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Photos & Coordinates | Sources
This three-storey brick building, at the northeast corner of Portage Avenue and Sherbrook Street in Winnipeg, was designed and built in 1904 by Oleson and Bruce for owner Martin Thomas McKittrick. With residential apartments on the upper two floors, its ground floor accommodated a drug store operated by Charles McKeown and Charles A. Hunter.
In 1906, both men were charged in Winnipeg County Court with unlawful operation under the Pharmacy Act because neither of them had passed Manitoba examinations nor were they members of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association. Magistrate Thomas Mayne Daly fined McKeown $20. Around August 1908, William McCullough (1877-1947) and a Mr. Vroman purchased the property and established the William McCullough Drug Store, later known as the McCullough Drug Company.
McCullough’s business continued into the early 1930s when it was acquired by Reginald Lewis “Reg” Harman who, in October 1932, renamed it Harman’s Drug Store. The business boasted a lunch counter in addition to providing pharmaceutical services. Renovated during the 1950s, the interior was intentionally kept in vintage condition and was a popular destination of Winnipeggers. Operated in later years by Harman’s son, the building was purchased in 1982 by Jack McCombe.
Sherbrook Block in the background (c1955)
Source: Peter Charleton
Sherbrook Block (July 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Sherbrook Block (June 2019)
Source: George PennerSite Location (lat/long): N49.88872, W97.15877
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Martin Thomas McKittrick (1864-1927)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1536/1904, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Esculapians prosecuted,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 June 1906, page 9.
“Pharmacists prosecute,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 June 1906, page 9.
“County Court Cases,” Winnipeg Tribune, 9 July 1906, page 8.
“Pharmacy prosecutions,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 September 1906, page 13.
“Pharmacy,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 December 1906, page 16.
“Wanted - drug clerk apprentice,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 June 1907, page 17.
“Pinchin and peculation,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 November 1907, page 1.
“New branch library,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 December 1907, page 7.
“Pharmacy sold,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 August 1908, page 4.
“List of city druggists acting as Free Press want ad agents,” Manitoba Free Press, 19 November 1908, page 14.
“Elected President,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 November 1929, page 1.
Obituary [William McCullough], Winnipeg Tribune, 18 April 1947, page 23.
Obituary [William McCullough], Winnipeg Tribune, 21 April 1947, page 21.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #133 February 1963, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Where everyone knows your name,” Winnipeg Free Press Community Review Northeast, 8 March 1995, page 5.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
We thank Paul Charleton, George Penner, and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 4 February 2024
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