The Dauphin Town Hall, a solid brick edifice with a dominant square tower, was designed by local businessman Stuart Geekie and constructed between 1904 and 1905.
In addition to a second-floor auditorium, the building housed assorted government services for more than five decades, including municipal offices, courthouse, jail, fire hall and, in later years, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment. In 1956, municipal offices were moved to the post office building nearby.
The building continued to contribute to the city’s development as the Dauphin and District Allied Arts Centre. A provincially-designated historic building, in June 1985 it was renamed the Watson Art Centre in honour of Dauphin dentist and musician Vernon Loraine Watson. A plaque on the exterior of the building was unveiled in 1996 by the Manitoba Heritage Council.
Postcard view of Dauphin Town Hall (no date)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2019-0087
Vernon Watson Arts Centre, the former Dauphin Town Hall (May 2012)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Vernon Watson Arts Centre, the former Dauphin Town Hall (February 2020)
Source: George Penner
Vernon Watson commemorative sculpture and plaque (September 2023)
Source: Glen Toews
Manitoba Heritage Council commemorative plaque (September 2023)
Source: Glen ToewsSite Coordinates (lat/long): N51.15074, W100.05168
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Stuart Geekie (c1851-1921)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Dauphin Post Office and Town Hall (21 Second Avenue NW, Dauphin)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites
Dauphin Town Hall (Vernon Watson Arts Centre), Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.
Manitoba Heritage Council Minutes, 25 May 1988.
We thank Tim Worth, George Penner, and Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 8 October 2023
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