Erected in 1889, at 806 Rosser Avenue (the southeast corner of Rosser Avenue and 7th Street), the building was designed by Brandon architect W.H. Shillinglaw. At the time of its construction the structure housed the Nation Department Store, which became Nation & Shewan Department Store in 1894. One of Brandon’s largest and most successful drygoods businesses, the venture was owned and operated by Fred Nation and Alexander Shewan.
Built adjacent to an existing three storey brick building known as the A.D. Rankin Block (built sometime between 1885 and 1888), this smaller building was eventually absorbed by the Nation and Shewan Block after 1897, when Rankin Drygoods moved into the newly constructed Syndicate Block located farther east down Rosser Ave. Later, the Rankin Block became known as Nation Chambers. These two structures comprised what was known as the Nation and Shewan Block.
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 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 Metropolitan Stores Ltd began operating out of the Nation & Shewan Block.
In 2000, the Town Centre prepared to knock down what was then known as the Red Apple Building, the former 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.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows the front of the Nation & Shewan Block, which was located in the 800 block of Rosser Avenue on the southside.
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
Photograph shows renovations to the fourth floor of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall. Portions of the city, particularly Lorne Avenue, are visible from the opening in the wall.
Photograph shows renovations to the third floor of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall, including the new floor joists and the missing section of the wall.
View is south from the driveway in front of Clark Hall. Photograph shows roof renovations on the Brandon College Building. Citizens' Science Building and the John R. Brodie Science Centre are also visible.
Photograph of a proposed model for the Brandon College and Clark Hall renovations. Model shows the courtyard, the link, the skywalk and the new rear entrance.
Photograph of a proposed model for the Brandon College and Clark Hall renovations. Model shows the link, the skywalk, the A.E. McKenzie Building and part of the George T. Richardson Centre.
Photograph of a proposed model for the Brandon College and Clark Hall renovations. Photograph is looking down on the model, which shows the link, the skywalk, west side of Clark Hall and the Original Building and the courtyard.
View is southwest from the sidewalk in front of the building. Photograph shows the east side of the section of the building that connects the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall.
