See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo was taken of 10th Street from Pacific Avenue looking sourth. Visible businesses include: the Cecil Hotel; the Canadian Bank of Commerce; Campbell and Campbell; and the Bank of British North America
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
Alfred Fowler was born in 1903, in Toronto, Ontario. At the age of 23 he began working for Canadian National Railways (C.N.R.) in the company's telegraph accounting department. He remained employed there for 45 years, with the exception of the years 1940-45 when he served with the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II. During his service he was stationed at Shilo, Manitoba, where he met his future wife, Elsie Bowen. They were married late in 1944, and in 1945 returned to Toronto. Fowler remained in Toronto until his death in 1969. Throughout his life, Mr. Fowler was an ardent amateur photographer.
Custodial History
All 105 prints in this collection were created by Davidson & Gowen, a photography business located in Brandon. It seems likely that they were created for display and/or for commercial sale as part of the November 7, 1912 "Harvest" edition of The Brandon Sun. Alfred Fowler acquired a copy of the Davidson and Gowen prints during his stay at C.F.B. Shilo during the Second World War. In 1946 Alfred Fowler left Brandon returning to his home in Toronto. With the death of Alfred in 1969 the collection passed to his wife, Elsie Fowler. Elsie died in 1987, also in Toronto. Her estate passed to her nephew, Byron Forsyth, a Brandon resident. Byron brought the collection back to Brandon and in 1999 donated it to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
The prints concern various subjects in Brandon, Manitoba c. 1911-1912 including Brandon residences, store fronts/businesses, streetscapes, churches, the Brandon Fair, parks, hotels, institutional structures (ie hospitals, City Hall) and rail yards (both Canadian Northern and Canadian Pacific) in the city. These images provide a visual record of Brandon in the years just before the Great War.
Notes
CAIN No. 202647. All addresses listed for photographs in the Fowler collection were derived from Henderson's Directories (1911, 1913).
Location Copy
Copies of the photographs are in the green binder on the reference shelf in the reading room. Negatives for CPR photographs have been placed with 6-1999.10 (CPR Railway depot).
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows the original grandstand on the half mile track at the Brandon Fair Grounds (now the Keystone Grounds). Gambling on horse races was objected to by some Brandonites, but was evidently in favour with this large crowd of male spectators.
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
This house was built in 1907. It was constructed for the Bank of Montreal as the residence of the local bank manager, W.G.A. Watson, and was used for that purpose until the 1960s.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows a Brandon residence located at 1335 Victoria Avenue.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Assiniboine Historical Society's Brandon: A Residential Walking Tour pamphlet (1993).
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
The Brandon Club, designed in 1904 by local architect and builder W.R. Marshall, was Brandon's oldest chartered club. It was located at 158 11th Street. In the early years as an exclusive institution, the club boased such notable members as Sir Clifford Sifton, Senator J.N. Kirchoffer, and Sir R.P. Roblin. The Brandon Club closed its doors c. 2005. At present (June 2007), it is the future home of Lennon Trilogy, professional land surveyors.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows the exterior of the Brandon Club. Photograph is looking west.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Assiniboine Historical Society's Brandon: An Architectural Walking Tour pamphlet (1982).
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
