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.
Photograph shows two women at a tractor. One is cranking the engine, the other is seated at the wheel.
Notes
Writing on back of photograph reads: "Threshing. Blights Farm Willow Creek at Chater. My mother at crank. Now over 90 living at 403-12th Street. G. Baldock 1971. 1925."
Brandon College established a Canadian Officer Training Corps (COTC) program in 1916 and had enough students for a platoon that would join the 196th Western Universities Battalion's B Company. COTC logs for in the SJ McKee Archives show that at least 40 men regularly attended classes on campus during the 1916 winter term.
The Brandon Daily Sun published the names of 60 potential platoon recruits before they headed to Camp Hughes to train in the summer of 1916. Although Lt. J.R.C. Evans spearheaded the training of the COTC enlistees at Brandon College, he was found medically unfit for overseas service. In his stead, the son of the college's founder, Lt. William Carey McKee, lead the platoon to Camp Hughes where they joined the 196th Battalion. Of the 60 recruits identified in the local paper, 20 would not survive the war, including Lt. McKee. [ST/2016]
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of 40 men wearing WWI uniforms. The men have the Canada general service cap badge on their headdress. The officer in the centre of the group (i.e., the man with the cane) is J.R.C. Evans. The group of men are likely members of the first Brandon College Platoon, which joined the 196th Western Universities Battalion.
Stuckey's notes: This bridge was built by CPR and given to the city in 1904 because CPR wanted to close the very dangerous 6th Street crossing. Original negative. Collection of George H. Harris Winnipeg, Man.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking west southwest from the north side of the tracks towards the 8th Street Bridge. In the background: Train Station, McKenzie Seeds.
Notes
Corresponds with negative 1-2002.3.9.BF3.
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
After demise of the streetcars, a transit system was started by MacArthur Transportation Co. with three routes, an east end loop, a south end loop, and a west end loop, with terminal at 8th St. & Rosser Ave. The E & W was operated as a continuous route with two locally built coach bodies on new Maple Leaf trucks. A secondhand, larger, Leland coach was acquired for the S. end, which was replaced by a large GMC about 1938.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Storage Location
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Arrangement
[Mr. Stuckey put one negative in an envelope and taped the print to the outside of the envelope. We have separated them and numbered the negative CA20(1) and the print CA20(1a).]
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Storage Location
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Arrangement
[Mr. Stuckey put one negative in an envelope and taped the print to the outside of the envelope. We have separated them and numbered the negative CA20(1) and the print CA20(1a).]
During the mid-1930s the economy and popularity of light, fast passenger trains were proven in the USA by the Burlington’s "Zephyr", the Rock Island’s "Rocket", and the Milwaukee Road’s "Hiawatha". In 1936 the CPR built engines 3000-3004, designing each to haul a lightweight baggage car and three day coaches. Before being assigned to "The Chinook" between Calgary and Edmonton, engine 3001 and its train made an extensive publicity tour of western Canada.
[Built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1936, this class of five F2a 4-4-4 locomotives (3000 - 3004) were named "Jubilee" type in honour of the 50th anniversary of CPR transcontinental service. P.E.]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
CPR streamlined engine No. 3001 & train
Notes
Canadian Pacific Railway's first streamlined engine [class] on display in Brandon
Copy negative LAS with permission
[Mr. Stuckey numbered two envelopes P24. We have kept the same number but designated the first envelope P24(1) and the second envelope P24(2).]
During the mid-1930s the economy and popularity of light, fast passenger trains were proven in the USA by the Burlington’s "Zephyr", the Rock Island’s "Rocket", and the Milwaukee Road’s "Hiawatha". In 1936 the CPR built engines 3000-3004, designing each to haul a lightweight baggage car and three day coaches. Before being assigned to "The Chinook" between Calgary and Edmonton, engine 3001 and its train made an extensive publicity tour of western Canada.
[Built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1936, this class of five F2a 4-4-4 locomotives (3000 - 3004) were named "Jubilee" type in honour of the 50th anniversary of CPR transcontinental service. P.E.]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
CPR streamlined engine No. 3001 & train
Notes
Canadian Pacific Railway's first streamlined engine [class] on display in Brandon.
Mrs. McVicar was Brandon's/Grand Valley's first postmistress. Biographical details about Mrs. McVicar can be found in a newspaper clipping [F.A. ROSSER, “Sunbeams – The Birds Dived Down Like Fighters on Gopher,” Brandon Sun, September 16, 1978, 3] in McG 4.1 File 67.
Custodial History
Photograph was brought to Fred McGuinness by Owen Anderson of Cypress River, Manitoba.
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of Mrs. McVicar sitting outside of her home in Texas.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph consists of greetings and salutations to the unknown recipients. Photograph "finished by Edrington's Studio, Weslaco, Texas."
Postcard is bent, inked stained, and has emulsion artifacts
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a wood-framed bungalow with ornamental woodwork on the porch and roof. The home has a wooden picket fence. A woman and child are seated on one side of the ballustrade and a woman in an overcoat and hat is seated on either side of the ballustrade. Neighbouring homes are also visible.
Crack down vertical length of the photo just to the right of centre
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the members of Brandon College's first year academic class, 1909-1910. The motto of the class was “Labor Omnia Vincit”
Top Row (L to R): E. Vicksburg; W.J. Roddick; A.S. Young; W.A. Branton; B.A. Toger; and A. McPherson.
Second Row (L to R): E.G. Cambridge; E.M. Irwin; L.J. Powers; B.A Fletcher; Dr. A.P. McDiarmid; I.A. Wright; F.H. Rogers; I. Drummond; and G.C. Cumming.
Third Row (L to R): R. Wood; V.L. Duncan; A.A. Pinder; D.A. McGibbon (Sup’r); Dr. S. J. McKee; G. Ruttan; G. Kelly; E.W. Osborne; and O. Larson.
Fourth Row (L to R): R. Lang; A.T. Andrews; W.M. Courtice; K. Sinclair; K.B. Cole; J. Curtis (President); R. Hutchison; E. Gimby; O. deMille; A. Mooney; and C.M. Strome.
Bottom Row (L to R): I.R. Graham; L.J. Cross; O. Nordine; B. deMille; B. Lane; and J.W. Pickard.
Seeking temporary housing, a parade of patients walked from the Brandon Asylum to the Winter Fair Building (located on the 500 block of 10th Street) the day after fire completely destroyed the asylum.
This photo shows the First Street Bridge as built and opened in 1909.
Note the pile of kegs next to the Empire Brewery. [The building was then] owned by Dave Weiss of Brandon Scrap Iron & Metals Recycling Co.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon asylum patients crossing the First Street Bridge
Photograph shows CNR train No.44 carrying loads of lumber. Engineers pose with the locomotive. Several men pose on the railway tracks. Snow and ice appear in the ditch.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph reads: The First of Several Trains of Lumber for HUGHES & CO., Via C.N.R., Brandon, Man. Photograph is stamped on the back: Huhges & Co. Ltd., 1009 Princess Ave., Brandon, Man.
For biographical information on Sarah Persis Darrach see RG 1 Brandon College fonds, Series 9: Clark Hall women's residence.
Custodial History
See collection level description of the Maureen Johnson collection (10-2009) for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Group photograph of four nurses and one male military officer standing in front of a brick building in England where Sarah Persis Johnson was stationed. Johnson is standing on the far right.