, Minnesota.  Clement(s) had built two office/retail structures on Main Street, one on the east side of this block, built in 1885.  The building was destroyed by fire in 1898.  One of the original tenants of the Clement(s) Block, the clothing firm of White and Manahan, purchased the land and built their own retail store.  The firm continued to business out of this building until it was sold in 1921 when it was partially demolished to make way for the new annex. Now, did J. R. Clements build these two buildings next to each other, and the first one was the site of the White & Manahan store later on?  Or did he perhaps build on the other side of the street?  Because if he had built to the east of the Tower Block, that would put it right smack in the middle of Main Street wouldn't it? We know that the annex at one time shared a wall with the Bijou Theatre, which we also know was housed in the Clements Block.  But that was later than this photo, where you can see that the lower level was a pool hall, with White & Manahan next door.  Judging by the cars, I would guess this picture would have been around 1919 or 1920.  Must have been before 1921 if White & Manahan were still there anyway. If anyone has any more information about these Clement buildings, please drop me a line, and I will pass the information along to Angus, who is in the process of doing research on his family history.

The Manitoba Hotel, built by the Northern Pacific Railway in the early 1890s on the southeast corner of Main and Water, was considered the finest hostelry between Montreal and Vancouver.  Below is the hotel bus.  With the hotel's spacious rotunda, excellent dining room, elaborate ballroom and well stocked wine cellar, it was the centre of Winnipeg social life.  The rotunda, 150 x 40 ft and 25 ft high, was extremely handsome, wainscotted in oak, with glittering electric and gaslit chandeliers, rich carpets and handsome furniture.

This is the building that was originally on the site of the Clements Block.  It was completed in 1874 and was Winnipeg's first courthouse and Manitoba's second.  (The first one originally stood within the walls of Upper Fort Garry, and later was moved just outside.)  The Main Street building, substantially built of oak logs covered with pine siding, also accommodated the police court and jail, civic and government offices, social functions and charity bazaars.  The Manitoba Legislature met in it from 1873 to 1882 and a remarkable sight was the dignified Sergeant-at-Arms backing up the stairs, bowing as he went.  In January, 1883, it was sold to Daniel Rogers who used it as a variety theatre and bar for several years.  Banfield's store was later built on the site.

I went down to Main Street and took these pictures, and there is now a plaque for both the old Court House and the West Clements Block at the entrance of Market Square.  Which confirms that there was definitely an East Clements Block. The plaque on the Clements Block mentions that it also housed the Bijou Theatre at the rear. Click to read a Free Press account of the Bijou fire. The plaque on the Court House states that Joseph Michaud was the first man to be hanged in Winnipeg on that site in 1874.  After being purchased by John Clements, it became a saloon, brothel and variety theatre before it was demolished in 1884.  My word Angus - you have a colourful family history!

Still on the subject of Angus' family.  He told me his grandparents had owned 630 Langside Street, and sent me this photo of it taken during WW1.  He thinks the little boy might be his Uncle Ben. This is how the house looks today.  It has obviously been well looked after.  The windows have been changed, and frankly I think the larger ones suited the house better.  The roof of the porch has been changed too, but the gables are exactly the same.  Look how deep the curb on the street was in those days compared to today.

I recently read a book written by Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Angus' mother, called 'Bessie's Mandala'.  It is an historical fiction based on the life of her mother, Bessie (Robinson) Clements.  She was an amazing woman who started the Owen House Mission in the North End of Winnipeg.  She had a huge empathy for the plight of the early immigrants, and went about teaching them English, and during the hard times fed them too.  This is a wonderful book, and it is thrilling to see Winnipeg through the eyes of someone living here in the early 1900's.  If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy, contact me, and I will put you in touch with Angus, as the book is not available in the stores.  Also, if there are any movie makers out there - this is your next project!  This book is just crying out to be put onto the screen.  I have no vested interest in it, I just find the book fascinating. Incidentally, Bessie hated living in the above house, but you will have to read the book to find out why.

Here we have the McIntyre Block in 1911, after it received its two storey addition.  You can read more about this block in the John Steel Collection attached to this website.

From a more recent time, this is the Mall Hotel with Tip Top Tailors and a Drug store & soda bar. Notice the overhead trolley bus wires.  They were around when I arrived in Winnipeg in 1968.

Talking about missions, this was the best known one of the day.  It was the All People's Mission started by Rev. J. S. Woodsworth.  It was going at the same time as Owen House, and also helped immigrants and their children. This one was on Maple Street, and was dated 1904, although I have read that J.S. Woodsworth ran it from 1907 to 1913, so either one of the dates are wrong, or he didn't actually start it.  I will have to do a little research when I find the time.

