Memorable Manitobans: James Henry Cadham (1850-1907)

Building contractor, architect.

Born at London, Canada West [now Ontario], on 31 August 1850, brother of John Orchard Cadham, his parents were natives of England and early settlers of Canada. His father operated a sash, door, and blind factory near London, Ontario. He was educated in the public schools of London, left early to learn the carpentry trade. He came to Manitoba in 1870. On arrival he volunteered as a private in the Red River Expedition under General Wolseley and became a member of the No. 1 Battalion under Captain Cooke. He was discharged on 4 March 1871 and became engaged actively in the contracting and building trade. He was a pioneer architect in Winnipeg and from 1895 devoted most of his energies towards his profession, confining his work to large warehouses and stores.

In 1874, he married Eliza Calanan (1855-1928) of Perry, Treherne, Wisconsin. They had seven children: Raymond Cadham (1875-1876), Ethel May Cadham (c1876-?), Frederick Todd Cadham, James Henry Cadham (1883-1888), Joseph Gibbons Cadham (1887-?), Frank Calanan Cadham (1891-?), and Laura Marguerite Cadham (1892-1973). He was a Mason and Odd Fellow.

He died at Winnipeg on 10 December 1907, and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:

Building

Location

Year

Status

Merchants Building

250 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1897-1898

 

Alloway Building

179 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1898

 

Daylite Building

296 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1899

 

Imperial Dry Goods Block

91 Albert Street, Winnipeg

1899

 

Paulin-Chambers Building

311 Ross Avenue, Winnipeg

1899

 

Whitla Building

70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg

1899

 

Gault Building

100 Arthur Street, Winnipeg

1900

 

Moss House

218 Roslyn Road, Winnipeg

1900

Replaced (1917)

Blue Ribbon Building (Anne Building)

87 King Street (88 Arthur Street), Winnipeg

1901

 

Gregg Building

52 Albert Street, Winnipeg

1902

 

McLaughlin Carriage Building

204-212 Princess Street, Winnipeg

1902

 

Brownstone’s Sportswear

275 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1903

 

Dingle and Stewart Warehouse

263 Stanley Street, Winnipeg

1903

 

Gaylord Block

111 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg

1903

 

Robinson, Little and Company Building

54 Arthur Street, Winnipeg

1903

 

St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church

546 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

1903

 

Stobart Building

275-281 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1903

 

Winnipeg Saddlery Building

284 William Avenue, Winnipeg

1903

 

Miller-Morse Building

317 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1904

 

G. Velie Wholesale Wines and Liquors

183-187 Portage Avenue East, Winnipeg

1904

 

Scott Block

272 Main Street, Winnipeg

1904

 

Telfer Block

156 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg

1904

Demolished (c1965)

Avenue Building

265 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

1905

 

Alloway and Champion Building

667 Main Street, Winnipeg

1905

 

Fit-Reform Block

289-291 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

1905

 

Leadlay Building

306-310 Ross Avenue, Winnipeg

1905

 

Manitoba Medical College

750 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg

1905

 

West Hotel

786 Main Street, Winnipeg

1905

 

Tees and Persse Building

315 William Avenue, Winnipeg

1905-1906

 

Fairchild Warehouse (addition)

255 Sutherland Avenue, Winnipeg

1906

 

Frost and Wood Building

230 Princess Avenue, Winnipeg

1906

 

Grose and Walker Warehouse

261 Stanley Street, Winnipeg

1906

 

Cadham House

336-338 River Avenue, Winnipeg

1906

 

Stobart Building (expansion)

275-281 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1907

 

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Kelly House (88 Adelaide Street, Winnipeg)

Sources:

A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

We thank Nathan Kramer and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 6 March 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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