Winnipeg Streets - Portage Avenue

Unposted. Publisher / Photographer: Meyers Photo The Victory Parade down Portage Avenue, celebrating Peace Day (the end of WWI) on July 19, 1919. The buildings are on the north side of Portage Avenue - looking east from Smith Street. Some great signage, including "Kensington Building", "Lamberts Upstairs Clothes Shop", "Rannard Shoes - store No 3", "Semi-ready Tailoring" (semi-ready?!?), "Tweed Dentist", "Boston Lunch", and "Dunlop's Drugs".

Date: Not evident. Publisher / Photographer: John A. Hart Company #4

POSTCARD Date: Not evident. Unposted, but the AZO stamp box had known usage through 1904 -1917. Publisher / Photographer: Meyers Photo, Winnipeg Notation: Message on reverse reads; "Looking East on Portage Ave showing a few of Winnipeg's Sky scrapers but not the highest ones." This photo was taken from the south side of Portage looking east from the (foreground) intersection with Smith Street down to the intersection of Main Street. The three main "Skyscrapers" shown (left to right) are the Sterling Building (built 1911), the Electric Railway Chambers (built 1912), and the McArthur Building (built 1909) Just across from the Sterling Building at the north-east corner of Portage & Smith is the Kensington Building (built 1905). Signage above the main floor awnings identify the Olympic Cafe. Based on the great success of this restaurant, the owners constructed the Olympic Hotel just up the block on Smith Street. Opened in 1914 with the first three floors of a planned 9-storey hotel, it closed just 6 months later due to the economic down swing that accompanied the beginning of WWI . Used to house troops throughout WWI, the building was purchased in 1921, and had 6 floors added. This operation also failed quickly. Purchased by new investors in 1923, it had two more floors added and opened as the Marlborough Hotel. Further along, the sign for the Venice Cafe can be seen at the north-east corner of Portage and Garry. One of Winnipeg's most famous restaurants of the time, it was forced to relocate in 1915 when the construction of the Curry Building began on that site. What immediately struck me in this photo was the unique façade of the Province Theatre at 209 Notre Dame Avenue, just off Portage Avenue (the pointed white structure just right of centre). It was constructed in 1915 and helps to date this photo. In later years, it also operated as both the Rio and Grand theatres. Right at the far end of Portage, where it meets Main Street, the hodgepodge of small stores and billboards that used to occupy the north-east corner can be seen and, behind them, the imposing structure of the Grain Exchange Building.

POSTCARD Date: Unposted. Handwritten note on reverse is dated March 3, 1912. Publisher / Photographer: Lyall Commercial Notation: Great signage in this image and view of the south side of Portage looking west past Garry Street.

POSTCARD Date: Posted July, 1913 Publisher / Photographer: Lyall Commercial Co. Notation: A really terrific view looking south from Portage Avenue towards the Hotel Fort Garry. Various signs include: Union Bank of Canada (Formerly the Free Press Building) The Hall Company Ltd. Real Estate, Insurance & Financial Agents & Security National Insurance Co. of Canada Will occupy these offices on or about June 15th Macey Office Furniture Western Trust Company North Empire Fire Insurance Co. Southgate Park Lots for Sale By F.E. Maurice Realty Co., 68 Scott Block Cotter Bros. Plumbing & Heating Coliseum

POSTCARD Date: Posted March 25, 1913.. Publisher / Photographer: Valentine & Sons #103,375 Notation: I found the message on the reverse of this card to be interesting. From Willie to Miss Helen Kennedy in Sterling Scotland, Willie included his return address - The Woodbine Hotel, Winnipeg, Man. He writes: "Dear Helen, I got your letter O.K. mother sent it down to me and /i just got it to-night. I have shifted from Edmonton now I am in the Peg will write soon I have just finish a long letter home & it is late & I am feeling tired so good bye for the time being." Of particular interest: this is one of a small number of early postcards I have encountered where Winnipeg is referred to as "the Peg".

POSTCARD Date: Posted August 30, 1912. Publisher / Photographer: Lyall Commercial Notation: Of interest in this image: the Boyd delivery vehicle, the Gordon Mitchell Drug Co. sign above it, and licence plate #94 on the auto (left side).