Murray's Garage opened in 1932 by Melvin Earl Murray. Before it's opening in 1932 the building was used as a truck and storage facility, the business opened for automotive sales after Earl Murray had recieved a contract by General Motors in 1932. The first sale of a vehicle occurred in 1933 when a customer from Winnipeg bought a Pontiac vehicle. During the first few years of operation Earl Murray served as the Office Manager, Parts Manager, and Salesman but in 1934 an additional contract with the International Harvester Co. giving license to the additional sale of farm equipment. This new expansion resulted in the hiring of other staff to handle Parts and Service while the sales of the farm machinery remained Earl's responsibility.
The business aquired many contracts over the course of its existence as such new propoerties were aquired to allow for this expansions and new additions were added to the original building. When the new addition was near completion an explosion occured which resulted in 100% loss of the original building as well as all the contents it enclosed. Luckily, the fire department was able to save most of the new addition. A sizable loan was required for the buisness to rebuild after this disaster. Once the business was open again, car sales, need for parts, and service volume increased resulting in the complete recovery of the buisness.
In 1940 due to the war the purchase of new vehicles was limited to emergency service. It was at this time that General Motors added the Cheverolet-Oldsmobile to their contracts. Shortly after this a tornado hit the building causing substantial damage however it was soon repaired and business resumed.
Earl's son, Gerald, had worked in the business since his return from the war in 1945. He schooled in in Flint Michigan at a General Motors Business Institute to assist his father with the business. In 1960 Gerald took a course in Detroit Michigan in a Post Graduate School of Modern Merchandising and Management. After his completion of this course Gerald moved back to Neepawa and took of the position of Sales Manager at his fathers garage. The business was later renamed Murray's of Neepawa in 1964 when Earl handed the keys to the business over to his son Gerald.
Custodial History
See Fonds level description for custodial history
Scope and Content
Image is of Murray's Garage exterior view. The photo was taken from across the street. There are a series of signs on the building "Firestone" on the peak of the building, "Murray's used cars" on the roof, and "Murrays Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Trucks" down the front of the building above the main entrance. Murray's Garage appears to be next to a Texaco station.
Notes
Description by Jillian Combs. Information from Manitoba Hisotrical Society
Donkersloot began working at Brandon University in 1970/1971 as the Clerk of Works. From 1973 until his retirement, he was the Director of Physical Plant.
The 1960s campus expansion necessitated a large, updated heat source so a central steam plant fueled by coal was built north of the campus adjacent to the CPR rail lines on Pacific Avenue. A 25-year agreement was made between the University and John R. Brodie of the Great West Coal Company, which guaranteed BU lower coal prices tendered by the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways on an annual basis. Brandon College Engineer John Kasiurak officially opened the Heating Plant on 24 January 1962. An extension and/or upgrade of the steam plant appears to have occurred in 1970.
Until the 1990s, heat was piped underground to the campus from the Pacific Avenue Heating Plant but inspection standards were outpacing the maintenance and repairs required to keep the plant operating smoothly. Consequently, a new steam plant was built immediately adjacent to the University to the west of Darrach Hall on 20th Street. This building was essential to handling additional loads from the proposed library expansion. The original steam plant was subsequently sold.
Custodial History
Photograph was 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
Photograph shows the roof of Brandon University's coal steam plant at 20th Street and Pacific Avenue, as well as the residential area nearby. The photograph appears to be looking west.
Notes
Donkersloot recorded the date and time each photograph was taken on the back of the photos.
Library Reading Room, 2nd floor McKenzie Building. Tour of library by members of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church associated with gifts of funds. L Father Rudachek, 2nd from L Helen Harris, front row: girl on left ___ Zwednicki
book stacks on mezzanine. Tour of the Robbins Library by members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (associated with presentation of funds) L to R 1) Helen Harris, 2),3),4),5), Father Rudachek, etc.
Periodicals section as equipped in the early 1970's. Basement Floor, MacKenzie. Tour of Robbins Library by members of St. Mary's Roman (sic) Catholic Church – associated with a gift of funds to the Library
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