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 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. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!