Manitoba Business: Manitoba Bridge and Iron Works / Manitoba Bridge and Engineering Works

Founded in 1902 by Thomas Russ Deacon and Hugh Buxton Lyall, the firm occupied a 15-acre site on Logan Avenue in Winnipeg for much of its history. It provided structural steel for numerous Winnipeg landmarks, including the Legislative Building and Union Station. In 1918, it purchased the Manitoba Rolling Mills at Selkirk then, in 1930, it became a division of Dominion Bridge. At that point, it left the fabrication of structural steel products to its parent company and instead focused on other areas of steel fabricating and manufacturing, operating under the name of Manitoba Bridge and Engineering Works. The company was dissolved in August 1982.

Some Manitoba structures constructed using its products:

Structure

Location

Year

Status

Orpheum Theatre

283 Fort Street, Winnipeg

1910-1911

Demolished (1946)

Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 1

54 King Street, Winnipeg

1910-1911

 

Steel Pony Truss Bridge

Brokenhead River, RM of Brokenhead

1927

 

Steel Pony Truss Bridge

Valley River, Municipality of Grandview

1928

 

Canadian National Railway Main Line Bridge

Minnewashta Creek, Municipality of Prairie View

1928-1929

 

Steel Pony Truss Bridge

Mossey River, Winnipegosis, RM of Mossey River

1929

 

Crescent Garage and Auto Sales Building

791 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg

1927-1928

 

Neepawa Salt Works

Mountain Avenue, Neepawa

1940

Demolished (1970)

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Thomas Russ Deacon (1865-1955)

Memorable Manitobans: Hugh Buxton Lyall (1877-1948)

Memorable Manitobans: Hugh A. Mackay (1880-1967)

Manitoba Business: Dominion Bridge Company

Sources:

“Contract awarded for bridge over Brokenhead,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 May 1927, page 4.

“Steel markets improve,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 May 1971, page 14.

“Notice of liquidation Manitoba Bridge & Engineering Works, Limited,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 January 1983, page 17.

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 11 April 2024