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 building near the back of the train was the original Salvation Army Citadel. Built in 1889, it was purchased by Wm. Graham in 1910 and moved to the west side of the 300 block of 10th St. It had to be moved to build the Prince Edward Hotel and eventually became part of "Billy" Graham's dance hall.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Northern Pacific and Manitoba Railway engine No. 5, with passenger train
[This station, located 13 km north of Brandon on the east side of PTH 10, was] built in the early 1930s to replace Knox as the CNR’s mainline station for Brandon. All passenger trains stopped and buses operated between the CNR’s Brandon station and Brandon North to meet all trains. It was enlarged as shown here in late 1930s, and at peak operation in the 1940s & 1950s saw six daily passenger trains 1 - 2 & 3 - 4 “Continental Limited” and 11 - 12 locals. VIA trains 3 and 4 "Supercontinental" ceased operation Nov. 15, 1981 leaving no passenger service on the former Grand Trunk Pacific mainline of CNR [at that time]. This station was demolished in the fall of 1982.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Photograph shows the east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba. The Strand Theatre marquee shows "Gidget" starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson. Other businesses in the Strand Block include: Ted Heming Jewellers, Waddell's, and Metropolitan Life.
Notes
Photograph dated from "Gidget," the movie playing at the Strand Theatre
Photograph of east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, between Rosser and Princess Avenues. Visible businesses include: The Bank of Montreal, Barclay's Shoe Store, Carlton Cafe (in the former Cigar Factory), and Ted Heming Jewellers. The McKenzie Seed building is visible in the background.
Photograph shows the east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, between Rosser and Princess Avenues. Businesses visible in the Brown Block include (from north to south): Singer, Pittsburgh Paint & Glass, O. Stark & Son, Elna Sewing Centre, and Canadian Pacific Telegraphs. The Prince Edward Hotel is visible in the background.
Photograph shows the northwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. Traffic on the west side of Princess Avenue appears to travelling both ways. A taxi waits at the intersection.
Above the west entrance on the corner building is an electric sign that spells "Hughes Bldg." A second storey has been added to the portion of the Doig's shop that is adjacent to the Alexandra Block.
Photograph shows Ted Heming Jewellers on the east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, with the Strand Theatre to the south of the building complex. Other visible businesses in the Strand Block include: Hughes & Co. Ltd., Smart's Stationery, Waddell's, and Metropolitan Life.
Notes
Photograph dated from "Gidget," the movie playing at the Strand Theatre
Photograph shows Western Motors Ltd. on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. Anglo gas station is part of the car shop, which sells GM, Chevrolet, and Oldsmobiles.
Hutchings' Drugs is on the ground floor of the Hughes Building on the northwest corner of 10th Street and Princess. Manufacturers Life occupies the second storey.
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