A massive brick building on the west side of Main Street in Winnipeg was designed by local architect Charles Arnold Barber and built in 1898 by contractors Sinclair Balsor Ritchie and Philip Burnett for the estate of late entrepreneur Alexander McIntyre. It replaced an earlier block built by McIntyre that was destroyed by fire on 2 February 1898.
Originally just five floors, two more floors designed by architect James Henry Cadham were added in 1906 by contractor Robert Watson. The building provided office space for a wide range of retail and professional companies.
The building was demolished in 1979 and the site became a parking lot.
McIntyre Block before the addition of top two floors (circa 1905) by Ed Justement
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2014-0259
McIntyre Block after the addition of top two floors (circa 1908)
Source: “Pictorial Souvenir of Winnipeg,” Gordon Goldsborough
McIntyre Block (September 1959) by John H. Warkentin
Source: John Warkentin Fonds, 2009-029/003, ASC16641, York University
McIntyre Block (1970s)
Source: Winnipeg Building IndexSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89637, W97.13902
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Charles Arnold Barber (1848-1915)
Memorable Manitobans: Sinclair Balsor Ritchie (1855-1933)
Memorable Manitobans: Philip Burnett (1848-1936)
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander McIntyre (1841-1892)
Memorable Manitobans: James Henry Cadham (1850-1907)
Memorable Manitobans: Robert Watson (1856-?)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Abandoned Manitoba
Some Old Winnipeg Buildings by Randy R. Rostecki
MHS Transactions, Series 3, Number 29, 1972-73 season
“McIntyre Block in ruins,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 February 1898, page 1.
“Will rebuild,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 February 1898, page 4.
“McIntyre Block addition,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 December 1906, page 28.
“McIntyre Block, Mall Hotel sold,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 June 1946, page 1.
Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950 by Robert G. Hill, Toronto.
We thank Rob McInnes for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 13 December 2024
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