Joseph Henry Hughes was born in London, Ontario on April 14, 1857, son of Joseph C. Hughes and Jane McAndless. His family farmed in Middlesex County until they retired to Brandon, MB. Huges received his education in Middlesex County then went on to attend the Toronto Normal School in 1874. He tuaght for only a short time in 1875 before going into business as a general merchant in Iderton, Ontario.
Hughes moved to Brandon, MB in 1882 and from 1882 to 1906 was engaged in the lumber business with yards in Rat Portage and Brandon and later with mils on Rainy River. His buisness partner was T.H. Patrick from 1882-1896. T.T. Atkinson was a partner in the business from 1882 until early 1888, running the company's lumber camp in the Rainy River Valley. Atkinson was replaced by a Mr. Kennedy in 1888. After disposing of the mills in 1901, Hughes & Company operated as a lumber dealer until 1908 when the lumber business was sold to Rat Portage Lumber Co., whose operations in Brandon were located on 10th Street between Rosser and Princess Avenues.
Thereafter, Hughes & Company focused on real estate, owning most of the property between 10th and 11th Streets, Rosser and Princess Avenues. The company built rental property and residences in Brandon, including the Strathcona Block on 10th Street and Hughes (Lorne) Terrace on Lorne Avenue. During this period Hughes & Company was also involved in insurance and farming, buying farmland in south eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba for lease and sale.
Hughes was a city alderman for four years, dedicating himself mostly towards improvements to the city pertaining to electrical generation, water supply and the development of the streetcar franchise. In 1911, he resigned from City Council to stand as a successful candidate for mayor. He held this position for only one year, 1913-1914. During this period Hughes, along with other prominent citizens, set up the Patriotic Fund to help look after the dependents of those going off to fight in World War I. Hughes served as chairman of the project until his death in late 1917.
In addition to his role as a prominent city businessman, Hughes was also deeply involved in the First Methodist Church, and a member of the Independent Order of OddFellows (I.O.O.F.) and the Masonic Lodge.
Joseph Henry Hughes was survived by his wife Anna Maria Hughes, whom he married in 1993, and their daughters: Alma and May (Mrs. Wilfred C. Hughes and Mrs. Charles Leemnnis) and Ruth, and their sons Percy and Harley.
Upon J.H. Hughes' death in 1917, management of the company was taken over by Willard C. Hughes, who died in 1964. Following his death the company was administered on behalf of Alma Hughes by Barry Hughes, a Winnipeg lawyer and distant relative. The company remained active in real estate and property managment, as well as farming and oil, until the early 1990s when following the death of Alma Hughes and her daughter Anna, the company was liquidated.
Custodial History
The records in the Joseph H. Hughes fonds were held in two locations prior to their donation to the McKee Archives. Family related records, including paintings by Anna Hughes, music scores, photographs and various parchments, were stored at the family residence, Lorne Terrace (133-137 Lorne Avenue Brandon, MB). The balance of the records, being the records of Hughes & Co. as the firm came to be known, were stored on the fourth floor of the Alexander Block, also known as the Hughes Block, on the west side of 10th Street just south of Princess Avenue. In the early 1990s a decision was taken by Barry Hughes, who had succeeded Willard Hughes as the President of the company, to sell Hughes & Co. Hughes directed Joe Perry, the Brandon manager of Hughes & Co. to donate the records of the Hughes family and Hughes & Co. to Brandon Univeristy. Perry supervised the transfer of the records from Lorne Terrace and the Alexander Block to Brandon University. Initially the records were located in the Physical Plant H-Hut, they were then transfered to the Brandon University Steam Plant. The family records were transfered to the Archives in 1997, while the company records remained in the Steam Plant until January 2007 when some of the records were transfered to the Archives. The remaineder of the records were moved to a storage facility on 20th Street.
Scope and Content
The Joseph H. Hughes collection is divided into three series, including: (1) Photographs; (2) Edwardian music sheets; and (3) Hughes & Co. business records.
Notes
CAIN No. 202617. The Brandon Sun, August 6th, 1917 contains a report on the death of J.H. Hughes.
Photograph shows a canvas tent boarding house and wooden shack advertising soup, meat, and bread for 25 cents and hot tea and coffee. A man wearing a vest is standing in the doorway of the shack. Another man wearing a three-piece suit and hat is seated on a seat at the corner of the structure while another man wearing an apron leans against the shack. Clothes can be seen drying on the surface of the large canvas tent.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Between 5th and 6th Street, Pacific Avenue opposite old CPR Station, April 1882. Photograph is stamped Public Archives Canada.
