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.
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.
This negative provides an excellent view of Rosser Avenue (looking east from 10th Street) in the early 20th century, and shows one of the first runs for Brandon's streetcar system.
This image was used as the cover image for Lee Clark's Brandon's Politics & Politicians.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Due to the increasing volume of long-distance auto traffic in the 1920's, the city designated the block between Hill & Queen's Avenues and 9th & 10th streets as a "Tourist Camp" with a few basic facilities. After the demise of the Brandon Municipal Railway, several of the old car bodies were placed in the Tourist Camp to be used as cooking & eating shelters. Some may have had sleeping accommodations. Later (ca. 1938?) several were placed in a row along the south side of Victoria Avenue, approximately 28th or 29th St, and were used as the city's first drive-in hamburger place, "The Train Drive-in". This, I believe, only lasted one or two summer seasons. LAS.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
See fonds level of the CKX records for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Image of the southside of the 1100 block of Rosser Avenue in winter. Visible are O.L. Harwood Ltd., the Key Kafe and Northern Auto Parts. The Perth's building, located in the 1200 block, can be seen on the righthand side in the background. A number of vehicles, a pedestrian and a man shovelling snow are also visible.
See fonds level of the CKX records for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Image of the southside of the 1000 and 1100 block of Rosser Avenue looking east in winter. Visible in the foregraound are O.L. Harwood Ltd., and the Key Kafe. Buildings in the 1000 block include: the Imperial Bank of Canada, the original Post Office and Federal Building and the original Merchants Bank. A number of pedestrians are also visible, as are Christmas decorations on the streetlights and telephone poles.
Photograph of west side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, facing northwest. Visible businesses in the Alexandra Block include Doig's, Box Brothers Hardware and Allied Hardware Stores, followed by Simpsons-Sears and Barry Neill Men's Wear in the Strathcona Block. The Johnny Smith Block is visible in the background.
Doig's, originally located on Rosser Avenue, moved to the 10th Street location in 1921.
Scope and Content
Photograph of west side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, facing northwest. Visible businesses in the Alexander Block include Doig's, Box Brothers Hardware and Allied Hardware Stores, followed by Simpsons-Sears and Barry Neill Men's Wear in the Strathcona Block. The Johnny Smith Block is visible in the background.