The Brandon Collegiate was built in 1907 and officially opened in 1908. Architect W.A. Elliott designed the building, which was faced with brick from Wisconsin (order 65,000 bricks). Located at 527 Louise Avenue, it ceased to be Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI) in the summer of 1974. It was renamed New Era School on the recommendation of Marion Pye, who was a teacher at BCI in its last years. The name "New Era" was also the name of the BCI yearbook.
Custodial History
Sent to Fred McGuinness from Martin Kavanagh of Brandon.
Scope and Content
Photograph is an outdoor class picture of Brandon Collegiate Institute students standing on the front steps of the school.
Notes
History/bio information obtained from Lawrence Stuckey descriptions and the Manitoba Historical Society website. The negative for this photograph can be found in McG 1.2 File 19.
Given to Fred McGuinness by Stewart Tait (1912-1988) of Brandon.
Scope and Content
Photograph is an outdoor class picture of young students standing on the front steps of what appears to be Park School.
Notes
Mr. Tait provided Fred McGuinness with a photocopy of the photograph (see McG 1.2, file 19) on which he identified a number of students in his class, including: first/front row - Miss Fleming (fourth from right); second row - Stan Fraser (first from left), Stewart Tait (second on left), Mrs. Ron Relf (nee Stock?) (fourth on left); third row - Ed Bolton (fourth from left), G. Cranston (fifth from left), Ed McGill (offset, above G. Cranston), Mary McGregor, daughter of C.C. McGregor (third from right)
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard is an outdoor class photograph of the 1909-1910 Central School Grade 8 class. The girls are wearing dresses and the boys suits and ties. School principal, Bedford A. Tingley, lays in front of the class.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Grade VIII, Teacher, B.A. Tingely [sic.], Allena Coombs
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts an outdoor class picture of the 1908-1909 Central School Grade 7 class. The class is posing outside of the school. The girls are wearing dresses and bows in their hair. The boys are wearing suits and ties. Teacher Naomi Moore stands to the right of the class.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Grade VII, Teacher, Naomi Moore, Allena Coombs, 1908-1909.
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts an outdoor class photograph of the 1907-1908 Central School Grade 6 class. The class is posing outside of the school. The girls are wearing dresses and the boys are wearing suits and ties.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Grade VI, Allena Coombs, 1907-1908.
Postcard has two thumb tack holes in its corners, bottom left corner is creased, face of one student is blotted out.
History / Biographical
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts an outdoor class photograph of the 1906-1907 Central School Grade 5? class. The class is posing outside of the school. The girls are wearing dresses and boots. Most of the boys are wearing suits and ties.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Allena Coombs, 1906-1907. All the students' names are listed. The class teacher is identified as Miss [Nettie?] Harrison.
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a large group of men, women and children posing in a park. A man in a WWI Canadian uniform is standing in the back row, left-hand side.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Methodist Mission Sunday School Picnic taken in the Assiboine [sic.] Park. 1st 1915. 1915. Mr. Hugh Connolly Minister, Mr. Fred Denstedt, Teacher. Miss Hornbrook, Bible Class teacher. Mr. John Davies, Choir Leader. Mrs. Foreman in the center in dark dress the oldest member & four babies. Mrs. E. Harden, 33-10th Street N., City.
Photograph shows the exterior of the Winter Fair Arena on 10th Street.
Notes
Part of "Souvenir of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada [viewbook], Printed by Photogelatine Engraving Co. Limited, Ottawa." Dates obtained from the Burchill's Music Store Henderson's Brandon City Directory listings (1927-1929). Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Winter Fair Arena, 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, along which sewer pipe is being laid. Visible buildings and businesses include: The Fleming Block with Lowes Brothers Clothing and Manitoba Farmers Hedge and Wire Fence Company, the Beaubier Block and its Empire Hotel, A.M. Percival (a grocer), the Brandon Hardware Company (600 block), and the Arlington Hotel (500 block) are visible along the north side of the avenue. The Bank of Hamilton Building is on the southeast corner of 8th Street and Rosser Avenue.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: 290. Page appears to be from a photo album.
According to G.F. Barker (Brandon: A City, 1977, 291), William (Billy) Muir worked at Coombs & Stewart's on Pacific Avenue until he opened his own grocery store in 1888. The shop was located at 143-6th Street, Brandon, and was demolished for a parking lot in 1952.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the "Wm. Muir General Grocer" building on 6th Street. Two men pose in the doorway of the store. The man on the left is likely William Muir. Barrels are lined on the boardwalk in front of the store. Apples and mason jars can be seen in the shop's windows.
Notes
Front of photograph reads: Sixth Street between Rosser - Princess. Back of photograph reads: Billy Muir's Store, 143 6th Street Brandon - 57 years in business in this location. An address label affixed to the back of the mat reads: Mrs. James Strath, Box 421, Souris, Man.
Opened 1903. Closed 1923. Building became the Oak Theatre ca. 1930. Reopened as Towne Cinema ca. 1980 after being closed for many years. The building has since been demolished.