This was also the All People's Mission, but in a different location - Sutherland & Euclid, and a different time - 1921.

Now, I wonder if this is still there?  It is the Seven Oaks monument. Something tells me that the flag was added to the picture afterwards don't you think?

This is buffalo grazing at Silver Heights near Winnipeg in 1903.

Had to leave this photo of Main St in the 1890's large so you could see the detail.  On the East side you can see an Auction Mart which had been there since 1878, and you mustn't miss the clearance sale on clothing at the shop on the left!

In this one you can see Eatons, and beyond it is the Somerset Building.

The Dominion Public Building, still there on Main at Water.

Not being a sports fan, I guess I have been ignoring the fact that we used to have an NHL hockey team.  But as it is part of Winnipeg's history, I should put up a photo of The Winnipeg Jets.  This was their last season here.  (Don't ask me their names though!) :-) And I am not typing them all in even if you write and tell me who they are!! :-)

And this was the building they used to play in.  The Winnipeg Arena was built in 1955.  This photo was taken in the 60's - as you can tell by the cars!  It was demolished in 2005/06

I guess this one is also from the 60's judging by the vivid blue sky, which was the style of the postcards of the day.  This is the Highwayman Auto Court Motel.

I had an e-mail from Jack Harrison in the UK, who tells me he was stationed in Portage-la-Prairie in 1945, where he learned to be a Navigator.  He used to come into Winnipeg to let his hair down, and sent me a couple of photos from those days.  This one has me a little stuck.

Here is Jack second from the right with friends in Assiniboine Park.  He tells me that his girlfriend was immediately behind him, but the one on the left of him looks pretty friendly too doesn't she? :-)

If Jack's having fun, why shouldn't we?  Let's go out to Winnipeg Beach and take a stroll down the pier.  Was it called a pier?  Or maybe it was a boardwalk, I am not sure, but I would like one of those gorgeous dresses to stroll in, but as this was dated 1913, I don't suppose I stand much chance of getting one!

This is St. Andrews Lock, near Winnipeg in 1911.  The colour is not bad for that age of postcard is it?

Lots of pictures to load, so have patience.  If any stay blank, right click your mouse into the space and click 'show picture' and it should come in for you.

This page updated February 16, 2008

Oh yes, I was correct.  I just heard from Lynne Yule, née Hawkins previously from St. Vital, but now living in Nanaimo, BC, who tells me that the Wigwam room opened in 1965.  She knows this because her mother worked there for a few months. Thanks Lynne! :-)

I just found out from Elizabeth Blight of the Archives of Manitoba that this is a side view of the Manitoba Legislative Building.  I am very ashamed that I didn't know that!

The answer to this one is in the Guestbook linked below.  The Church on the left burned down, and this was the replacement, which is now Elim Chapel

I am not likely to hear from anyone who was there that day, and could tell me what that obstruction was in the road on the left!

According to one of my readers, many of the streetcars went out into rural areas too, hence the cow catchers.  Probably worked just as well for people too though!

They didn't seem to worry too much about debris being left in the road in those days did they?

John Weltevreden in Australia wrote an e-mail (reproduced in the Guestbook) saying that this was not Princess Street either, but was Donald Street, and the building on the left was the Masonic Temple, which later became Mother Tuckers.   Hmmmm, so where was the person located who was responsible for giving this card its title?  Hong Kong?

John Weltevreden who has a clearer  picture of this, says  the obstruction is definitely a two part tram emerging from Portage Avenue & turning north on Main.

You can read some letters from Jack, and see a photo of his graduation from Portage-la-Prairie in the Guestbook linked below

A lady by the name of Linda (Broeska) Lane wrote in my guestbook that her new husband's grandfather had been the groundskeeper of Drewry's Brewery on Main Street, and was looking for pictures.  I found this one for her. and decided to put it up here too. E.L Drewry was the manager of the Redwood Brewery, but bought it out in 1877 and renamed it after himself.  The Canadian operation was closed in 1936 when they bought the Muessel Brewing Co. in South Bend Indiana. Now all you can see is a plaque in honour of E. L. Drewry in St. John's Park.

Just had an e-mail from Basil Galarnyk, who tells me it is definitely still there at Rupertsland and Main.  I will have to take a trip out there to look at it. Thanks Basil!

