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
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 (Source: F.A. Rosser, "Another interesting chat with a daughter of the plains," Brandon Sun 18 Aug 1981).
Scope and Content
Photograph allegedly shows the Wheat City Business College graduating class standing outside a woodframed building in the winter. Affixed to the building are posters/advertisements that read: Happyland, Monday July 30 [1906?]. A banner spelling Happyland in large block letters hangs above the building's door that is numbered 209. Surrounding the banner are the red ensign/Dominion of Canada flags.
The students are wearing long wintercoats with fur collars, some are wearing fur hats. The men appear to have ribbons pinned to their lapels. On the left of the photograph, a group of three female students are sitting in a horse-drawn sleigh and have fur robes on their laps. On the right, a number of students are standing on a horse-drawn sled. Two individuals can be seen holding megaphones, another student is holding a basketball.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 1909, Tenth Street and Princess. Two yellow labels are affixed to the back of the photograph. one reads: graduating class, Wheat City Business College. The other reads Mrs. K.L. McGregor, 157-4th St.
Image submitted to Fred McGuinness by T. Horobin of Brandon
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a man, perhaps an engineer standing next to a Brandon Municipal Railway car covered in snow. A Brandon Municipal Railway token/tag is affixed to the image.
Brient was a point along the Algoma Central Railway line that connected the Helen Mine to the Michipicoten Harbour. It is located southwest of Wawa, Ontario.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows several men standing on railway tracks before a wood-framed train station in the winter. A sign attached to the station reads: British American Express Co. The man in the foreground appears to have a mailbag over on his back and several newspapers tucked beneath his arm.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: station at Brient
Bunclody, MB was located near Souris, MB. The bridge in question crossed the Souris River.
Custodial History
Photograph was donated by a "Mrs. Wilson" in 1989.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows railroad tracks (presumably Great Northern Railway tracks near Bunclody) during winter. Also visible are an elevator, outbuildings and part of a train sitting beside the tracks.
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