This building, demolished in 1971 or 1972, was used by Western Grocers for many years, and then Richard (Dick) Town used it as a vegetable warehouse during the last ten years or so it was standing. Dick does not remember when it was built (it had no date) but remembers its first tenant as being Borbridge Harness, a harness manufacturer. (From L.A.S. conversation with R. Town, June 13, 1977.)
Borbridge Western Ltd. had extensive contracts with Canadian Army Cavalry during WWI.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Western Grocers Building
Notes
This building was located on the east side of 11th Street, between Rosser & Pacific Avenues.
This photo provides a good view of the coal sheds along CPR track. Coal was unloaded from boxcars into roof hatches and hauled by drays from doors on avenue side. Only part of a long row of these commercial coal sheds is shown. As a boy I remember several fires in them. LAS.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Hanbury Manufacturing Co.
Notes
View of complete Hanbury Manufacturing complex (from Pacific Avenue looking north), showing the intersection of 6th Street & Assiniboine Ave.
Note overhead walkway over 6th St. between buildings
Probably the peak of the sawmilling industry in Brandon was "The Big Drive" in 1910, when 125 drivers brought 5 million board feet of timber down the Assiniboine to Hanbury's Mill.
Most of these logs were cut in the Riding Mountains in winter and floated down the Little Saskatchewan and Birdtail Rivers to the Assiniboine.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Logs, destined for Hanbury Manufacturing Co., in the Assiniboine River
Notes
Looking north from 3rd Street.
[This negative was produced using a previously published image (P.E.).]
Probably the peak of the sawmilling industry in Brandon was "The Big Drive" in 1910, when 125 drivers brought 5 million board feet of timber down the Assiniboine to Hanbury's Mill
Most of these logs were cut in the Riding Mountains in winter and floated down the Little Saskatchewan and Birdtail Rivers to the Assiniboine.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Logs, destined for Hanbury Manufacturing Co., in the Assiniboine River
Notes
View from First Street North
Courtesy of the family of E.C. Higgins (Mrs. Millen Dunbar nee May Higgins).
Erected in 1889, on the southeast corner of Rosser Avenue and 7th Street at 806 Rosser Avenue, this block was designed by Brandon architect W.H. Shillinglaw. At the time of its construction the structure housed the Nation & Shewan Department Store, one of Brandon’s largest and most successful drygoods businesses, owned and operated by Fred Nation and Alexander Shewan.
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 to be 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 Metroplitan Stores Ltd began operating out of the Nation & Shewan Block.
In 2000, the Town Centre prepared to knock down the Red Apple Building, formerly the 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.
[History/Bio written by Christy Henry (SJ McKee Archives) and Eileen Trott (Daly House Museum), researched by Morganna Maylon, for 2015 photographic exhibition "Gowen's Brandon: Then and Now".]
Custodial History
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a display of women's clothing and accessories in the window at Nation & Shewan. A sign reads: 1914 Spring Opening commences on Wednesday March 25th.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mrs. E. Harden, 33-10th St., City. According to the Henderson's Brandon City Directories, Catharine "Kate" Harden (nee Chalmers) worked as a cashier at Nation & Shewan from 1913 to 1914.