After I wrote the above, I had an e-mail from Charles E. Drewry, great-grandson of Edward L. Drewry, who tells me I have some of my facts wrong.  (What else is new?) He says, "The Canadian brewing operation did not close in 1936, we were brewing Drewry's well into the late 50's and early 60's before it became Molsons.  E. L. Drewry died in 1940, the brewery was run by my grandfather, Harold A. Drewry, and his brother, Charles E. Drewry, whom I am named after. The brewery was always named Redwood Breweries Ltd., and the beer was known as Drewry's.  It was not named Drewry's Brewery. So now we know - thanks Charles! :-)

Now would be a good time to mention that Winnipeg has also had its own football team for many years. Here is a photo of the Bombers in 1962, along with their names! :-) The Bombers are still going strong, but I am not a football fan either, so can't tell you how they are doing!

If you have your own memories of Winnipeg, please share them with us by jotting them down in the book

Had an e-mail from Scott Bryant in Hamilton, Ontario saying he was thrilled to find the photo on the right in the John Steel Collection, as you can see the business of Pelissier and Gobeil Soda Water Works next door, which belonged to his Great-great Grandfather, Henri (Harry) Pelissier. Scott was telling me that Mr. Pelissier went on to own the Pelissier Brewery at Mulvey and Harry and possibly his brother Joseph owned the Bellevue Hotel at 186 McDermott.   He is  it to me, and I will forward it on. (After putting it up on this site of course! :-) )

Osborne, which was recently demolished.  Also, around 1895-97 looking for a photo of this hotel, so if anyone has one, please send

Scott sent me the next few photos of the Pelissier Brewery, which according to the card also housed the famous Country Club.

Don't you love the fellow with the motorcycle & sidecar?  Scott tells me they used that to make home deliveries.  The vehicles delivered to commercial establishments.

Above left we have Harry Pelissier, his oldest son Harry Jr, who was obviously in the military, and his second oldest son (Scott's great grandfather) Cleophas (Pete) Pelissier. Above right is a photo of the Pelissier Bottling Plant.  It looks pretty primitive by today's standards doesn't it?  I wonder if they had to meet strict health regulations in those days?  This one was taken around 1910. Then on the left we are inside the Pelissier brewery again and see Harry Pelissier with two of his grandsons. On the left is Henry (he died in the fire at St. Boniface College in 1922) and on the right is Scott's grandfather Louis who grew up to coach the St. Boniface Seals hockey team in the mid 1920's.

Here is another very nice photo of the Assiniboine Park train.  This one was taken in 2005 and sent to me by Jeff Riddell, who helps out there. Jeff tells me that it is still being run by the same family, and they plan to continue for the forseeable future, despite a nasty fire that destroyed the last three carriages in the early part of 2000.  All has been fixed now, and they are getting ready for the 2008 season.

OK, so what do you think you have been looking at in the last four photos?  It certainly is Winnipeg, but they were only taken a few years ago.  I will let Dennis Adams, who sent them to me tell you: "These were taken during the filming of Jesse James, a few years ago.  Note the new Cdn flag just beyond the AN&AF Unit 60  building, I expect they were careful not to get that in the shot! My wife Lily worked at the old Bank of Nova Scotia building just barely seen as the white building on Garry Street.  It became known as the "Hatch, Match, & Dispatch Dept.  Else wise known as MB Vital Statistics." Thank you very much Dennis, aren't they wonderful photos?  I wonder how they achieved that haze over everything in the first three?  It certainly adds atmosphere.  Maybe they were filming very early in the morning, and it is always like that first thing.  I wouldn't know, I have never been out and about that early! I didn't put them on the Winnipeg Now page, because they look as if they belong here don't they?

Getting back to the riddle of the Clement Block again.  Had another email from Angus Taylor saying he had blown up that photo further up the page, and we now think it is very obvious that the entrance to the Bijou Theatre was there between the tobacco shop and White & Manahan's.  Angus' theory is that the pool sign was either not taken down when the tobacconist opened, or it doubled as two businesses - or maybe three if that barber's pole is to be believed!  I think you are right Angus, those three archways are definitely the entrance to the Bijou, because the posters on either side make that quite clear. It also looks as if you could rent a suite in the building through the Bijou office, at least I think that is what that sign on the left says. Well done Angus, good bit of detective work!.

To check your bearings, (and to find my mistakes!) you might find this 1911 map of Winnipeg useful. Use your back button to come back here afterwards

MAP

Do you know what this fellow is hauling?  If you have good enough eyesight, you might see the name on his wagon of McDonagh & Shea.  The driver's name was  Jules Supeene, and he was delivering beer.  McDonagh & Shea started their brewery on Colony at Broadway around 1887, and operated under that name until Labatt purchased it in 1958.  The plant was closed down altogether 20 yrs later. Labatt's also bought Kiewels and Pelissiers Breweries in the 1950's

The photo on the left and the next few below were sent to me by Bill Wright, who, along with Dave Craig, are researching the Manitoba breweries with the intention of writing a book on the subject.  It is quite an undertaking, because between 1847 and the turn of the century alone, 21 breweries were opened.

