A three-storey brick building at the southwest corner of Osborne Street and Wardlaw Avenue in Winnipeg, measuring 47 feet by 50 feet, was designed by local architect Herbert Bell Rugh and built in 1909 by Griffin Brothers at a cost of about $15,000. It had three retail stores on its main level and six residential apartments on the upper two floors.
A smaller, two-storey brick building on the south side, also designed by Rugh and built in 1908 by Jacob Isenberg at a cost of about $3,500, was joined to it and the two buildings were known collectively as the Gwalia Block.
Around 1924, the two connected buildings were renamed the Fergus Block.
Fergus Block (November 2020)
Source: George Penner
Southern portion of the Fergus Block (November 2020)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87680, W97.14402
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Herbert Bell Rugh (1879-1924)
Manitoba Business: Griffin Brothers
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1292/1908, City of Winnipeg Archives.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1728/1909, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Nathan Kramer, and George Penner.
Page revised: 28 March 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!
