This one-storey brick building at the intersection of Horace Street and Traverse Avenue in the Norwood area of Winnipeg was designed by local architect John Hamilton Gordon Russell and built in 1919 to accommodate telephone exchange equipment for Manitoba Government Telephones (later known as MTS).
In 1938, an addition measuring 34 feet by 43 feet, designed by Alexander D. Melville, along with alterations to the original building were carried out by contractor Gerard Alphonsus “Gerry” Baert at a cost of about $12,000. Another addition in 1952 was designed by corporate architect Robert Bryan Ross.
Norwood Telephone Exchange Building (September 2020)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Norwood Telephone Exchange Building (December 2020)
Source: George Penner
Norwood Telephone Exchange Building (December 2022)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88095, W97.11742
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: John Hamilton Gordon Russell (1863-1946)
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander D. Melville (1873-1949)
Memorable Manitobans: Gerard Alphonsus “Gerry” Baert (1906-1971)
Memorable Manitobans: Robert Bryan Ross (1908-1983)
MHS Centennial Business: Manitoba Government Telephones / Manitoba Telephone System / MTS Allstream / Bell MTS
“Tenders,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 July 1919, page 13.
“The new St. Boniface telephone exchange,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 September 1919, page 14.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
“To enlarge Norwood telephone exchange,” Winnipeg Tribune, 9 April 1938, page 22.
“Tenders, Norwood Telephone Exchange, Winnipeg, Man.,” Winnipeg Tribune, 9 April 1938, page 34.
“Telephone Exchange contract is let,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 May 1938, page 9.
“Permits lagging,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 May 1938, page 24.
“Tenders Manitoba Telephone Systems,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 October 1952, page 38.
We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 27 March 2023
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