A plaque that accompanied the photograph and has since been discarded read: John R. Brodie, 1879-1962. Athlete, industrialist, and philanthropist. Resided in Brandon 1902-1920. Founded Great West Coal Company 1912. Contributed $250,000 to Brandon College, 1961, and left the college ¼ interest in his estate. Negative is located with the photograph.
View is northwest, taken from the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Photograph shows: Citizens' Science Building in the foreground, the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall in the background, as well as the driveway in front of the buildings.
Donkersloot began working at Brandon University in 1970/1971 as the Clerk of Works. From 1973 until his retirement, he was the Director of Physical Plant.
The 1960s campus expansion necessitated a large, updated heat source so a central steam plant fueled by coal was built north of the campus adjacent to the CPR rail lines on Pacific Avenue. A 25-year agreement was made between the University and John R. Brodie of the Great West Coal Company, which guaranteed BU lower coal prices tendered by the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways on an annual basis. Brandon College Engineer John Kasiurak officially opened the Heating Plant on 24 January 1962. An extension and/or upgrade of the steam plant appears to have occurred in 1970.
Until the 1990s, heat was piped underground to the campus from the Pacific Avenue Heating Plant but inspection standards were outpacing the maintenance and repairs required to keep the plant operating smoothly. Consequently, a new steam plant was built immediately adjacent to the University to the west of Darrach Hall on 20th Street. This building was essential to handling additional loads from the proposed library expansion. The original steam plant was subsequently sold.
Custodial History
Photograph was 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
Photograph shows the roof of Brandon University's coal steam plant at 20th Street and Pacific Avenue, as well as the residential area nearby. The photograph appears to be looking west.
Notes
Donkersloot recorded the date and time each photograph was taken on the back of the photos.
View is southwest from approximately Princess Avenue and 17th Street. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus in fall, as well as the southwest portion of the city.
View is south southwest from approximatley the east corner of 18th Street and Princess Avenue. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, Earl Oxford school and a number of residential blocks, particularly southwest of 18th Street.
View is southeast from approximatley 23rd Street and Rosser Avenue. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, Earl Oxford school, the Fair Grounds (including the Grandstand and Racetrack) and a number of residential blocks, particularly in the southeast part of the city.
View is west from 17th Street between Louise and Princess Avenues. Photograph shows the Brandon University Campus, Fleming School and Coronation Park, as well as a number of residential blocks.
View is south southeast from approsimatley Rosser Avenue and 21st Street. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, Earl Oxford School, the Fair Grounds (including the Grand Stand and Race Track), and a number of residential blocks.
View is south southwest from approximatley the southwest corner of 18th Street and Princess Avenue. Photograph shows the University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, Earl Oxford School and residential blocks.
View is west from 17th Street between Louise and Princess Avenues to approximalety 25th Street. Photograph shows the University campus, Fleming School, Coronation Park and residential blocks.
A problem during development has obscured a portion of Kinsmen Stadium and the southeast corner of the campus.
Scope and Content
View is north from Victoria Avenue between 18th and 20th Streets to the railway tracks. Photograph shows Kinsmen Stadium, the College campus and a number of residential blocks.
View is northeast from approximately the southwest corner of Victoria Avenue and 22nd Street to the Assiniboine River near 1st Street. Photograph shows the College campus, Kinsmen Stadium, residential blocks, downtown and the railway tracks.
View is southeast from north of the corner of Princess Avenue and 22nd Street to approximatley Brandon Avenue. Photograph shows the University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, Earl Oxford School, and residential blocks. Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI) is visible in the upper left corner.
View is west southwest from approximatley the northside of Princess Avenue just east of 18th Street. Photograph shows the University campus, part of Kinsmen Stadium and residential blocks.
View is northwest from approximatley the southeast corner of 18th Street and Louise Avenue. Photograph shows the University campus and residential blocks.
View is southwest from approximatley the corner of 17th Street and Princess Avenue to McDiarmid Drive. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, Fleming School, Coronation Park and residential blocks.
View is west northwest from aproximatley 15th Street and Louise Avenue to 34th Street. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus, part of Kinsmen Stadium, Fleming School, Coronoation Park, Valleyview Centennial School, Sacred Heart School ?, and residential blocks.
View is west northwest from aproximatley 16th Street and Louise Avenue to west of 34th Street. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus, part of Kinsmen Stadium, Coronoation Park, Valleyview Centennial School, part of the Assiniboine River and residential blocks.
View is northwest from the 400 block of 18th Street to the corner of 23rd Street and Rosser Avenue. Photograph shows the Brandon College campus (Flora Cowan Hall under construction) and residential blocks.
