Erected in 1889, on the southeast corner of Rosser Avenue and 7th Street at 806 Rosser Avenue, this block was designed by Brandon architect W.H. Shillinglaw. At the time of its construction the structure housed the Nation & Shewan Department Store, one of Brandon’s largest and most successful drygoods businesses, owned and operated by Fred Nation and Alexander Shewan.
Major improvements were made to the store and an annex was added in 1910. Some of the renovation additions included, but were not limited to, an updated frontage with new copper sash windows and prismatic glass tops, plate glass windows, new fixtures and carpet. With the renovations the floor space of the business was to be almost doubled. The stock of the business also increased, with the Brandon Weekly Sun reporting that when finished, Nation & Shewan would be a “store of which the citizens of Brandon will be justly proud.” The drygoods firm operated until Nation’s death 1926, when it became known as A. Shewan Limited. From 1933 to 1944, the business was known as Shewan and Son. Shortly thereafter, the Metroplitan Stores Ltd began operating out of the Nation & Shewan Block.
In 2000, the Town Centre prepared to knock down the Red Apple Building, formerly the Nation & Shewan Block. The demolition was to make way for the new atrium and entrance for the mall, and begin a new period of redevelopment at the downtown shopping centre.
[History/Bio written by Christy Henry (SJ McKee Archives) and Eileen Trott (Daly House Museum), researched by Morganna Maylon, for 2015 photographic exhibition "Gowen's Brandon: Then and Now".]
Custodial History
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a display of women's clothing and accessories in the window at Nation & Shewan. A sign reads: 1914 Spring Opening commences on Wednesday March 25th.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mrs. E. Harden, 33-10th St., City. According to the Henderson's Brandon City Directories, Catharine "Kate" Harden (nee Chalmers) worked as a cashier at Nation & Shewan from 1913 to 1914.
John Taylor McGregor was born on January 6, 1904 in North Brandon, in the RM of Elton. He received his education at Grand Valley School, Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI) and Brandon College. John began farming in 1926, and continued until 1969. During his farming years he also worked as a steam engineer at Shilo. He retired to Brandon. John was a member of Toastmasters No. 293, the Assiboine Historical Society and a founding member of the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame. He also contributed to Daly House Museum and wrote many pioneer stories, some of which were published by the Brandon Sun. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Brandon.
John married Clara Louise Barber (1901-1965) in 1936. Following her death, he married Brandon school teacher Isabelle Johnston (1907-1989). There were no children for either couple. John McGregor died on December 21, 1988 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with John McGregor about agriculture and the McGregor family history. Interviewer is Frank Anderson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and obituaries for Johh, Isabelle and Clara McGregor. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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Thomas Roy Bailey was born on September 5, 1915 on the family farm in the RM of North Cypress. He attended school in the PRosser District before taking over the farm in 1945. In 1970, he hosted the Royal Family on the family farm. Roy married Nora Elizabeth Froom (1921-1986) on October 11, 1941 and together they had three sons: Alan, Brian and Douglas. Following Nora's death, Roy married Edith Lillian Oliver Ranson (1915-2002) in 1988.
Roy spent his lifetime contributing in various ways to his community, in both Carberry and the North Cypress. He served on Municipal Council, Carberry Development Corporation, Vegetable Growers Association, Hospital Board and United Church Board of Stewards and Session. He took a leadership role in starting the growing of potatoes in the area, constructing the Carberry Plains Lodge, the Carberry Plains Recreation Centre and also helped to design the Sandhills Golf Course. Roy was a life member of the Oddfellows and Rebekahs. He was inducted into the Mantioba Agricultural Hall of Game and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Carberry Chamber of Commerce. He was actively involved with his family, the drop in centre, and enjoyed playing golf. T. Roy Bailey died on January 30, 2011 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Carberry Plains Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an interview with T. Roy Bailey about farming, 1926-1983. Interviewer is Charles Turner.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Carberry local histories "Carberry Plains, Century One" and "People of the big plains" as well as Bailey's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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File consists of correspondence, a copy of a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Municipal Affairs, Province of Manitoba and Brandon College, pertaining to conducting a Migrant Adjustment Study related to Municipalities of Manitoba and memos.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 4: Office of the Vice-President
4.2 Office of the Vice-President (Administration & Finance)
Box 2
