In the period leading up to World War I, Brandon, due to its excellent railway connections, was also home to branch offices of a number of large manufacturing companies during this period. Among those manufacturing outfits were William Gray & Sons Co. Ltd., and Mason Campbell Company. Based in Chatham, ON, these companies were leading manufacturers of carriages, sleighs and light wagons and fanning mills respectively. Constructed in 1907, by Giddings and Wyman for approximately $15,000, the four-storey structure was located at 801 Pacific Avenue and was shared by the two companies.
In response to the new technology of the gasoline engine, Wm. Gray & Sons entered into a partnership with the Dort Motor Company, of Flint, MI in 1915, and began designing and producing the Gray-Dort automobile; Mason Campbell’s Chatham plant became the assembly plant for the Gray-Dort. Production of the car spanned nearly ten years with over 20,000 Gray Dorts made. The company had over 300 dealers across the country, including one in Brandon.
In 1924, the Dort Motor Company decided to cease production, sending the Gray Company into significant debt. They were forced to close their doors in 1925, when Gray was unable to find a suitable partner to manufacture the car.
Following the closure of Gray-Campbell Ltd., portions of the warehouse were used by a number of businesses between 1925 - 1948, including farm and agricultural implement concerns Canadian Stover Co., Cameron & Rathwell, and Case (J.I.) Co. Ltd., the McKay Fruit Co. Ltd., Brazzell Motors, AC Bateman (electrician), Samuel Coxe (veterinarian) and Burns & Co. Ltd (packing house and egg grading station).
In 1949, the warehouse was taken over by Canada Grocers Ltd., who remained until 1973, when the building became Kullberg’s Big Warehouse. When Kullberg’s moved their warehouse to the old International Harvester building in 2004, the Wm. Gray & Sons Co. Ltd. building was torn down.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows the front of William Gray & Sons Co. Ltd. Wording and signs on the bulding include: "High Grade Carriages, Chatham, Ont."; "Scales"; "Incubators"; "The Manson Campbell Co. Ltd."; "Kitchen Cabinets"; "Chatham Fanning Mills"; "Emerson (New Standard) Mowers"; "Tudhope Carriages"; "Agency for Sylvester Drills"; "Stover Coy Gasoline Engines"; "Gray-Campbell, High Grade Carriages"; and "Phone 771."
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
Muriel May Patmore was born on May 1, 1905 in Brandon, MB. She attended Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI), and after graduation, trained as a teacher, teaching in various communities in Manitoba, including Rankin, Bloomsbury, Killarney and Elgin schools. Later, Muriel was employed by Brandon Creamery, the Fair Board office and managed the seed department for Patmore Nurseries. Actively invloved in community organizations, Muriel was Vice-President of the Brandon Arts Club, a member of the Horticultural and Natural History Societies, an avid supporter of the Brandon School of Music, and a member of the Westman Philharmonic Choir. She also provided music scholarhips for the Brandon College/Brandon University School of Music. Muriel was a long time member of St. George's Anglican Church, where she sang in the choir. She had a great interest in the history of Brandon and the Assiniboine Valley, environmental issues and world events. She never married. Muriel Patmore died on September 20, 1999 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal 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 Muriel Patmore about her life and the Patmore story. The interviewer is Isabelle Heeney.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Patmore's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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Muriel Isobel Outhwaite (nee Thompson) was born on August 1, 1916 in Brandon, MB, the eldest daughter of Norman Wallace Thompson and Evelyn Elizabeth Pentland. She grew up on the family farm at Justice and attended school there. Following graduation from Brandon Normal School, Muriel taught at Bunclody, Scarth, Norman, Glant and Forrest over 26 years. Muriel married Vauden Robert "Jack" Outhwaite (1904-1970) in July 1939, and together they raised four children: John Duane, Dianne, Bonnie and Lynne. Muriel was a lifetime member of the Justice United Church and its organizations, led 4-H, was a member of the Justice Community Club and the Justice Curling Club. She also enjoyed travelling. Muriel Outhwaite died on March 8, 2000 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Sparling 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 Muriel Outhwaite about pioneer history and school teaching, 1934-1981. Interviewer is Blair Loree.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Outhwaite's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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Alice Ann Barter was born on June 27, 1908 in Brandon, MB. She worked at A.E. McKenzie Seeds Co. in various departments doing secretarial work. She never married. Ann Barter died on December 18, 1993 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Mary Anne Alice "Daisy" Patmore was born on March 30, 1903 in Brandon, MB. She was the eldest of five children born to Henry Lewis Patrmore and Alice Maud Mary Ball. Patmore purchased a tree nursery in Brandon in 1888, and was a leading exponent of shelterbelts and tree planting, as well as a leading figure in beautifying the city of Brandon. Daisy attended Brandon Collegiate Institute and the Brandon Normal School. She taught for one year and then joined the family business, Patmore Nurserview Ltd. and Patmore's Florists; Daisy owned and operated the floral part of the business and was a floral designer from 1934 until she retired in 1973. During these years, she was very active in the International School of Loral Design; she also spoke and gave demonstrations about floral arrangements for many clubs and associations. Daisy was a member of the Quota Club, the Natual History Society of Brandon and the Brandon Horitcultural Association, as well as a member of St. George's Anglican Church and the Anglican Church Women's Group. For many years she was the alternate organist for the Church and played at services at the Brandon Mental Health Centre and Fairview Personal Care Home. Daisy never married. Daisy Patmore died on August 21, 1999 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Muriel May Patmore was born on May 1, 1905 in Brandon, MB. She attended Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI), and after graduation, traind as a teacher, teaching in various communities in Manitoba, including Rankin, Bloomsbury, Killarney and Elgin schools. Later, Muriel was employed by Brandon Creamery, the Fair Board office and managed the seed department for Patmore Nurseries. Actively invloved in community organizations, Muriel was Vice-President of the Brandon Arts Club, a member of the Horticultural and Natural History Societies, an avid supporter of the Brandon School of Music, and a member of the Westman Philharmonic Choir. She also provided music scholarhips for the Brandon College/Brandon University School of Music. Muriel was a long time member of St. George's Anglican Church, where she sang in the choir. She had a great interest in the history of Brandon and the Assiniboine Valley, environmental issues and world events. She never married. Muriel Patmore died on September 20, 1999 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal 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 Ann Barter, Daisy Patmore and Muriel Patmore about growing up in St. George's Anglican Church in Brandon, MB. Interviewer is Isabelle Heeney.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the obituaries for Daisy and Muriel Patmore. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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