Vivian, Riley & Gardside were painters who had an outfit on the east side of 8th Street between Pacific and Rosser Avenues (G.F. Barker, Brandon: A City 1881-1961, Altona: Friesens, 4a)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a five men in three-piece suits and hats standing before canvas tents.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Vivian, Riley & Gardside Outfit, "The Gang" Brandon, 14th Street, August 1882. Photograph is stamped Public Archives Canada.
The Original Brandon Fire Hall was located on the east half of the north side of the 600-block of Princess Avenue. The hall was in operation from 1884 to 1911.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Brandon's first fire hall on Princess Avenue. The hose tower and stable are visible. The horse-drawn ladder wagon is parked on the street in front of the hall and the rescue ladder is extended against the tower. Five firefighters are standing on the ladder and two are standing at its base.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mrs. E. Harden, 6th Street
The Original Brandon Fire Hall was located on the east half of the north side of the 600-block of Princess Avenue. The hall was in operation from 1884 to 1911.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Brandon's first fire hall on Princess Avenue facing east. The hose tower and stables are visible. The three horse-drawn ladder wagon is parked is on the right. Pairs of horses are harnessed to two hose wagons. A dog sits on the street before the parked wagons.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 1903 or 1905, "First Fire Hall," Princess Avenue, Brandon, Man.
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
Scope and Content
Photograph shows street view of north side of Rosser Avenue, primarily the 700 block. Horse and buggies are travelling on the avenue and pedestrians fill the sidewalks. Union Jacks and English flags are mounted from the windows on the Fleming and Beaubier blocks. Flag banners are drapped across Rosser Avenue. Businesses visible in the Fleming Block include: Lowes Brothers Clothing and Spring Park Nurseries. Businesses visible in the Beaubier Block include the Empire Hotel. Businesses east of the Empire Hotel are grocer A.M. Percival and the Brandon Hardware Company. An advertisement for the Northern Bank is affixed to a telephone pole on the southside of the street.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: July 1 1906, 314. One photograph (20-2009.8) is glued below and another, 20-2009.6, is glued on the reverse side. Page appears to be from a photo album.
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the wooden exterior of Brandon Fire Hall No. 2 before it was covered with a brick veneer. The firemen are standing outside the bay doors which are open and blocked with rope. The hose wagon and ladder wagon are parked inside the building. The harnesses for the horses are suspended from the ceiling.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: Mrs. Ed Harden. No. 2 Firehall, 600 Block 11th Street, Brandon, Man. This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Notes
Photograph shows two horse-drawn fire wagons in front of the Brandon Fire Station No. 2. One wagon has a hose, the other wagon has an extension ladder. Fireman Ed Harden is on the reins of the ladder truck (right). Writing on the back of photograph reads: Contributed by Mrs. Ed Harden. 6th Street North, 11th & McTavish Ave, Fire Hall - now School Bd office.
This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
According the 1911 Henderson's Brandon City Directory, the Brandon Fire Department - headquartered at Seventh Street and Princess Avenue - had 16 permanent firemen. For equipment the department had one steamer, two chemicals, two hose wagons, one hose reel, one aerial aldder, one hook and ladder wagon, and 10 horses. The city had 34 electric fire alarm boxes and 114 fire hydrants. The pumping station had a capacity of 3.5 million gallons in 24 hours. By 1913, the Brandon Fire Department had 19 permanent employees on its roster and added 2 more horses as well as an 80 horsepower combination motor truck.
Notes
Photograph shows a pictorial nominal roll of the 18 members of the 1912 Brandon Fire Department. A logo of crossed hoses, axes, ladder, and helmet adorn the centre of the photo. The Cornell Trophy for the Brandon Fire Brigade is pictured at the top centre. Photos of two building fires are featured at the top corners. The Central Fire Hall and No. 2 Fire Hall are pictured at the bottom corners.
Members include: D. McDonald, T. Flowers, E. Harden, J. Adams, J. Daniel, Lt. A. Mowat, T. Calder, A.E. Elborne (secretary), F. Benson, A. Mair?, T. Dunnett, A. Flett, J. Todd, Lt. G. Taylor, M. Watson, A. Thomas [Calder?], Capt. R. Daley, Chief J. Melhuish, Eng. E. Boyes. Also pictured are Mayor J.W. Fleming and Alderman C.B.Coleman (chairman).
