Link to:
Photos & Coordinates | Sources
Located on the south side of Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, this one-storey structure measuring 28 feet wide by 60 feet deep was designed and built by the John Alfred Comba (1867-1947) in 1907 at a cost of $1,600. Clad initally in iron, the wood frame building was used as a workshop and storage. It would become the Comba & Son hardware store. In 1925, Comba commissioned a $1,600 alteration to the store to convert it into a “double dwelling” which, in actuality, was a four-suite apartment block (600 Ellice) with up to two commercial storefronts (602-604 Ellice). Once renovated, it was named as the Comba Apartments.
John Alfred Comba was born at Pakenham, Ontario on 20 June 1867, son of Cornelius Comba (c1833-?) and Elizabeth Comba (c1884-?), and presumed extended relation of John Amos Comba. On 31 December 1888, he married Jennie Trail (1868-1947) at a Methodist Church in Almonte, Ontario and they had four children: Alfred Stewart Comba (1890-1973), Cecil Jeanette Comba (1893-1891, wife of Cecil Alexander Langtry), Ethel May Comba (1895-1914), and Grace Lillian Comba (1898-?, wife of Morley Graham Le Page, later remarried to a Mr. Pearson). They lived in Quebec before moving to Winnipeg in 1902, residing at 486 Sherbrook (?-1916) then at 140 Canora Street (1916-1947). After the last of their children married and moved out, they hosted two lodgers in their Canora residence (1926). He worked as a hardware merchant (Comba & Son) until retirement around 1918 and was also a manager for the Great West Engine Packing Company (c1918). He was active in the Maryland United Church, as a licensed lay preacher and as Superintendent of its Sunday School, and also served as President of the Winnipeg Lay Preachers Association (1933, 1938). He died at Winnipeg on 21 April 1947 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery.
In 1947, ownership of the Comba Apartments passed from Jennie Comba to Alfred Stewart Comba who, in turn, sold it before his death in 1973. The block remained at the site into the mid-1970s at which time the Salvation Army operated a thrift store in the building. In 1978, it was replaced by the building at 594-602 Ellice that stood at the time of a 2023 site visit.
Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89282, W97.15940
denoted by symbol on the map above
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 123/1907, City of Winnipeg Archives.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1660/1925, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 60 - revised August 1906, Library and Archives Canada.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 60 - revised May 1914, Library and Archives Canada.
Archives of Manitoba fire insurance plan collection / Western Canada Fire Underwriters Association - Volume 1 - Winnipeg - Sheet #150, Archives of Manitoba.
Marriage registrations [Cecil Jeanette Comba & Cecil Alexander Langtry, Grace Lillian Comba & Morley Graham Le Page], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [Ethel May Comba, John Alfred Comba, Jennie Comba], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force [John Amos Comba], Library and Archives Canada.
1881, 1916, 1921, & 1926 Canada censuses, Library and Archives Canada.
1901 & 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.
140 Canora Street, Winnipeg Assessment and Taxation Department.
“To let - stores and offices [Store for rent. 604 Ellice Ave],” Manitoba Free Press, 27 July 1923, page 20.
“Deny invitation sent to Victoria preacher,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 February 1925, page 7.
“Church notes [Rev W. L. T. Patteson ...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 April 1933, page 11.
“[At Maryland United Church Sunday morning ...],” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 21 May 1938, page 31.
“Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Comba's grandson will be wed on their golden anniversary,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 December 1938, page 9.
Obituary [John A. Comba], Winnipeg Tribune, 22 April 1947, page 7.
“Retired hardware store owner dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 April 1947, page 18.
Obituary [John A. Comba], Winnipeg Tribune, 23 April 1947, page 22.
“Mrs. John A. Comba dies suddenly,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 June 1947, page 18.
Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), #37188 - Jennie Comba, GR4873, Archives of Manitoba.
“Comba Apartments damaged by fire,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 May 1950, page 3.
Obituary [Cecil A. Langtry], Winnipeg Tribune, 21 September 1955, page 26.
“74 - Stores and offices [Suitable store space for any business at 602-604 Ellice Ave],” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 July 1967, page 40.
Obituary [A. Stewart Comba], Winnipeg Free Press, 17 July 1973, page 25.
Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), #1542/73 Albert S. Comba, GR4936, Archives of Manitoba.
“Arson suspected in Ellice blaze,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 May 1975, page 18.
“The City of Winnipeg Notice of Public Meetings [DAV 289-78 CC-FR],” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 April 1978, page 48.
“822 - Stores & offices [600 Ellice Ave. comm. space],” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 September 1978, page 78.
“822 - Stores & offices [Prime Retail Space on busy street - 600 Ellice Ave.],” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 1979, page 46.
Obituary [Elizabeth Adelaide Comba], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 June 1980, page 29.
Obituary [Cecil Jeanette Langtry], Winnipeg Free Press, 10 October 1981, page 42.
Obituary [Richard “Dick” A. Langtry], Winnipeg Free Press, 29 August 2000, page C7.
Brookside Cemetery burial transcriptions, City of Winnipeg.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 7 July 2023
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
