At one time, a three-storey brick and stone building stood at this site on the west side of Main Street in Winnipeg. Built as a warehouse for the Parlin and Orendorff Plow Company, in 1910 it was purchased by the door, sash and millwright Radford-Wright Company of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
On 9 March 1912, a fire started in the rear of the building which caused an explosion. As a result, the building was demolished and the lot has been vacant ever since that time. Only the front portion of the stone foundation remains visible today.
Postcard view of Radford-Wright Warehouse after fire (March 1912) by Maurice Lyall
Source: Internet Archive, PC001321
Site of the former Radford-Wright Warehouse (March 2024)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90635, W97.13446
denoted by symbol on the map above
Winnipeg Fire Insurance Map #24, August 1906, Library and Archives Canada.
“Seven lives lost In Saturday night fire In Winnipeg,” Manitoba Free Press, 11 March 1912, page 1.
“Fire causes death of seven men,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 March 1912, page 1.
“Incendiarism was cause of fire,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 March 1912, page 7.
“Seven lives lost In Saturday night fire,” Manitoba Free Press, 11 March 1912, page 23.
“100 years ago: The tragic Radford-Wright fire” by Christian Cassidy, West End Dumplings, 5 March 2012.
This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 17 March 2024
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