According to the Brandon Daily Sun (07 May 1913), the first three street cars (Nos. 10, 9, and 7) arrived in Brandon on the evening of May 6, 1913. The cars were shipped via Canadian National Rail to Brandon from Winnipeg and stored at the railway siding on McTavish Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets. The daily paper (15 May 1915) reported that a test run for the street cars was scheduled for May 16, 1913. The City Clerk published a public notice in the paper (29 May 1913) announcing the formal opening of the "Brandon Municipal Street Raily" for on Monday, June 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at city hall where the cars would be displayed.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts three municipal street cars parked on the 10th Street tracks in front of the Winter Fair Building. In front of the cars are a group of men wearing suits, hats, and top coats. Two automobiles are parked alongside the street cars. According to Archivist Emeritus Tom Mitchell, the group of men are members of the Brandon Municipal Street Railway Committee. The chairman of the committee, Harry Cater, can be seen in the center-left of the group wearing a watch fob. The committee had assembled for a test run of the street car service, which the Brandon Daily Sun reported to have occured on Sunday, May 16, 1913.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: First Street Car in Brandon in front of Winter Fair building 1910.
William "Billy" Muir came to Brandon in 1881 where he worked at the Coombs & Stewart general store. He became the proprietor of Brandon's first grocery store located on 138-6th Street. The building was demolished in 1952 (see Brandon Daily Sun 04 September 1952). According to correspondence in the McGuinness collection (see McG 1.2 File 22), Dr. Matheson brought the first car to Brandon, which he later sold to Muir. A note in McGuinness' papers (see McG 1.2 File 53) identifies the first motor car as a Hupmobile, which was purported to have arrived in Brandon in 1905. The Hupp Motor Car Company, however, is reported to have manufactured Hupmobiles between 1909 and 1940. Mrs. (Jessie) R.M. Coombs was Allena Strath's (nee Coombs) mother.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard shows a woman, identified as Mrs. (Jessie) Robert M. Coombs, seated behind the wheel of a motor car.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Mother Mrs. R. [Robert] M. Coombs in Billy Muir's car, Brandon around 1908
Thompson's Groceries and Confectionary was established in 1923 by Arthur Thompson (b. 1881 - d. May14, 1957) at 764 13th Street. From approximately 1925-1927, the store was operated by Alexander Thompson at 762 13th Street. The fate of the store from 1929-1935 is unclear. In 1929, Alexander Thompson was a grocer at 748 7th Street and in 1931 a Mrs. A Thompson was a grocer at 802 14th Street. There were two Thompson grocery and confectionary businesses in Brandon in 1933: Thompson's Confectionary at 745 13th Street and Thompson & Co. at 702 12th Street. In 1935, Arthur Thompson appears to have either taken over one of the earlier businesses or reopened his own grocery in its original location at 762 13th Street. He operated his store at this location into the mid-1950s. At some point following Thompson's death the building was bought by Frank Fitzpatrick and used for his upholstery store.
Custodial History
Donated by Frank Fitzpatrick.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking northwest at the extrior of Thompson's Grocieries and Confectionary.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from Henderson's Directories (1917-1955) for Brandon, MB.
