Erected in 1889, at 806 Rosser Avenue (the southeast corner of Rosser Avenue and 7th Street), the building was designed by Brandon architect W.H. Shillinglaw. At the time of its construction the structure housed the Nation Department Store, which became Nation & Shewan Department Store in 1894. One of Brandon’s largest and most successful drygoods businesses, the venture was owned and operated by Fred Nation and Alexander Shewan.
Built adjacent to an existing three storey brick building known as the A.D. Rankin Block (built sometime between 1885 and 1888), this smaller building was eventually absorbed by the Nation and Shewan Block after 1897, when Rankin Drygoods moved into the newly constructed Syndicate Block located farther east down Rosser Ave. Later, the Rankin Block became known as Nation Chambers. These two structures comprised what was known as the Nation and Shewan Block.
Major improvements were made to the store and an annex was added in 1910. Some of the renovation additions included, but were not limited to: an updated frontage with new copper sash windows and prismatic glass tops, plate glass windows, new fixtures and carpet. With the renovations the floor space of the business was almost doubled. The stock of the business also increased, with the Brandon Weekly Sun reporting that when finished, Nation & Shewan would be a “store of which the citizens of Brandon will be justly proud.”
The drygoods firm operated until Nation’s death 1926, when it became known as A. Shewan Limited. From 1933 to 1944, the business was known as Shewan and Son. Shortly thereafter, the Metropolitan Stores Ltd began operating out of the Nation & Shewan Block.
In 2000, the Town Centre prepared to knock down what was then known as the Red Apple Building, the former Nation & Shewan Block. The demolition was to make way for the new atrium and entrance for the mall, and begin a new period of redevelopment at the downtown shopping centre.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows the front of the Nation & Shewan Block, which was located in the 800 block of Rosser Avenue on the southside.
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
xxxii, 616 p., [3] leaves of plates : ill., maps, ports. ; 21 cm
Notes
Maps on end papers
"Authorised by the Minister of Education for use in the high schools and collegiate institutes of Ontario, and by the Advisory Board for use in Manitoba"
John (Jack) Hunter was born on April 6, 1910 on the farm at Moline, MB to John Hunter and Florence Currie. A life-long farmer, Jack never married. He and his sister Dorothy remained on the farm, and looked after their parents and their aunt Molly. The siblings retired to Rapid City, MB in 1975. Jack Hunter died on June 3, 1991 in Minnedosa, MB. He is buried at Rapid City Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Jack Hunter about the history of the Hunter and Currie families. Interviewer is Gordon Shanks.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the local history "Rapid City and District" and Hunter's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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John Hepworth was born on April 5, 1911 at Shoal Lake, MB. He attended Agricultural College at the University of Manitoba and farmed the Hepworth family farm near Menzie. John married Helen Douglas Morton (1915-2008) in 1935, and together they had two daughters, Heather and Jill. The family moved to Shoal Lake in 1945, and John continued farming from town until retiring in 1974. John was actve in the Shoal Lake community, participating in curling and golf, and referring minor hockey. He was a long-time member of the Boards of Directors of Shoal Lake Hospital and of Morley House; he was actively involved in the establishment of the latter, and the Lions Wing addition. Within St. Paul's Anglican Church, John served on the vestry and for a term as People's Warden. John Hepworth died on September 2, 1995 at Shoal Lake, MB. He is buried at Shoal Lake Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with John Hepworth about Shoal Lake Health Services. Interviewer is Cliff Findlay.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, Shoal Lake local history "Ripples on the Lake" and Hepworth's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
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John Oldcorn was born on December 29, 1910 in Victoria, BC. His family moved to Manitoba the following year and homesteaded at Cordova until 1918. John then lived in Neepawa (1918-1926) and Franklin (1926-1943), farming with his father before settling at Forrest in 1943.
Marjorie Jean Robertson was born on January 7, 1923 in Minnedosa, MB. She attended school in Cordova and Mentmore before taking Grade 11 in Franklin. Following her education, Marj took a secretarial jb at the Manitoba Legislature. She met John Oldcorn at Franklin and they were married on November 23, 1943. Together they had two sons, Robert and Claude. During these years, Marj was active in the Forrest United Church and 4-H. She was also an avid curler and was a member of the Brandon Curling Club for many years.
John Oldcorn died on October 24, 1986 at his home, RR5 Brandon, MB. Following his death Marj enjoyed relationships with Sanford Cochrane, and after his death, with Cliff Thompson. Marj left the farm in 2004, and moved to Parkview in Brandon, and then Fairview Personal Care Home. Marjorie Oldcorn died on September 4, 2010. John and Marjorie Oldcorn are buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with John and Marjorie Oldcorn about farming in Manitoba, 1899-1981. Interviewer is Frank Anderson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the obituaries of John and Marjorie Oldcorn. Description by Christy Henry.
John Peters was born on November 7, 1918 in Hague, SK. He moved to the Broodkale area in 1941, and then the Minnedosa area. Hazel Sayward was born on January 5, 1929 in Brandon, MB. Her family lived on a farm northeast of Moore Park. Hazel attended school in Moore Park, then in the Brookdale district but eventually quit school to help on the farm. John and Hazel married in November 1943, and together they had two children: Connie and Perry. The couple farmed in the Oberon district, then moved to Duddenhoffer farm, which later became part of the Langford Community Pasture. They managed the government pasture from 1948-1979. Hazel and John then retired on their own farm beside the community pasture. John Peters died on January 21, 2011. Hazel Peters died on January 14, 1917. The are both buried at Riverside Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with John and Helen Peters about community pasture life in Langford and Lansdowne. Interviewer is Dorothy Martin.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Broodkale local history "Quest in Roots," and Hazel Peters' obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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