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 was taken on the staircase landing and shows two newel posts (without newel caps), the handrails, baserails and spindles for one of the staircases in the Brandon College Building prior to staining.
Photograph was taken on the staircase landing (possibly on the main floor) and shows two of the original newel posts (with newel caps) and the baserails, but without the handrails and spindles, for one of the staircases in the Brandon College Building or Clark Hall.
Photograph shows approximately six newel posts salvaged from the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall that were reused during the renovation of the buildings.
Some of the photographs have discolored lines through them.
History / Biographical
Donkersloot began working at Brandon University in 1971 as the Clerk of Works. From 1973 until his retirement, he was the Director of Physical Plant.
Custodial History
Photographs were taken by Tom Donkersloot during construction and stored in albums in the Physical Plant H-Hut until they were transfered to the McKee Archives by Doug Duncalf in May 2008.
Scope and Content
Seventy seven photographs of the construction of the Education Building.
Notes
Donkersloot recorded the date and time each photograph was taken on the back of the photos.
Item is a print of the County Council of County of Brandon made by Stuckey. Back Row (L-R): Reeve Pettit of Daly Municipality; Reeve Clegg of Elton Municipality; Reeve Whitehead of Cournwallis Municipality. Front Row (L-R): Reeve Steele of Glenwood Municipality; W.A. Macdonald, County Solicitor (Justice Supreme Court of British Columbia); Reeve Hannah of Whitehead Municipality; J. Weatherall, County Clerk; J.H. Brownlee, County Engineer.
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
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