According to Russ Gourluck (Silver Screens on the Prairie, Winnipeg: Great Plains Publications, 2012, 26), the Orpheum Theatre was in operation from 1917 to 1920 when it then became the Willis Theatre.
Scope and Content
Postcard shows the 100 block of 10th Street facing north. The CPR train station can be seen at the end of 10th Street. The sign for the Rex Cafe is visible on the west side of 10th Street. On the east side of 10th Street, billboards for Campbell & Campbell furniture are visible as well as signs for Pianos and the Orpheum Theatre. Motorists and cyclists share the road. Street car tracks run the length of 10th Street.
Notes
Postcard was manufactured by T.B. [Tichnor Brothers, Inc., 1908-1987] Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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 a horse drawn wagon advertising Cowan's Cocoa. The Gilmore Advertising Company of Toronto appears to be responsible for the ad and the wagon is numbered "No.4". Three men appear in the photograph: one behind the reigns, one in the rear seat of the wagon, and other standing at the rear axel.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: Pringle & Booth, 181 George Street, Toronto. Writing on the back of the photograph matting reads: Mrs. R. Miles, R.J. Brdgdon?, Right Side 2.50 a day.
Date obtained from http://photographersofontario.ca
Given to Fred McGuinness by George Creighton, 1980?
Scope and Content
Photograph shows two men seated in a sleigh pulled by two oxen. Behind the men is a wooden building with a M.H. & L Co. Ltd. sign on its side.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph reads: 7.3.80. file family letters. picture of dad's store at Hamiota. M.H.& L. > Manitoba Hardware & Lumber Co. George Creighton gave me this. McG.
Photograph shows a panorama, bird's-eye-view of downtown Brandon, between Pacific and Rosser Avenues and 7th Street facing east. Photoraph likely taken from the McKenzie Seeds Building. Visible businesses include: Western Canada Flour Mills, Hanbury Hardware Co. Ltd., Cockshutt Plow Co., New Pacific Hotel, Gordon McKay Building, and Arlington Hotel.
Notes
Part of "Souvenir of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada [viewbook], Printed by Photogelatine Engraving Co. Limited, Ottawa." Dates obtained from the Burchill's Music Store Henderson's Brandon City Directory listings (1927-1929). Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Panorama of Brandon, Man.
Photograph shows members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Brandon City Lodge No.6 parading down a street, possibly Portage Avenue in Winnipeg. Spectators line the street. Visible storefronts include: Central Barber Shop, The Royal Bank of Canada, and Liggetts Drug Store.
Notes
Back of photograph is stamped: The Star Photo Studio, 490 Main Street, Winnipeg, Sep 23, 1931
The International Peace Garden is situated on the international border between Manitoba and North Dakota, adjacent to the Canadian Border Services Boissevain port of entry and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency's Dunseith port of entry. The dedication for the International Peace Garden was held on July 14, 1932. It was estimated that 50,000 people were in attendance on opening day. The park is 9.5-square kilometers or 3.54-square miles.
Custodial History
Pictures were sent to Fred McGuinness in 1970 from E.M. Bergson of Brandon.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the crowded parking lot at the International Peace Garden's 1932 dedication ceremony. People mill amongst the automobiles and tents can be seen in the background.
Notes
The back of the photograph is stamped: Enameloid Velox Print by the Jul 27 1932, Chicago Postal Photo Supplies, Regina, Sask.
Fred McGuinness is popularly known for his work as the prairie essayist for CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski, a position he held for 17 years. Many of McGuinness’ Morningside essays were autobiographical in nature. He often reported about life on Christmas Tree Farm, a section of land where he and his wife, Christine, built their dream home in the late 1970s. The couple planted a Christmas tree farm on the property and Christine maintained an extensive kitchen garden, while Fred tended honey bees. Life on the farm made its way into radiobroadcasts, Neighborly News columns, and the book "Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays" (Winnipeg: Great Plains Publishing, 1999).
Scope and Content
Set consists of 8 negatives showing a delivery of saplings to the McGuinness property, Christmas Tree Farm, Section 17
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 ore box cars in a railway yard.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: yard at Brient
Trembley 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 railroad tracks. A line of ore cars stretch along one track. Writing on the side of one of the cars (#3017) reads: Algoma Central Railway Co.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: Trembley - Ore Cars
Postcard shows the grandstand and race track located at the Exhibition Grounds (now the site of the Keystone Centre/Westman Communications Place) in the south end of Brandon, Manitoba. The bleachers are filled with people and spectators also line the fence alongside the track. Five harness racers are making their way along the track. An observation tower and possible gazebo for dignitaries is located inside the track.
Notes
The back of the postcard is address to Mrs. Sharpe of Banff, Alberta. A green King George One Cent stamp has been postmarked Sault Ste. Maire, Ont., July 6, 1910. The message reads: Lake Superior, My dear. How are you? Glad you are charmed with B. don't get too fat. Tell Mrs. Coates my state room companion is Miss Rutherford of B. Coll: she got on at Port Arthur. Having a lovely trip. It was hard parting at B. .......Address 14 Deer Park, Toronto. Postcard manufactured by Stedman Bros. Ltd., Brantford, Canada. S.B. 2376. Made in Germany.
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
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
In 1901, American entrepreneur Francis Hector Clergue (1856-1939) obtained the charter for the Ontario, Hudson Bay and Western Railway. Following his purchase, he reincoporated the Algoma Central Railway to the Algoma Central and Hudson's Bay Railway. (Source: Sault St. Mairie Public Library, "Transportation - Algoma Central Railway," Sault History Online, 2008)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows railroad tracks cutting through the Canadian Shield.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: Algoma Central & Hundson Bay Ry.
The Lake Talbot tresle was a point along the Algoma Central Railway line that connected the Helen Mine to the Michipicoten Harbour. It is located north of Wawa and southwest of the Helen Mine.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows several men walking a railway line. Before them is a tresle bridge.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: Lake Talbott Tresle [sic.]
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...[?]
Photograph is a studio portrait of a men's lacrosse team. Two men are in suits and the remainder of the players are wearing striped sweaters and the goalie is wearing pads.
Notes
John Brodie is possibly in the photograph, back row, second from the left. Photograph date obtained from time period in which Rosetta Ernestine Carr worked in Winnipeg. (Source: Virginia G. Berry, “WATSON, ROSETTA ERNESTINE,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 17, 2015, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/watson_rosetta_ernestine_13E.html.)
The 1930 Brandon City Softball League winners were the Western Grocers. They played against the Kinsmen on 12 September 1930 for the title. (Source Brandon Daily Sun 11 September 1930)
Custodial History
Photograph given to Fred McGuinness byJack Stothard?
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a men's softball team posing in the studio with their coach. A catcher's mitt and glove and baseball bats are artifully arranged before the team.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: E. Baily, Reg. Smith, Leo, Hap Buchanan, Tony Burneski, Arinovitch, Novary Trophy 1930 Western Grocers Donated. Archie Clark.
Postcard shows a street scene of Donald Street looking south from the Portage Avenue Intersection.
Notes
Writing on the back of the postcard reads: Aug 9, Dear ruth, Aunt Eva, Aunt Annie and Fred were over to the bowlnig greens tonight. Every one fine. Doddy. Postcard is addressed to Ruth McGuinness, 337-17th St., Brandon, Man. Postmarked: Winnipeg 12 PM Aug 10 1927 Man.
