Historic Sites of Manitoba: Hample Building (271 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)

This three-storey, reinforced concrete, brick, and terra cotta building on Portage Avenue was designed by local architect John Danley Atchison and built in 1906 for entrepreneur Martha Jane Richards Hample at a cost of about $40,000. The east half of the main floor was occupied by the Semi-Ready tailoring company. The upper two floors provided space for business offices and suites.

Its original floor designs have been extensively altered through the years. Between 2011 and 2017, additional storeys were added to the building and it was converted to residential apartments. The building is a municipally-designated historic site (2008).

Hample Building (1906) Source: Winnipeg Morning Telegram, 21 July 1906, page 10. Hample Building (June 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Hample Building (April 2017) Source: George Penner Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89434, W97.14187 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: John Danley Atchison (1870-1959)

Memorable Manitobans: Martha Jane Richards Hample (1859-1927)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

“Portage Ave building plans,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 March 1905, page 1.

“New home of Semi-Ready,” Winnipeg Morning Telegram, 21 July 1906, page 10.

“Semi-Ready’s change to Portage Avenue,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 October 1906, page 11.

Hample Building (271 Portage Avenue), City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, August 2005.

We thank Glen Toews for providng additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and George Penner.

Page revised: 3 December 2025

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