The idea of the Keystone Centre was first mentioned in 1958, at a meeting of the board of directors of the Manitoba Winter Fair. The Manitoba Winter Fair wanted a new facility because the old Wheat City Arena had a leaking roof and a deteriorating west wall. The old facility also had limited space and the Winter Fair felt it needed more space for expansion. The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba also had problems with their facilities, such as old barns and poor display areas. The idea of the Keystone Centre was put on hold until 1969, when the boards of the Provincial Exhibition and the Manitoba Winter Fair joined together as the Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba and the Wheat City Arena was sold and demolished. The original estimate for the cost of the Keystone Centre facilities was $4.5 million and funding would be proportioned so that the federal and provincial governments would each put in one-third of the money, with the rest coming from local donations. The financial campaign for the Keystone Centre began in 1970, and construction began in November 1970. The grand opening of the Centre was in March 1973, and coincided with the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair of that year.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains many folders full of correspondence, financial statements, meeting minutes and other documents relating to the development and construction of the Keystone Centre from 1970-1974, including those from the Keystone Executive Committee, as well as the Building Committee. Fonds also contains one folder that pertains to the Brandon Area Agricultural Development Survey from 1959. This folder contains the names and locations of all farmers in the Brandon area in 1959. The Brandon Area Agricultural Development Survey was created in 1959, in order to make farming in the Brandon area more profitable. The survey was aided by Doane Agricultural Service from St. Louis, Missouri, who had success creating agricultural development programs in the United States. Fonds also contains folders from the Provincial Exhibition with correspondence, pamphlets, estimates, and studies from the 1960's. There is also one folder belonging to the Manitoba Winter Fair, which contains correspondence and financial statements relating to the Wheat City Arena. Fonds also contains information pertaining to the proposals made in the 1960's, for the building of the Keystone Centre, as well as one folder about the Keystone campaign from 1970-73. There is also one folder about the opening of the Keystone Centre, which contains newspaper clippings and guest lists. Finally, the fonds contains information about a court case involving Albert Bobyk and Robert Stewart. Stewart was the project manager for the Building Committee and Bobyk worked on the Keystone Center. The fonds includes a report about the trial of the two men who were charged with fraud involving their work on the Keystone Centre.
The Fairfax/Elgin United Church was formed in 1921, combining the Methodist (founded in 1889), and Presbyterian (founded in 1887) congregations in these communities. In 1968, the Elgin and Souris congregations joined and, in 1969, the original Elgin United Church was sold to the Fairfax Community Club.
Custodial History
The fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains minute books (1922-1968), account books (1953-1970), account statements (1966-68), one annual report (1967), and documents of insurance and property transfer (1960-1970) concerning the Fairfax/Elgin United Church.
Photograph shows construction on the basement of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall, including support beams, concrete walls, mounds of dirt and a number of workers.
Photograph shows what appears to be a flood in one of the hallways of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall after the interior walls had been framed out.
Photograph was taken from the basement looking up and shows support beams, two outer walls covered in vapor barrier plastic, some windows and the missing roof.
Photograph was taken from the basement looking up and shows support beams, an outer wall covered in vapor barrier plastic, some windows and the missing roof. The windows may be part of one of the stairwells.
Photograph was taken from inside the building looking out onto the courtyard. It shows scaffolding around the hole in the wall that would become the rear entrance to the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall.
Some of the photographs have discolored lines through them.
History / Biographical
Donkersloot began working at Brandon University in 1971 as the Clerk of Works. From 1973 until his retirement, he was the Director of Physical Plant.
Custodial History
Photographs were taken by Tom Donkersloot during construction and stored in albums in the Physical Plant H-Hut until they were transfered to the McKee Archives by Doug Duncalf in May 2008.
Scope and Content
Seventy seven photographs of the construction of the Education Building.
Notes
Donkersloot recorded the date and time each photograph was taken on the back of the photos.
Donkersloot began working at Brandon University in 1971 as the Clerk of Works. From 1973 until his retirement, he was the Director of Physical Plant.
Custodial History
Photographs were taken by Tom Donkersloot during construction and stored in albums in the Physical Plant H-Hut until they were transfered to the McKee Archives by Doug Duncalf in May 2008.
Scope and Content
Nineteen photographs of the construction of McMaster Hall.
Notes
Donkersloot recorded the date and time each photograph was taken on the back of the photos.
Excavated earth was loaded into a hopper, which itself was on a rail running a half block back. It was then dumped back to fill the trench where pipe installation had already been completed - Art Baker (of Art's Confectionery, NE 15th St. & Princess Ave.). This information was provided in response to a request in the Brandon Sun (Fred McGuinness) for further information.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon sewer line construction
Notes
View of Pacific Avenue, looking east from 5th Street
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