The 2½-storey Central Fire Station, designed by architect William Alexander Elliott and constructed in 1911 by contractor Alfred Edward Bullock, is one of Brandon’s finest buildings. A previous fire hall stood here between 1882 and 1893. A 4,400-pound bell in the tower was removed in 1971 to reduce the stress on the structure. A plaque describing the history of the building was erected here by the Brandon Municipal Heritage Committee and it became a municipally-designated heritage site in 2000. The building has been renovated into a restaurant.
On 27 June 1920, the Brandon Fire Department unveiled a memorial tablet to six members of the fire department who died during the First World War. The tablet was unveiled by Brandon’s Mayor George Dinsdale. It was originally located in a recess on the outside of the building. The tablet is now located at the Brandon Fire and Emergency Services Museum.
Central Fire Hall (circa 1912)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2015-0004
Central Fire Hall (no date)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, George Harris Fonds, Acc. 1979-141, P7456, Album 4, Page 32.
Central Fire Hall (2011)
Source: Peter McLure
The former Central Fire Hall (May 2018)
Source: George Penner
The former Central Fire Hall (August 2023)
Source: Eva Janssen
The former Central Fire Hall (August 2023)
Source: Eva JanssenSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84703, W99.94693
denoted by symbol on the map above
Name
Occupation
Service
Rank
Birth Date
Death Date
Thomas Calder
[Armoury]Fireman
45th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
30 May 1885
24 February 1916
William Dingwall
[Armoury, Orange Lodge]Fireman
1st Canadian Mounted Rifles
Lance Corporal
9 April 1890
7 April 1917
Thomas Dunnett
[Armoury]Fireman
1st Canadian Mounted Rifles
Private
14 February 1887
5 June 1916
William Esslemont
[Armoury]Fireman
1st Canadian Mounted Rifles
Company Sergeant Major
20 March 1894
9 April 1917
Donald McDonald
[Armoury]Fireman
1st Canadian Mounted Rifles
Private
22 March 1888
28 September 1916
Fireman
1st Canadian Mounted Rifles
Private
16 December 1894
15 September 1916
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: William Alexander Elliott (1866-1957)
Memorable Manitobans: Alfred Edward Bullock (1871-1957)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Fire and Emergency Services Museum (120 Nineteenth Street North, Brandon)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Fire Hall No. 2 / McTavish School / Brandon Technical School (603 Eleventh Street, Brandon)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
“Bullock is awarded fire hall contract,” Brandon Daily Sun, 13 April 1911, page 6.
“Unveil memorial to fireman who gave their lives,” Brandon Weekly Sun, 24 June 1920, page 1.
“Unveil tablet to firemen who gave their lives,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 June 1920, page 1.
Central Fire Station, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.
We thank Peter McLure, Darryl Toews, George Penner, and Eva Janssen for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 2 September 2023
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