In 1904, Winnipeg architect J. H. G. Russell designed a new foundation for an existing, three-storey 1880s building on this site, the store for merchant James H. Ashdown. A few months later, the building was destroyed by fire but two new storeys were built hastily on the undamaged foundation. Four more storeys were added to it in 1905.
A list of company employees killed during military service in the First World War was published in 1919.
A one-storey addition was made to the north side of the building in 1959, along with extensive exterior renovation, on designs by the architectural firm of Moody and Moody. The Ashdown store closed in 1970 and the building was sold to Big 4 Sales which operated here until 1992. The building was later renovated for use by a variety of businesses and cultural organizations. It is a municipally-designated historic site.
Company Casualties of the First World War
Name |
Occupation |
Service |
Rank |
Birth Date |
Death Date |
Norman Harold Bell
[Maryland Methodist] |
Clerk |
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
26 January 1881 |
31 October 1916 |
Alfred Driver |
Order Clerk |
8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
13 February 1894 |
10 November 1917 |
Cecil Hobday
[Next of Kin] |
Clerk |
27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
12 April 1895 |
15 September 1916 |
John Frances Hourihan |
Invoice Clerk |
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
11 January 1894 |
30 October 1917 |
John MacHenry |
Clerk |
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
2 May 1885 |
9 April 1917 |
Andrew Gray Nicol
[Next of Kin, Westminster] |
Clerk |
Canadian Railway Troops |
Lance Corporal |
19 August 1886 |
4 April 1917 |
Robert Spaul |
Checker |
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
23 June 1889 |
7 January 1917 |
Thomas White
[Next of Kin, Norwood Presbyterian] |
Elevator Operator |
8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
12 April 1896 |
1 May 1915 |
Thomas Grant Roffey |
Clerk |
27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry |
Private |
3 January 1893 |
4 August 1918 |
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: James Henry Ashdown (1844-1924)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Ashdown House (529 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Ashdown Warehouse (167 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
Sources:
“Honor roll of the J. H. Ashdown Hardware Co. Limited,” Winnipeg Tribune, 8 September 1919, page 51.
Big 4 Sales (Formerly J. H. Ashdown Hardware Store), 476 Main Street, Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, March 1998.
We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Darryl Toews.
Page revised: 22 October 2021
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