by Fred Morris
20 October 2025
In 1880, James Garfield, a lawyer, preacher and Civil War General from Ohio, was elected the President of the United States. Garfield was assassinated the following year. In 1882, Winnipeg named Garfield Street in his memory.
Jemima Mills, Charles Beemish, and James Whitney were the first Garfield Street residents mentioned in the 1905 Henderson Directory. They lived on the east side of the street between Portage and Livina (now St. Matthews). Garfield Street South was the farm Amble Hogue. In 1906, Happy Land, an amusement park which included a baseball diamond for the Winnipeg Maroons of the Northern Copper League, opened. The park was permanently closed in 1909. The new owner William Fisher had a plan to extend Sherburn and Garfield Street south of Portage. The residents of Garfield Street South are first listed in the 1918 Henderson Directory.
Gudmundur (Mundy) Johnson was the long-time Icelandic barber. In 1923, Morris Kim started a fur business that lasted 50 years. After Morris's 1949 death, his wife Sadie took over the management of the business. The business closed in 1973. Fridrik Kristjansson was a building contractor whose projects included the Heckla Block at 260 Toronto Street and the Asa Court at 221 Langside. During a 50-year career in the motion theatre business, Mesho Triller owned the Dominion Theatre at 175 Portage Avenue. Einar Arnason owned Plax Lab the manufacturer of plastic signs. In 1984, Bud Bjarnason and his wife Sandra founded Molly Brown, a temporary staffing company in Bellevue, Washington. The company is now owned by Bud and Sandra's children Greg and Susan. Signy Syms co-owned Ce Soir on Meadowwod Drive between 2001-16.
Eatons has become a part of my street series stories. Helgi Johnson was a long-time employee. Harold Sadler, the Mail Order manager, had a 40-year career at Eatons. Other Garfield Street Eatons employees included Margaret Wishnewski, Alfred Wishnewski, and Stina Johnson.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the children of Garfield Street were often mentioned in the Children's Pages of the Winnipeg Free Press newspapers. In 1928, Nan Hughes, age six, won a colouring contest. The following year, Donald Rogers age 13, won another colouring contest. In 1930, Elma McKinnon wrote a thoughtful letter about her summer visit to her grandmother in Carman. Patricia Johnson won a 1960 award at the Manitoba Music Festival for the best singer under the age of 14. Shirley Bjarnason was a princess at the 1962 Gimli Icelandic Festival. In 1974, Susan Pospishell was Miss Deaf Canada.
In 1943, Roy, Ester Mark and family moved to Garfield Street. The Marks were one of the first Asian families in the West End. Roy was the proprietor of the Exchange Cafe at 610 Main Street. When Roy died in 1965, his funeral procession had a police escort. Their son Richard was a 1957-58 Eatons Junior Executive. During his university years , Richard was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. In 1965, Richard graduated from Medical School. He practiced in three provinces and became a specialist in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.
Heather Sigurdson Ireland was a princess at the 1955 Gimli Icelandic festival. In 1957-58, she was an Eatons Junior Executive. In 1958, she was crowned Miss Manitoba. Heather became a professional singer appearing at concerts, on radio, and TV. She became a music teacher at Westwood Collegiate. Also, Heather served for 20 years as an Honorary Icelandic Counsel.
I found several connections to churches. In 1962, First Lutheran's President, my Uncle Hallador Bjarnason, led the campaign to build the First Lutheran Parish Hall. On 28-29 August 1962, the founding convention of the Central Canada Synod was held in the new building. Stina Johnson was the First Lutheran music librarian for decades. The building remains in use and is the venue the annual Trivia Night. Sister Geraldine MacNamara grew up on Garfield Street. In 1976, she founded Rossbrook House, a neighbourhood centre for youth. Geraldine received many awards for her community service. In 1978, Sister Geraldine became the first non-native to be named the Native Citizen of the Year. In 1983, Sister Geraldine was awarded the Order of Canada. Sister MacNamara School at 460 Sargent is named in her memory. Between 1952-75, Winnipeg's first open line radio show Ask the Pastor aired on CKY Radio. The Sunday night program offered "sincere and human advice." First English Lutheran Pastor Harvey Egler hosted the show.
Gordon and his son Bruce Hudson are both in the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame. Gordon won back to back Briers in 1928-29. Bruce won two Manitoba Men's and one Manitoba Senior championship. Also, Bruce is a member of the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame. Bruce, a catcher, played on three of the Rosedale championship teams. Gordon and Annie daughter Marg wrote a curling column call Skirts on the Rocks for the Winnipeg Tribune.
Between 1919-23, Charles Tanner served as Reeve (Mayor) of West Kildonan. Mr. Tanner was an MLA between 1920-27. He became the Managing Director of the Manitoba Hotel Association. In 1957, the Canadian Hotel Association made Charles a Life Member. Many Garfield Street residents had impressive career longevity. The list included Andrew McArthur with 47 years at CPR, Murdaine MacIver with 31 years on the Police Force, and Ernest Jones with 35 years on the Soldier Settlement Board. Leslie Tinker, a Rotarian, had 36 years at Hignell Printing, Halldor Bjarnason (my uncle) had 40 years at Canada Post. James Garner was 35 years as a street car conductor. James Norquay had 34 years in the Police Force, Francis Taylor had 39 years with the Fire Department.
Ernest (Brad) Bradshaw lived to be 100. Brad and Mona were married for 62 years. Brad worked for 30 years with TCA (Air Canada). When I delivered to Second Cup Polo Park, I got to know Brad who was one of the mall walkers. Shortly before his 2023 death, Brad pointed out that both he and his High School Daniel Mac were both celebrating their 100th Birthday. My cousin E. Leigh Syms is an author. He wrote a book called Some of the Old Ones from Lee River. Also, Leigh wrote a story called the "Wolseley Area Before the Europeans" as part of a 2000 booklet called Rising to the Occasion: A Community History of Wolseley. On 13 May 2016, Leigh was invested in the Order of Canada. He was recognized "for his contributions to preserving Aboriginal artifacts and for his efforts to advance public awareness of archeology in Manitoba".
Page revised: 14 July 2026