Photograph was removed from a photo album. Photograph is ripped.
History / Biographical
According the 1911 Henderson's Brandon City Directory, the Brandon Fire Department - headquartered at Seventh Street and Princess Avenue - had 16 permanent firemen. For equipment the department had one steamer, two chemicals, two hose wagons, one hose reel, one aerial aldder, one hook and ladder wagon, and 10 horses. The city had 34 electric fire alarm boxes and 114 fire hydrants. The pumping station had a capacity of 3.5 million gallons in 24 hours. By 1914, the Brandon Fire Department had 19 permanent employees on its roster and added 2 more horses as well as an 80 horsepower combination motor truck.
Custodial History
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows two horse-drawn fire wagons in front of the Brandon Fire Station No. 2. One wagon has a hose, the other wagon has an extension ladder.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: Ed Harden, Driver on the left, 1914, 11th McTavish. This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
Photograph was removed from a photo album. Photograph is creased and has tape residue.
Custodial History
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the interior of Brandon Fire Hall No. 2. The wagon engines are in the foreground. The firemen stand in the background, holding the bridles of the horses that are standing at the entrances of their stalls. The interior of the hall shows a brick floor and tin ceiling. Stairs lead to a wooden door that is likely the entrance to the living quarters and offices on the second floor.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: Ed Harden, Driver on the left, 1914, 11th McTavish. This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
Scope and Content
Photograph shows street view of north side of Rosser Avenue, primarily the 700 block. Horse and buggies are travelling on the avenue and pedestrians fill the sidewalks. Union Jacks and English flags are mounted from the windows on the Fleming and Beaubier blocks. Flag banners are drapped across Rosser Avenue. Businesses visible in the Fleming Block include: Lowes Brothers Clothing and Spring Park Nurseries. Businesses visible in the Beaubier Block include the Empire Hotel. Businesses east of the Empire Hotel are grocer A.M. Percival and the Brandon Hardware Company. An advertisement for the Northern Bank is affixed to a telephone pole on the southside of the street. The street is lined with litter and a number of dogs can be seen roaming the area.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: 313 July 1906. One photograph (20-2009.8) is glued below and another, 20-2009.6, is glued on the reverse side. Page appears to be from a photo album.
Very good. Some of the letters written in pencil are a little faded.
History / Biographical
Ruth Alverda Wade was born born July 11, 1912 in Brandon, MB to James and Etta Alverda. She had two younger siblings: sister Gwen and brother Sherry. The Wade family resided at 1837 Princess Avenue, Brandon, MB. Ruth graduated from Brandon College with the Class of 1933.
During her time at Brandon College Ruth met Archie MacLachlan. Archibald James MacLachlan was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in 1907. He had four brothers: Howard, Edgar, Bruce, Curly and Stirling. When Archie was quite young the MacLachlan family moved to Alberta. Archie came to Brandon c. 1930 to attend Brandon College. During the summers of his years at Brandon College Archie held pastoral charges in Alberta. The first two summers were spent in the Peace River Country and the second two in Etzikom in Southern Alberta. This is the period during which the letters in the fonds were written.
Ruth Wade married Archie MacLachlan on September 19, 1934 in Brandon, MB. Following the wedding the couple moved to Hamilton, ON. Archie graduated from McMaster University with his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1937. During this period their daughter Joann Ruth was born. After his ordination as a Baptist Minister the family moved to North Bay where Archie was minister for four years. The next six years were spent in Vancouver as Archie worked as minister at Fairview Baptist Church in Vancouver. The couple's sons Archibald James and Lachlan Wade were also born during this period.
At the end of the Second World War Archie decided to go back to school. The family travelled to Brandon, where Ruth and the children remained for part of a year while Archie went ahead to Andover Newton to enroll and find a parish that would support him while he went to school. The family was reunited in Penacook, New Hampshire; they lived there for two years while Archie completed his Masters in Sacred Theology. After a brief additional period of study at Harvard University, the MacLachlan family returned to Canada, settling in Toronto while Archie finished his second Masters degree (Psychology) and held positions as interim minister and then assistant minister at York Minster Church. Following the two years in Toronto they moved to Winnipeg.
