The first building was built in 1890 as a reformatory (on right).
A four-story structure (centre) was built in 1892 and the former reformatory became an administrative section. Together they became the Brandon Asylum for the Insane.
[A third building (on left) began construction in 1903. (P.E.)]
This complete set of buildings was destroyed by fire on November 4, 1910 (see file FA2).
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Seeking temporary housing, a parade of patients walked from the Brandon Asylum to the Winter Fair Building (located on the 500 block of 10th Street) the day after fire completely destroyed the asylum.
This photo shows the First Street Bridge as built and opened in 1909.
Note the pile of kegs next to the Empire Brewery. [The building was then] owned by Dave Weiss of Brandon Scrap Iron & Metals Recycling Co.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon asylum patients crossing the First Street Bridge
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
The Brandon Asylum for the Insane
Notes
The entire Brandon Asylum complex was completely destroyed. Patients were temporarily housed in the Winter Fair Building (located on the 500 block of 10th Street).
It is reported that the nearly 700 staff and patients were evacuated without any loss of life due to the fire itself (Refvik K. 1991. The Brandon Asylum Fire of 1910. Manitoba History, Number 21, Spring 1991).
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
CPR Ice House Fire with engine 701
Notes
This large ice house, located between the CPR tracks and Assiniboine Avenue at 3rd Street, was filled with blocks of ice from the Assiniboine River each winter. It had a long high platform for [loading ice blocks into] refrigerator cars, and also handled charcoal braziers for heating these same cars in winter. The new ice house structure that was built after this fire was much smaller, as it had an artificial ice plant.
With mechanically temperature-controlled cars replacing ice-cooled refrigerators, it was demolished in the 1970's.
This photograph shows how steam switch engines were used as fire engines. A hose carried in a box under the tender was fitted into a branch of the boiler feed pipe (discharge pipe). When the injector was turned on it gave a nozzle pressure of over 200 psi.
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
John E. Smith Block Fire
Notes
The John E. Smith Block was built in 1907.
Because of the fire, the building was badly gutted and the front wall bulged outward. As a result, the structure was condemned.
The Canadian Bank of Commerce had moved to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building at the corner of 8th Street & Rosser Avenue in mid-1960's, and their old building adjacent to Smith Block had since sat vacant. As a result, the stage was now set to clear the area where both buildings had stood for the construction of Scotia Tower. LAS.
[Mr. Stuckey put two negatives in same envelope, numbering them FA7 and FA7a. We have separated them.]
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
John E. Smith Block Fire - The Morning After
Notes
The John E. Smith Block was built in 1907.
Because of the fire, the building was badly gutted and the front wall bulged outward. As a result, the structure was condemned.
The Canadian Bank of Commerce had moved to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building at the corner of 8th Street & Rosser Avenue in mid-1960's, and their old building adjacent to Smith Block had since sat vacant. As a result, the stage was now set to clear the area where both buildings had stood for the construction of Scotia Tower. LAS.
[Mr. Stuckey put two negatives in same envelope, numbering them FA7 and FA7a. We have separated them.]
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Christie Building Fire
Notes
Located on the south side of the 800 block Rosser Ave.
Building was empty at the time and prepared for demolition for the new Gallery Mall. The fire was believed to be started by vandals, probably accidentally.
This photo also shows the Brandon Fire Department's (then) newest fire engine (see also file F21).
