Memorable Manitobans: Charles Wallace Sharp (1852-1924)

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Charles Wallace Sharp
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Building contractor, municipal official.

Born in Salisbury, England on 22 June 1852, he came to Winnipeg in 1873, soon becoming prominent in theatrical circles. For some time he was manager of the old Princess Theatre, at the corner of Princess Street and Ross Avenue. In 1883, in partnership with Robert Gerrie, he bought the theatre. He also owned a roller skating rink. In partnership with his half-brother James W. Smith, he founded the firm of Smith and Sharp that was responsible for the construction of many early buildings in Winnipeg, and the Western Construction Company (1904). In addition to his contracting business, he was a director of the Manitoba Gypsum Company and Canadian Industrial Exhibition Association.

In 1879, he married Mary Louisa Leckie (1857-1945) with whom he had seven children: Louisa Jane Sharp (1881-?, wife of Percy S. White), Grace Belle Sharp (1884-?, wife of J. R. Higgins), George Wallace Sharp, Irene Marie Sharp (1888-?, wife of Frederick William Harper), Milton Hoffe Sharp (1892-?), Charles Monckto Sharp (1895-?), and Cedric Sharp (1897-?). The Sharp family built a home on Wellington Crescent, next door to John James Borebank. He served on the board of the Winnipeg Playgrounds Association. After years of service on the Winnipeg Public Parks Board, he was appointed Chairman and served in that capacity for several years until the end of 1914. He was a member of the Masons and Central Congregational Church.

He died at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on 30 September 1924 due to injuries sustained in a fall. His body was returned to Winnipeg for burial in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Some of his construction works in Manitoba included:

Building

Location

Year

Status

Grand Pacific Hotel

Main Street, Winnipeg

?

 

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral

353 St. Mary Avenue, Winnipeg

?

 

Sandison Block

302-304 Main Street, Winnipeg

1904

Demolished (1970s)

Carnegie Library

380 William Avenue, Winnipeg

1905

 

John M. King School (with James W. Smith and Sinclair Balsor Ritchie)

649 Ellice Avenue

1905

Demolished (1964)

Holyrood Court

563 William Avenue, Winnipeg

1906

 

Great West Life Building

177 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg

1909-1911

 

Canada Permanent Mortgage Building

298 Garry Street, Winnipeg

1909

 

McLaren Hotel

554 Main Street, Winnipeg

1910

 

Farmer Block

333 Main Street, Winnipeg

1910-1911

Demolished (1980)

McKittrick House

64 Middle Gate, Winnipeg)

1913

 

CPR Sleeping Car Building

Winnipeg

?

 

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: James W. Smith (1843-1917)

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Chas. W. Sharp dies as result of accident,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 October 1924. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B8]

“Chas. W. Sharp laid to rest,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 October 1924, page 11.

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Harry Shave and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 August 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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