WP1913 WPG - I.O.D.E. CONVALESCENT HOME - DONALD & BROADWAY

Date: Unposted. Photo taken in early 1915.
Publisher / Photgrapher: Unidentified

This I.O.D.E. (Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire) Convalescent Home was opened on February 15, 1915 in what was formerly known as Dr. Gunn's Hospital at the northwest corner of Broadway & Donald. (In the image, Broadway runs across the front, while Donald heads north on the right side.) It was the first I.O.D.E. home in Winnipeg - housing and caring for ill and injured soldiers returning from WWI. Within four short months, that facility proved to be too small and the I.O.D.E relocated their undertaking to 71 Smith Street shortly thereafter.

The house itself was named Lindenlee and it enjoyed a long history and was home to several prominent Winnipeg families.

Lindenlee was built in 1881 for Charles J. Brydges, then the land commissioner for the Hudson’s Bay Company. The grounds of the home were large - extending from Donald Street to Hargrave. Interestingly, it had two addresses – both 307 Broadway & 106 Donald. Mr. Brydges died in 1889

In 1890, the house was purchased by Mr. George F. Galt, an extremely successful businessman of the time. In 1911, upon purchasing a new home in Crescentwood, Mr. Gault put the house up for sale.

Dr. John Gunn apparently bought the house quickly and, along with his partner Dr. R. J. Blanchard, converted it to a private hospital that same year. Commonly known as Dr. Gunn’s Hospital, the practice closed in 1914 as both Doctors headed off to serve in the War. It was shortly after this that the I.O.D.E. purchased the property and the photograph which appears on this postcard was taken.

By 1935, Lindenlee had become an apartment house and the subject of a wonderful article by Lillian Gibbons: “Stories Houses Tell” published in the December 28 edition of the Winnipeg Tribune. (From which much of this historical information was gleaned.) Lindenlee was apparently destroyed by fire in 1945.

More information on Charles Brydges: www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/brydges_cj.shtml
More information on George Galt: www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/galt_gf.shtml
More on information on Dr. John Gunn: www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/gunn_ja.shtml
More information on Lillian Gibbons: www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/gibbons_l.shtml