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.
Corners of photograph mat are bent. Picture is cracked.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows an early view of Brandon's 6th Street in the 1880s. The Winter & O'Neail Groceries & Provisions and James Smart Hardware storefronts have been photographed. A street sign designating 6th Street can be seen below the Winter & O'Neail sign. A horse and cart is parked in front of the grocery store. A number of men wearing hats and jackets are standing along the boardwalk while posing for the picture. Lumber/timber saws are displayed in teh windows of the hardware store.
Notes
Front of photograph reads: 6th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, 1881-1882, Entrance [to Winter & O'Neail] corner of Rosser Ave & 6th Street.
Photograph mat is bent. Emulsion problems with image.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Rosser Avenue in its incipient stages. Canvas tents are mixed amongst wooden structures. The James Smart Hardware store, Winter & O'Neail Groceries & Provisions, and the law office of F.G.A. Henderson in the Molesworth Block can be seen on the north side of Rosser Avenue. A street sign designating 6th Street can be seen below the Winter & O'Neail sign. A horse and buggie is traveling down the dirt track that is Rosser Avenue. Groups of men can be seen congregating outside some of the local businesses.
Notes
Front of photograph reads: Rosser Avenue, Brandon 1882-1883, from east of Six Street. Back of photograph is stamped: I. Bennetto & Co., Photographers, Opposite Post-Office, Winnipeg, Man.
Left hand corner of mat is bent. Mock-up instructions are written in pencil at the bottom right hand corner. Portions of the photograph itself are marked with pen.
History / Biographical
The Queen's Hotel was located on the corner of Rosser Avenue and Tenth Street (Steen & Boyce, 1882. Brandon, Manitoba, Canada and Her Industries. Steen & Boyce Publishers Printers & Binders, 81.). Therefore this photo appears to display Rosser Avenue looking east. P.E. 11/06/09
Scope and Content
Photograph shows early Rosser Avenue under construction between 9th Street and 10th Street in the 1880s. Buildings that line the avenue are wood framed and there are wooden boardwalks in front of a few structures. On the north side of Rosser Avenue signs for Fortier & Bucke Commision Agents and Transit House (Hotel) can be seen. On the south side of Rosser Avenue, the Queen's Hotel and Robinson Brothers and Company groceries and dry goods store are open for business. A family appears to be standing on the stoop at the dry goods store. A boy is lounging in the entryway of the Queen's Hotel. A man is standing on a wooden plank that extends across the dirt road of Rosser Avenue between the dry goods store and the commission agents' shop.
The West End Millinery & Dry Goods shop appears in the 1914 Henderson's Brandon City Directory. The store was located in the Avenue Block at 1124 Rosser Avenue. Mrs. A. Barker was listed as the proprietor and milliner. By 1917, Mr. A.F. [Arthur Fred] Barker became the proprietor and Mrs. Barker remained the milliner. By 1919, the shop moved to 130-10th Street, across from the Strand Threatre, where it remained until c.1933.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by G. Baldock in 1971
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the store interior of West End Millinery & Dry Goods located on 130-10th Street. Coats are hanging from a rack, clothing is displayed on dress forms as well as on wooden tables that are lined up in the centre of the shop. The store's tin ceiling, light fixtures, and hardwood floors are visible.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Part of West End Millinery & Dry Goods 10th St across from Strand Theatre, 1922
The West End Millinery & Dry Goods shop appears in the 1914 Henderson's Brandon City Directory. The store was located in the Avenue Block at 1124 Rosser Avenue. Mrs. A. Barker was listed as the proprietor and milliner. By 1917, Mr. A.F. [Arthur Fred] Barker became the proprietor and Mrs. Barker remained the milliner. By 1919, the shop moved to 130-10th Street, across from the Strand Threatre, where it remained until c.1933.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by G. Baldock in 1971
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the store interior of West End Millinery & Dry Goods located on 130-10th Street. A shelving unit lines the wall and is filled with boxes, bolts of cloth, and yarns. Displays can be seen on the top of the shelves as well as on wooden tables that are lined up in the centre of the shop. The store's tin ceiling, light fixtures, panelling, radiators, and hardwood floors are visible.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 1/2 of West End Millinery & Dry Goods, 10th St across from Strand Theatre, 1922
Photograph has pen markings and publishing mark-up notes on front and back of matting
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the north side of the 900-block of Rosser Avenue, facing west from 9th Street. All the shops appear to be woodframed buildings; the sidewalk has yet to be installed and wooden planks have been laid down in front of the shops. Visible storefronts include: (left to right): Leask & Rose, general merchants (at the 11th Street intersect); Fortier & Bucke - Manufacturers' Agents and CPR Express Co.; The New Era - real estate office; Imperial Bank of Canada; Durand & Macdonald Law Office, T.D. McLean - jeweller; Deacon & Hooper - grocers; and J. Barker Vosburgh - Surgeon & Dentist. The building in the foreground has Rosser Avenue and 9th Street street signs affixed above the entrance to the building. A chuckwagon is parked in front of Fortier & Bucke.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Brandon.
