This one-storey building in the River Heights neighbourhood of Winnipeg, at the southwest corner of Niagara Street and Grosvenor Avenue, was designed by local architect Alexander D. Melville. Measuring 48 feet by 71 feet, the building was constructed in 1929 by Hazelton & Walin, at a cost of $27,883, to house automated circuitry for the Manitoba Telephone System. The building remains in use for its original purpose.
Architectural sketch of the River Heights Telephone Exchange Building (1929)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 5 February 1929, page 3.
River Heights Telephone Exchange Building (June 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
River Heights Telephone Exchange Building (September 2018)
Source: George Penner
River Heights Telephone Exchange Building (February 2023)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.86676, W97.18602
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander D. Melville (1873-1949)
Manitoba Business: Hazelton & Walin
MHS Centennial Business: Manitoba Government Telephones / Manitoba Telephone System / MTS Allstream / Bell MTS
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 400/1929, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“New telephone exchange for River Heights,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 January 1929, page 1.
“New telephone exchange for River Heights,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 February 1929, page 3.
“Tenders,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 February 1929, page 19.
“Tenders,” Winnipeg Tribune, 9 February 1929, page 24.
“Tenders,” Manitoba Free Press, 16 February 1929, page 18.
“New exchange to cost $27,883,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 February 1929, page 1.
“Building permits $80,000 ahead of 1928, this period,” Manitoba Free Press, 16 March 1929, page 36.
“Start excavating for new phone exchange,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 April 1929, page 3.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 24 October 2023
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
