Historic Sites of Manitoba: Silvester-Willson Building (222 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg)

This Winnipeg building was designed by local architect J. H. G. Russell and built in 1904 for the Willson Stationery Company Limited, a partnership of Harvey Lee Willson and Elkhorn lumber merchant Geoffrey Silvester. Opened in early December 1904, the founding partnership occupied the basement and main floor and rented out the upper floors to professionals and clubs. Willson Stationery later expanded to three full floors. It became a municipally-designated historic building in 2018.

Silvester-Willson Building

Silvester-Willson Building (August 2016)
Source: Nathan Kramer

Silvester-Willson Building

Silvester-Willson Building (May 2017)
Source: George Penner

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89695, W97.14009
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

Companies Office corporation documents (CCA 0059), 106W The Willson Stationery Company Limited, Archives of Manitoba.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“Bulman Bros.” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 November 1904, page 17.

“Mammoth new mercantile blocks,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 November 1904, page 18.

“The Royal Templars of Aurora Council,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 May 1906, page 12.

“Willson Stationers and Envelopes Limited,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 July 1929, page 21.

“Willson Stationery names executives,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 January 1941, page 14.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer, George Penner, and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 July 2019

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