Located on the northwest corner of James Avenue and King Street in Winnipeg, a five-storey brick and stone warehouse measuring 30 feet by 100 feet was designed by architect Alexander D. Melville and constructed in 1904 by the Thomas Brothers for owner Alexander Conley McRae at a cost of about $28,000.
In 1938, the building’s top two storeys were removed following a fire, at which time it was owned by the American Cosmetic and Supply Company. By 1955, it was owned by the realty partnership of McKague, Sigmar, and Chimchak. It was occupied by Grange Stationery Company from the 1940s into the early 1970s, after which the building was demolished to make way for an outdoor courtyard which, as of 2023, remains present.
McRae Block (July 1966) by John H. Warkentin
Source: John Warkentin fonds, York UniversitySite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90067, W97.13934
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander D. Melville (1873-1949)
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Conley McRae (1862-1920)
Manitoba Business: Grange Stationery Company
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Mitchell Block / Gillett Building / Grange Building (173 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1307/1904, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 20 - revised August 1906, Library and Archives Canada.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 20 - revised May 1914, Library and Archives Canada.
“To Let [one flat, 30x100 ...],” Manitoba Free Press, 7 October 1905, page 2.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #207 December 1917, Library and Archives Canada.
“Mortgage sale of valuable city property,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 September 1934, page 24.
“Construction notes,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 March 1938, page 4.
“77A Investment property [McRae Block ...],” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 August 1955, page 32.
“32 Male help wanted [Boy with bicycle for steady employment],” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 December 1955, page 27.
“42 Help Wanted - Office Help - [Exp. bookkeeper req.],” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 August 1972, page 32.
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 and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 9 December 2023
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