Photograph of 10th Street facing north from Princess Avenue. Vehicles are parallel parked on both sides of the street. The Welcome Brandon sign can be seen at the Rosser Avenue intersection.
Visible businesses on the west side of 10th Street include: Doig's, Box Brothers Hardware and Allied Hardware Stores in the Alexandra Block; followed by Simpsons-Sears in the Strathcona Block. Barry Neill Men's Wear, Kresge's and the Cecil Hotel are also visible. The Johnny Smith Block is visible in the background.
Visible businesses on the east side of 10th Street include: Ollies Steaks and Chops, Elna Sewing Centre, Carlton Cafe, Chop Suey. At the base of the hill the Canadian Pacific train station is visible at the base of the hill.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Tenth St. Brandon, Man.
Murray's Garage opened in 1932 by Melvin Earl Murray. The business was later renamed Murray's of Neepawa in 1964.
Custodial History
See Fonds level description for custodial history
Scope and Content
Murray's Garage opened in 1932 by Melvin Earl Murray. Before it's opening in 1932 the building was used as a truck and storage facility, the business opened for automotive sales after Earl Murray had recieved a contract by General Motors in 1932. The first sale of a vehicle occurred in 1933 when a customer from Winnipeg bought a Pontiac vehicle. During the first few years of operation Earl Murray served as the Office Manager, Parts Manager, and Salesman. In 1934 an additional contract with the International Harvester Co. giving license to the additional sale of farm equipment. This new expansion resulted in the hiring of other staff to handle Parts and Service while the sales of the farm machinery remained Earl's responsibility.
The business aquired many contracts over the course of its existence as such new propoerties were aquired to allow for this expansions and new additions were added to the original building. When the new addition was near completion an explosion occured which resulted in 100% loss of the original building as well as all the contents it enclosed. Luckily, the fire department was able to save most of the new addition. A sizable loan was required for the buisness to rebuild after this disaster. Once the business was open again, car sales, need for parts, and service volume increased resulting in the complete recovery of the buisness.
In 1940 due to the war the purchase of new vehicles was limited to emergency service, it was at this time that General Motors added the Cheverolet-Oldsmobile to their contracts. Shortly after this a tornado hit the building causing substantial damage however it was soon repaired and business resumed.
Earl's son, Gerald, had worked in the business since his return from the war in 1945. He schooled in in Flint Michigan at a General Motors Business Institute to assist his father with the business. In 1960 Gerald took a course in Detroit Michigan in a Post Graduate School of Modern Merchandising and Management. After his completion of this course Gerald moved back to Neepawa and took of the position of Sales Manager at his fathers garage. The business was later renamed Murray's of Neepawa in 1964 when Earl handed the keys to the business over to his son Gerald.
Notes
Description by Jillian Combs. Information from Manitoba Hisotrical Society,
Photograph of the northeast corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue facing northeast. An Imperial Esso Dealer is situated on the southeast corner. On the northeast side the following businesses are visible: Thunderbird Bowl, Canadian Pacific Telegraphs, Pittsburgh Paint & Glass, The Strand Theatre, Trans Canada Credit Loans, Ted Heming Jewellers, Carlton Cafe, Barclay Shoe Store, Chamber of Commerce, United Cafe, and Chop Suey. An billboard for 2 Way drink is mounted on the former Campbell's Furniture Building. A sign for the Manitoba CAA Motor League hangs from a business on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. Traffic on Princess Avenue, on the east side of 10th Street, is travelling one-way.
Photograph of the northeast corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue facing northeast. An Imperial Esso Dealer is situated on the southeast corner. On the northeast side the following businesses are visible: Thunderbird Bowl, Canadian Pacific Telegraphs, Pittsburgh Paint & Glass, The Strand Theatre, Trans Canada Credit Loans, Ted Heming Jewellers, Carlton Cafe, Barclay Shoe Store, Chamber of Commerce, United Cafe, and Chop Suey. An billboard for 2 Way drink is mounted on the former Campbell's Furniture Building. A sign for the Manitoba CAA Motor League hangs from a business on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. Traffic on Princess Avenue, on the east side of 10th Street, is travelling one-way.
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