Scope and Content
Postcard shows the interior of the lunch counter and cashier register at Cafe Aagaard located at 29-8th Street Brandon.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Lunch Counter Cafe Aagaard, 29 Eigth St., Brandon, Man. The back of the postcard reads: Cafe Aagaard, Largest, Oldest and Best in Brandon. The postcard is addressed to Mrs. K.L. McGregor, 157-4th St.
Photograph is stained and water damaged. A newspaper clipping about William (Billy) Muir is glued to the top left hand corner of the mat. The image is exfoliated in the right hand corner. The negative has been reverse printed.
History / Biographical
Coombs & Stewart opened the first general store in Brandon in 1881, which was located on 6th Street and Pacific Avenue. According to G.F. Barker (Brandon: A City, 1977, 291), William (Billy) Muir worked at the store until he opened his own grocery store in 1888.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the Coombs & Stewart general store located on the corner of Pacific Avenue and 6th Street. A group of men pose in front of the wood-framed store.
Notes
Back of photograph reads: One of first stores in Brandon, Coombs...[?]
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.
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).
Postcard has graphite smudge on the top right corner of image
History / Biographical
Wheat City Business College was established in 1904, when J.W. Beveridge and F.E. Werry resigned from the Commercial Department of Brandon College to establish the Wheat City Business College. It was located originally on the top floor of the Commercial Building at 143-10th Street, owned by Hughes and Co. Wheat City Business College continued to operate until the later 1960s. In 1911, the Henderson's Brandon City Directory lists the following teachers on staff: Mamie J. Macdougall, John B. Sample, John H. Snyder, Nettie M. Werry, and F.A. Wood (principal).
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts the 1911 class of the Wheat City Business College. Students include: O. Mutrie, E. Mailey, J.W. Belcher, S. Downey, H.R. Dustan, G. Greaves, D. Burden, C.J. Howey, M. Madder, A. Mills, E. Ballantyne, E. Lang, A. Binnie, L. Trent, M. Clark, E. Robertson, T. Ortenburg, A. Barnes, W.B. Grainger, V. Sanderson, H. Smith, E. Horror, M. Deacon, J. Smith, S. Gardiner, C.D. McMillan, N. Barss, E.J. Scott, M. McEwen, A. Scott, W. Naser, J. Cope, M. Trotman, J. Jackson, M. Gurr, P. McChesney, A.H. Andrews, M. Agnew, R.N. Truman, L. Cameron, T.C. Taylor, G. McClement, A. Armour, M. Drake, D. Chambers, M. Bourke, W.M. McGregor, Miss. McIlmoyle, J. Tendeck, G. McChesney, J.B. Stephens, O. Thornborough, A. Connor, H. Teale, E. Karr, P. Borland, J. Middleton, M. McIlmoyle, F.A. Wood, Principal D. Chambers, M.I. McGregor, B. McDougall, M. Maxwell, W. Crane, M. Vandeau, A. Lee, A. Hargreaves, H. Gimby, J. English, A. Coombes, H.J. McAnerin, M.C. Green, A.M. McGuinness, A.E. Shingfield, R. Blanshard, C. Goldstone, R. Heyden, Q. Oliver, N. Sterling, E. Cohen, V.E. Potter, H. Bellamy, Miss Pattison, Miss N. Werry, Miss. McQuarrie, J.H. Snyder, Miss M. MacDougall, Mr. J.S. Sample, Miss Lowry, A. Standal, G. Kennedy, C. Stojanosski, J. Elliott, M. Stnartk, R. Rewand, J. Mcneill, A. Kirchner, E. Green, E. Barnett, C.H. Howey, W. Main, M. Trew, M. Livingstone, B. Donaldson, A. Miller, J. Irwin, P. Brooks, R. Frank, S.A. Brown, B. Isman, M. Spearin, S. Thorsteinson, Miss Watson, J.A. McDonald, E. Zachary,S. Baglole, C. O'Brien, M. Thompson, F. Bockus, J. Hudama, E. Thompson, F. Shanks, M. Morrison, E. Cookman, ?.S. Wedderburn, E. Robinovitch, M. Maskew, C.A. Sharpe, M. Dack, M. Cossar, L. Grassie, I. Porteous, L. Markell, G. Burden, O. Paget, L. Cunningham, H.P. Hilton, F. Neilly, M.C. Feedman, E.F. Dixon
Notes
Back of postcard reads: A HAPPY XMAS./ and A very propersous / NEW YEAR / F.A. Wood [Principal of the Wheat City Business College]. Postcard is addressed to Miss Allena Coombs, Box 628, City, and has a cancelled one cent green King George stamp postmarked December 23, 1911, Brandon, Man.
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).
Photograph was in possession of Mrs. Ruby Miles, who passed the image on to Fred McGuinness. McGuinness makes reference to Mrs. Miles and this photograph in his Sunbeams column (Brandon Sun 14 September 1978).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the interior of the Hanbury Manufacturing Co. Mill. Men identified in the photograph include: Mr. Tom McKenzie (right), Elden Darrow, and Jack Silliker.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mrs. R. Miles. Provenience and identifications obtained from Lawrence Stuckey collection.