It's 1939, and although this truck outside the St. James Hotel on Portage Avenue says Drewrys on the side, it did in fact belong to Brewery Products Ltd.  I will let Bill explain it below.

Brewery Products Limited was located on James Ave. just behind the Concert Hall and the building looks today much as it did 70 years ago.  The company was started in 1936. It distributed beer for Shea's, Kiewels, Drewry's and Pelissiers Breweries and also for other beers from outside the province. All the men in the photo are Brewery Products employees, many of them originally from those breweries. The trucks are also property of the company but have the brewery names on them to promote each brewery.  Brewery Products continued on until the end of 1960 when delivery reverted back to the breweries.   Around this time most of the local breweries had been bought out by the big nationals. Labatts bought Shea's, Kiewels and Pelissiers Breweries in the 1950's as mentioned above, Carling bought Drewry's and Molson took Fort Garry. Fort Garry was never part of the BP arrangement and apparently Molson also wanted to go it alone. All the employees were split up between the 3 companies. In 1976 they tried it again with Associated Beer Distributors. This time each brewery owned a part of the business. It later became Brewers Distributors LTD when all the beer distributors in each western province amalgamated.

It's the last day of Brewery Products Ltd. and these two drivers are saying goodbye with a beer in one hand and a ring of kulbasa in the other!

Another photo of the St. James hotel, on the West side this time, and the time frame is the early 1990's.  The truck outside belongs to Associated Beer Distributors.

If you want to know more about the breweries that operated - and still operate in Manitoba, watch for Bill & Dave's book.  It's a long way from publication yet, but it will be an excellent read when it is done.

Thank you so much Bill & Dave, all this talk of beer has made me quite thirsty!

Three photos of a Domo gas bar.  Top left is the very first one in Winnipeg and dates from 1970.  The one above is from 1980, and the one on the left is right up to date.  It's probably just as well that we can't see the various gas prices between the three photos, because it would just make us cry!

This is the Maycock building located at 586 Main Street.  It was recently bought by Stephen Lamoureux, who was telling me he would like to restore it to how it looked when it was built in 1885. I think it was looking pretty good in this photo, but am not sure when it was taken. However, the one below was taken in 1976, and find it hard to believe that they could do that to a beautiful building like this.

But I guess it's all a matter of taste. If anyone has a picture of this building which shows it in its original state, could you please send me a scan of it, and I will pass it along to Stephen.

Now we come to some photos sent to me by Dennis Adams.  He says: "Back in '64 I got a Minolta SLR with a 90 mm lens, took a bright Sunday a.m. and went downtown to take photos of the great old buildings. Here are a few:

These three are instantly recogniseable as the listed Paris Building on Portage Avenue.  What a shame that they no longer make buildings like this.

On the right, you can see the YMCA building as it looked in 1900.  The two photos above that Dennis took show how Birks transformed it.  This building is the result of successive efforts by two famous Montreal architects, George Browne and Percy Nobbs. Although built by Browne as the YMCA with a swimming pool fed by an artesianwell, 600 seat auditorium and dormitory rooms, it housed Birks Jewellers from about 1912 to 1987. Browne's Romanesque building, with its subdued ornamentation, rusticated stone, round-headed arches and Portage Avenue tower, was largely altered by Nobbs. Nobbs who transformed the building into a lavish yet delicate ‘Italianate’ design. The building was faced in granite, tyndall stone and bronze. Terra cotta, designed by Nobbs, was used for quoins, window frames and niches. The most spectacular terra cotta decoration is seen along the Portage Avenue facade where terra cotta medallions (crafted to look like mosaics) depict the source of materials for jewellers. Above, a frieze (decorative horizontal bank) portrays a visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. (Source: Heritage Winnipeg) The building stood empty for many years after Birks moved out, but it is now being made into offices.

Birks c.1920

YMCAc. 1900

Back to 1964, and left and below are photos Dennis took of the Palmer Apartment building on Assiniboine Avenue.  Left shows the Fort Garry Hotel, and and below shows the legislature.

On the right, Dennis took a photo of a man outside the Electric Building.  He was taking his monkey for a walk!

Thanks for sharing these with us Dennis, they are great!