Memorable Manitobans: John McQuarrie (1849-1929)

John McQuarrie Click to enlarge

Building contractor.

Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1849, he came to Winnipeg and worked as a contractor, at first in the firm of McQuarrie and McLeod in partnership with George McLeod, and later by himself. He and wife Elizabeth (1850-1914) had at least two sons. He died in May 1929 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Some of his construction works in Manitoba included:

Building	Location	Year	Status
Cockshutt Plow Building (addition)	238 Princess Street, Winnipeg	1906
Breadalbane Block	379 Hargrave Street, Winnipeg	1909
North End Police Substation	200 Charles Street, Winnipeg	1910-1911
Cycel Court	193-197 Furby Street, Winnipeg	1911
Hudson’s Bay Company Garage	115 Garry Street, Winnipeg	1911
Asquith Court	720 Furby Street, Winnipeg	1912	Demolished (?)
Blackwood Soda Factory Building	421 Mulvey Avenue East, Winnipeg	1912
Blackwood Pickle Factory Building	415 Mulvey Avenue East, Winnipeg	1912

Sources:

“Build new police stations at once,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 August 1910, page 1.

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“John McQuarrie - second Vice-President, Builders’ Exchange,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 August 1912, page 9.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 9 December 2023

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: 1975 | 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 | 2025 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!