This six-storey building on Arthur Street was constructed between 1903 and 1904 on a design by Winnipeg architect James Henry Cadham. Situated next to the Whitla Building, the original owner was the wholedale dry goods firm of Greenshields Western Merchants but it was soon sold to Robinson, Little and Company. This company used the building until the 1960s when the Silpit Industries Company that had occupied the Whitla Building expanded into this space.
The entire complex of two buildings is sometimes known as the Silpit Building. It is a municipally-designated historic site.
The Robinson, Little and Company Building, as well as the Whitla Building beside it, can be seen at left in this view of Arthur Street (circa 1912)
Source: Giles Bugailiskis
Robinson Little Building (September 2015)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Aerial view of Robinson Little Building (September 2024)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89607, W97.14179
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: James Henry Cadham (1850-1907)
Manitoba Business: Robinson Little and Company
Historic Sites of Manitoba: R. J. Whitla and Company Building / Silpit Building (70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
Greetings from Winnipeg: Views of a Changing City by Gordon Goldsborough, Russ Gourluck, Rob McInnes, Giles Bugailiskis and Randy Rostecki
Manitoba History, Number 55, June 2007
Robinson, Little and Company Building, 54 Arthur Street, City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, May 2007.
We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 19 September 2024
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