Eventually Archie left the church ministry and became Chaplain at the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital. He also continuted to train students in Pastoral Education through the courses he had begun at the Divinity College of McMaster University. He remained at the Hospital until his retirement.
During their married life Ruth was kept busy raising the couple's children and with her work as a minister's wife, particularly her work in the community. She sat on a number of community boards, including positions as President of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec and a member of the Board of Governors for McMaster University's Divinity School.
Ruth MacLachlan died on October 29, 1983 in Missassauga, ON.
Archie married Kathleen Marie (Green) French (b. January 22, 1908, d. June 1, 1998) on June 20, 1987. Archie MacLachlan died in December 1997.
Custodial History
Records were in the possession of Ruth and Archie MacLachlan until their deaths. At that time the records were inherited by their daughter Joann. Joann MacLachlan donated the records to the McKee Archives on October 24, 2009 at a donation event held as part of Homecoming 2009.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of approximately 197 letters written by Ruth and Archie to each other during the spring and summers of 1932, 1933 and 1934. The letters were written during the courtship of the couple and contain details not only on about their lives in Brandon and Alberta but also more personal information about their relationship, families and future plans. Because Ruth and Archie were students at Brandon College during this period the letters also often reflect on events and personalities related to the College, as well as their own personal studies.
Fonds also contains a scrapbook compiled by Ruth during her Brandon College years. It includes photographs, newspaper clippings, graduation cards, event programs, place cards and other ephemera. There are also a few miscellaneous documents - McMaster University examination papers, handwritten sheet music, postcards - that appear to have belonged to Archie. Fonds also contains a graduation photograph of Ruth.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry. History/Bio information taken from Joann MacLachlan's book Ruth and Archie: Brandon and Brandon College 1932-1934.
Ruth and Archie's daughter Joann edited the letters into a book entitled Ruth and Archie: Brandon and Brandon College 1932-1934. A copy of the book is located in the Rare Book collection of the John E. Robbins Library, Brandon University.
William Ridley Sheridan Wade collection (28-2007)
Arrangement
The letters are arranged in chronological order with all of Archie's letters to Ruth for a particular year grouped together, followed by Ruth's letters to Archie for that same year. For preservation purposes photographs in the scrapbook have been removed and placed in photograph storage, with their corresponding scrapbook page number noted on the back. Because of the fragile condition of the scrapbook a note has been made concerning the original location of many items that have become detached from their original location in the scrapbook. These items remain with the remnants of the scrapbook in one archival housing. Note that Ruth did not place items on every page so the numbering is not sequential for scrapbook items. Some items were loose at the back of the scrapbook and therefore have no corresponding page number.
Eleanor Kidd Park (est. 1977) is situated on 18th Street North, on the south side of the Assiniboine River, and east of the Thompson twinned bridge. The park was the former site of an animal shelter overseen by Eleanor Kidd. Adjacent to the park are the Eleanor Kidd Gardens, which contains performance and fountain plazas. The sites have been subjected to heavy flooding from 2011 to 2015.
Eleanor Maud Kidd (nee Death) (b.05 Aug 1881, d. 11 July 1978) was born in London, England. She trained as a nurse/midwife at the Liverpool Children's Hospital and worked as a private nurse for affluent families in Italy. She immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in Portage la Prairie where she worked as a public health nurse. She ultimately settled in Brandon where she married barber William Wesley Kidd (1873-1951) on November 24, 1921. Mrs. Kidd is credited with incorporating the Brandon SPCA/Humane Society in 1947. She died in Brandon, Manitoba, and is interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery. (sources: Brandon Sun 12 July 1978; Brandon Sun 13 July 1978; Manitoba Vital Statistics)
Custodial History
Photograph courtesy of Dirk Aberson
Scope and Content
Photograph is a close-up of Eleanor Kidd posing in front of the Elanor Kidd Park sign.
The construction of the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium was considered first during a meeting of the Brandon City Council in 1953. In 1962, the City of Brandon was given permission by Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin to proceed with the construction of the auditorium as a centennial project to celebrate Canada's centennial in 1967. Constructed on the Brandon University campus, the auditorium was completed in early 1969.
Custodial History
This collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Previous custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of one scrapbook with newspaper clippings and pamphlets about the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium and its construction.
