This negative provides an excellent view of Rosser Avenue (looking east from 10th Street) in the early 20th century, and shows one of the first runs for Brandon's streetcar system.
This image was used as the cover image for Lee Clark's Brandon's Politics & Politicians.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Due to the increasing volume of long-distance auto traffic in the 1920's, the city designated the block between Hill & Queen's Avenues and 9th & 10th streets as a "Tourist Camp" with a few basic facilities. After the demise of the Brandon Municipal Railway, several of the old car bodies were placed in the Tourist Camp to be used as cooking & eating shelters. Some may have had sleeping accommodations. Later (ca. 1938?) several were placed in a row along the south side of Victoria Avenue, approximately 28th or 29th St, and were used as the city's first drive-in hamburger place, "The Train Drive-in". This, I believe, only lasted one or two summer seasons. LAS.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Excavated earth was loaded into a hopper, which itself was on a rail running a half block back. It was then dumped back to fill the trench where pipe installation had already been completed - Art Baker (of Art's Confectionery, NE 15th St. & Princess Ave.). This information was provided in response to a request in the Brandon Sun (Fred McGuinness) for further information.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon sewer line construction
Notes
View of Pacific Avenue, looking east from 5th Street
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.
