This three-storey brick block on Qu’Appelle Avenue in Winnipeg was built in two stages starting in 1909. It began with as five-suite terrace, measuring 90 feet by 52 feet, was designed and built by its owner, local contractor Duncan James Ross of the firm Ross Brothers.
The terrace was extended in 1910 with the addition of three-storey double-dwelling [duplex] along the southwest edge, itself measuring a frontage of 36 feet to a depth of 70 feet. Both stages were completed at costs of $17,000 and $9,000 respectively, with Ross using day labour for the duplex construction.
Named for its owner, it was known as the Ross Block into the First World War and, around 1920, both were renamed the Ross Apartments and converted from the seven-unit terrace/duplex configuration into a 21-suite apartment. The suite count was further increased to 23. In 1978, it was owned by Harold Korman.
Since demolished, the site is now part of the playground area for Sister MacNamara School.
Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89482, W97.15167
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Ross Brothers
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - August 1906, Library and Archives Canada.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1029/1909, City of Winnipeg Archives.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1792/1910, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - revised May 1914, Library and Archives Canada.
“Anytime 2698463” by Robert Jakiewicz, Winnipeg Free Press, 3 June 1978, page 7.
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.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 1 June 2024
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