A.E. McKenzie was born in Wilcox Lake, York County, Ontario in 1870 to F.B. and Maria (Carley) McKenzie. His family came to Manitoba in 1883. He was educated in Brandon, Manitoba and graduated from the Collegiate Institute at age 21. In 1897 he founded the Brandon Seed House. McKenzie was present at the cornerstone-laying ceremony of Brandon College on Juy 13, 1900. From that moment on, he was very involved in the College, first as an interested businessman, and later as a member of its Board of Directors. In 1902, McKenzie married Laura Bell in Port Arthur. They had two daughters, Marjorie Bell and Kathleen. In 1906 the Brandon Seed House was incorporated and from then on was known as the "A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.."
McKenzie became a member of the Brandon College Endowment Committee in 1918. The following year he was on the Finance Committee. By 1925, McKenzie was a member of the Board of Directors. In 1928, he was part of a syndicate that advised the Baptist Union that they were developing an endowment plan to provide continuing financial support to the College and talked the Union into providing $10 000 towards the accumulated deficit.
In 1931, McKenzie organized the Brandon Board of Trade to help save Brandon College when the Baptists said they could no longer afford to keep the College. After the By-law failed, he helped to organize the Brandon Citizen’s Campaign to raise enough money so that the College could open the following year.
When the Baptists withdrew support in 1938, McKenzie was one of the central figures on the Brandon Board of Trade that decided to save the College from closure. A representative delegation from Southwestern Manitoba of over 60 men descended upon Premier Bracken’s office to try and convince him to help the College. On June 12, 1938 McKenzie said he would set up a $100 000 endowment to Brandon College. He subsequently raised this amount to $300 000. On August 1, 1938 the Board of Trade launched a campaign to raise $15 000 to match what the government was prepared to offer the College. McKenzie was asked to provide Brandon College with $3000 personally. In September of 1938, McKenzie upped his endowment once more to $500 000. The fund raising worked however, and the chater establishing Brandon College Incorporated was assented to on April 17, 1939. On June 6, 1939 a by-law was again presented to the citizens of Brandon, and fortunately it passed.
In 1941, McKenzie received an honorary L.L.D. from the University of Manitoba. The A.E. McKenzie Foundation was created in 1945 by the provincial government, who had assumed 90% of the A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. stock.
On September 25, 1964 McKenzie died at the age of 94. He never retired, but worked full time until two weeks before his death. The funeral was held in the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre. The Arts and Library Building at Brandon College was completed in 1960, and is known as the A.E. McKenzie building, in honour of the man who contributed so much time, effort and financial help to the College during a crucial period in its history.
Custodial History
Records were accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
A.E. McKenizie’s records in the Brandon College fonds are very useful from an administrative point of view. Because McKenzie was so involved in Brandon College from the very beginning until his death in 1964, it is easy to understand how the College Administration arrived at decisions. There is correspondence between McKenzie and various regarding College and Board of Director business. There are Brandon College financial statements and letters regarding the A.E. McKenzie Foundation. The records contain newspaper clippings, pamphlets and lists of names of members of various Brandon organizations. As well, McKenzie has letters regarding Building Expansion in the 1940’s and minutes of Board of Director meetings. There are also several photographs. One photograph is the 1919 graduation picture of Zoe Hough. Another is tentatively identified as Frances Wolverton, also of the Class of 1919. There are two more photographs of unidentified young women.
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Mrs. Marian Gray of Brandon, September 13, 1978.
Scope and Content
Postcard shows the West End Park (also known as Stanley Park) and Park School. The school was situated on the southwest corner of Lorne Avenue. A couple of residences surround the school. Walking paths, a park bench, and a gazebo/grandstand can be seen in the park.
Notes
Front of postcard reads: Published for Christie's Book Store, Brandon, Man., 6350. Back of postcard reads: Canadian Souvenir Post Card, Warwick Brothers & Rutter, Limited, Printers, Toronto. The postcard is addressed to Miss Isabella Heastwell of Broderick, Saskatchewan, and is dated July 14, 1910.
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 large crowds surrounding a stone cairn draped in American and Union Jack flags. According to the International Peace Garden website, the pictured cairn was built from stones gathered from Manitoba and North Dakota. The crowds gathered for the 1932 dedication of the International Peace Garden.
Notes
The back of the photograph is stamped: Enameloid Velox Print by the Jul 27 1932, Chicago Postal Photo Supplies, Regina, Sask.
