The Albert Block has an irregular shape facing McDermot Avenue and Albert Street. Constructed in 1901 on a design by Minneapolis architect Fremont D. Orff, and initially known as the Alexandra Apartment Block, it was built as a speculative venture by brothers James Stewart Tupper and William Johnston Tupper, and land developer Walter Suckling. Construction was supervised by local architect William Barnes Lait.
In December 1902, a restaurant was opened on the ground floor by Frank Mariaggi who later purchased the building and converted the remainder into a luxury hotel. In 1908, Mariaggi sold the business. The hotel continued under successive proprietors George Skinner and Thomas Buchan Campbell, the latter of whom renamed it to the St. Andrew’s Hotel. The hotel closed in 1915 then reopened in 1917 with three shops on the main floor and upper floors reclassified as apartments.
The building is a municipally-designated historic site.
Albert Block, east view (June 2011)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Albert Block (September 2014)
Source: George Penner
Albert Block (November 2020)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89716, W97.14041
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Mariaggi Hotel (231 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
Albert Block (86 Albert Street / 227-237 McDermot Avenue), City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, July 1984.
We thank George Penner and Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 5 August 2024
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