According to G.F. Barker (Brandon: A City, 1977, 291), William (Billy) Muir worked at Coombs & Stewart's on Pacific Avenue until he opened his own grocery store in 1888. The shop was located at 143-6th Street, Brandon, and was demolished for a parking lot in 1952.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the "Wm. Muir General Grocer" building on 6th Street. Two men pose in the doorway of the store. The man on the left is likely William Muir. Barrels are lined on the boardwalk in front of the store. Apples and mason jars can be seen in the shop's windows.
Notes
Front of photograph reads: Sixth Street between Rosser - Princess. Back of photograph reads: Billy Muir's Store, 143 6th Street Brandon - 57 years in business in this location. An address label affixed to the back of the mat reads: Mrs. James Strath, Box 421, Souris, Man.
Photograph is stained and water damaged. A newspaper clipping about William (Billy) Muir is glued to the top left hand corner of the mat. The image is exfoliated in the right hand corner. The negative has been reverse printed.
History / Biographical
Coombs & Stewart opened the first general store in Brandon in 1881, which was located on 6th Street and Pacific Avenue. According to G.F. Barker (Brandon: A City, 1977, 291), William (Billy) Muir worked at the store until he opened his own grocery store in 1888.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the Coombs & Stewart general store located on the corner of Pacific Avenue and 6th Street. A group of men pose in front of the wood-framed store.
Notes
Back of photograph reads: One of first stores in Brandon, Coombs...[?]
Brandon Hardware Co. Ltd. founded in 1882, making it one of Brandon's earliest mercantiles. It was incorporated in 1902, and their location on Rosser Avenue at the corner of 7th Street was constructed in 1903. For a number of years, J.B. Curran was the managing director. The building was destroyed by fire in 1983.
Custodial History
Katy Singleton was given this photo in her role as Heritage Coordinator for the City of Brandon. She transferred it to the McKee Archives in 2013.
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of of the interior of the Brandon Hardware Co. Ltd. looking towards the front of the store from the back.
Brandon Hardware Co. Ltd. founded in 1882, making it one of Brandon's earliest mercantiles. It was incorporated in 1902, and their location on Rosser Avenue at the corner of 7th Street was constructed in 1903. For a number of years, J.B. Curran was the managing director. The building was destroyed by fire in 1983.
Custodial History
Katy Singleton was given this photo in her role as Heritage Coordinator for the City of Brandon. She transferred it to the McKee Archives in 2013.
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of of the interior of the Brandon Hardware Co. Ltd. looking towards the back of the store from the front.
Opened 1903. Closed 1923. Building became the Oak Theatre ca. 1930. Reopened as Towne Cinema ca. 1980 after being closed for many years. The building has since been demolished.
Scope and Content
Postcard shows the interior of the lunch counter and cashier register at Cafe Aagaard located at 29-8th Street Brandon.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Lunch Counter Cafe Aagaard, 29 Eigth St., Brandon, Man. The back of the postcard reads: Cafe Aagaard, Largest, Oldest and Best in Brandon. The postcard is addressed to Mrs. K.L. McGregor, 157-4th St.
Photograph was in possession of Mrs. Ruby Miles, who passed the image on to Fred McGuinness. McGuinness makes reference to Mrs. Miles and this photograph in his Sunbeams column (Brandon Sun 14 September 1978).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the interior of the Hanbury Manufacturing Co. Mill. Men identified in the photograph include: Mr. Tom McKenzie (right), Elden Darrow, and Jack Silliker.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mrs. R. Miles. Provenience and identifications obtained from Lawrence Stuckey collection.
The decorative ceiling and border are consistent with another photograph in the McGuinness collection (see 20-2009.78) in which Gordon Irwin is identified. According to Henderson's 1909 Brandon City Directory, Gordon Irwin - a barber - and tobacconist J.S. Rosby shared at storefront at 919 Rosser Avenue. This address is situated on the north side of Rosser Avenue, adjacent to a laneway. It is possible that the back of the shop overlooks the Grand Union Hotel on the corner of Pacific Avenue and 10th Street.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the interior of a store primarily selling pipes and cigars. An ornate tin ceiling and wallpaper border are evident. A barber shop area can be seen in the back of the shop near the exit.
Notes
Writing on the back reads: Harold Tackaberry says may have been Jory's or Waldron's, now part of Knowlton's. The handwriting is Fred McGuinness'.
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