In 1893, this two-storey structure on McDermot Avenue in Winnipeg, designed by Hugh McCowan, was built by local builder Daniel David Wood on the north side of McDermot Avenue for the printing and publishing firm of Stovel Company, run by brothers John Stovel, Augustus Breathwaite Stovel, and Chester David Stovel.
By 1900, the firm had outgrown its space so an additional two floors were added, again designed by McCowan. The building also housed the editorial office of Der Nordwesten, a German-language weekly newspaper, and other businesses.
In mid-1916, a fire gutted the building. The Stovels rebuilt between 1916 and 1917, with work done by the Sutherland Construction Company, but did not reoccupy the block, instead moved to space elsewhere. The property was sold in 1940 to Kay’s Limited, a dry goods firm. The building is a municipally-designated historic site.
Stovel Block (circa 1901)
Source: “Caverhill, Learmont & Co.: Wholesale Hardware and Metal Merchants: Catalogue No. 40: Montreal, Canada, 1901” (page 6)
Stovel Block (circa 1903)
Source: An Illustrated Souvenir of Winnipeg by W. A. Martel & Sons.
Kay Building (April 2011)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Kay Building (December 2018)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89733, W97.14106
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Stovel Printing Company
Manitoba Business: Sutherland Construction Company
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Stovel Printing Building (365 Bannatyne Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
Memorable Manitobans: Hyman Kay (1887-1969)
Stovel Block / Kay Building (245 McDermot Avenue), Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, July 1998.
We thank Orest Kinasevych and George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 15 January 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!
