The Anglican Church first became active in Virden in 1882. At that time services were held in the home of one of the parishioners. In August of 1885, the Canadian North West Land Company gave the Anglican community a parcel of land at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Queen Street. In December of 1885, a wood frame Church was constructed on the property. The parish of St. Mary the Virgin was officially created on April 20, 1886
The original church remained on the site until 1891, at which time it was sold and removed. The present church was then constructed on the site using field stones from the Assiniboine River valley. The stones were hauled to the site, split and put in position.. Construction began in 1892, with the corner stone being laid by Mrs. Nina Gertrude Watts, wife of the rector. A tin box containing newspapers, building plans and other items was also placed in the foundation at that time.
It is believed that the building's architect, Walter Chesterson of Winnipeg, designed St. Mary's from a small church located on the Isle of Wight.. The resulting structure is a basilica styled Church with a large stone tower at the south east corner, numerous stained glass windows and beautiful woodwork throughout.
It took some years to completely pay off the debt incurred in building, but the congregation persisted and as a result, the church was consecrated in 1905 by the Archbishop of Rupert's Land, the Right Reverend Samuel Prichard Matheson.
Since then, there have been additions built onto the original building, but during each expansion, great care was taken to preserve the look and feel of the original building. Included in these expansions were a fieldstone fence, the addition of a clostier and a entension of the roof to protect the sidewalk. The last major work done was upgrading the foundation under the tower. This was finished in the late 1970's.
The church is located at 633 9th Avenue South.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the church and manse.
Notes
Corresponds with negative RA - CPR Broadview Sub [41a]. There is a common misconception that this house was the Anglican manse. Although it was built around the same time, it was never owned by the church and was always a private residence. (Source: Natalie Griffith, Virden resident). History/Bio information taken from the St. Mary's Anglican Church history page on the Community of Virden website, available at: http://virden.cimnet.ca/cim/187C2_3T178T4T628T5T1176.dhtm (August 7, 2008).
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Dr. Fleming arrived May 1881 and set up his drugstore “Apothecaries Hall” in a tent. Fleming was the first medical man in Brandon, first to agitate for a hospital, and first chairman of the school board. He died November 1897.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Murdock Bros. store interior
Notes
[Located at 886 Rosser Avenue; This negative was created using a pre-existing published image. The caption on the published image reads "Murdock Bros. Wholesale and Retail Furniture and Crockery Emporium". (P.E. 17/06/09)]
This store, the first established in Brandon (June 12, 1881), was erected on the southeast corner of 6th St. & Pacific Avenue, facing Pacific.
Coombs and Steward later opened a store on the northeast corner of 9th St. & Rosser Ave.
Billy Muir was Coombs & Stewart's first clerk. He later opened a store of his own on the west side of the 100 block of 6th St., which he operated for nearly 50 years. (I was often a customer as a kid - LAS). Billy Muir closed his 6th Street store June 1945 (Brandon Sun). [See E18]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Muir started as a clerk for Coombs & Stewart in 1882, went into business for himself 1888 and was still operating in 1938. He closed his 6th Street store in June of 1945 (Brandon Sun).
Muir was a good friend of my pioneer grandfather, Sam Gilmour, who lived a block up the street, and as a small boy I spent many nickels in this store (LAS).
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Wm. "Billy" Muir & grocery store
Notes
Located on the west side of the 100 block of 6th St.
This photo presented by Wm. Muir to Martin Kavanagh and donated to collection of Assiniboine Historical Society.
The Hughes block was built in 1916. It is located on the east side of the 100 block of 10th Street. The Strand Theatre opened November 27, 1916, and showed the city's first "talking" picture December 14, 1929. The Clark Smith Studio, to the right of the Strand sign, had been in the same approximate location since 1907, and eventually moved into the new building. The studio was purchased from Clark J. Smith by L.A. Stuckey on January 1, 1958.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
The Hughes block was built in 1916. It is located on the east side of the 100 block of 10th Street. The Strand Theatre opened November 27, 1916, and showed the city's first "talking" picture December 14, 1929. The Clark Smith Studio, to the right of the Strand sign, had been in the same approximate location since 1907, and eventually moved into the new building. The studio was purchased from Clark J. Smith by L.A. Stuckey on January 1, 1958.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
The Hughes block was built in 1916. It is located on the east side of the 100 block of 10th Street. The Strand Theatre opened November 27, 1916, and showed the city's first "talking" picture December 14, 1929. The Clark Smith Studio, to the right of the Strand sign, had been in the same approximate location since 1907, and eventually moved into the new building. The studio was purchased from Clark J. Smith by L.A. Stuckey on January 1, 1958.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.