Memorable Manitobans: George Creeford Browne (1852-1919)

George Creeford Browne Click to enlarge

Architect.

Born at Montreal, Quebec in 1852, the youngest son of architect George Browne and Anna Maria Jameson, he was educated in Montreal High School after which he worked at his father’s office until he was 18 years old, when he went to New York to study in the office of Russell Sturgis.

For three years starting in 1873, he studied architecture in England, Ireland, France, Italy, and Switzerland. He returned to Montreal in 1877 where he practiced as an architect for two years until he moved to Manitoba. He farmed until 1882 when he resumed his architectural practice. In 1883, he married Louisa Anna Nicolls (?-?) and, in 1907, he changed his name to George Creeford Browne.

In 1910, Browne left Winnipeg for New York City and he died at South Nyack, New York on 12 March 1919.

Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:

Building	Location	Year	Status
Massey-Harris Building	294-296 William Avenue, Winnipeg	1885
Miller-Morse Building	86-88 Princess Street, Winnipeg	1887
Mackenzie and Powis Warehouse	78-84 Princess Street, Winnipeg	1891
Norquay School	Lusted Avenue, Winnipeg	1892	Demolished (c1956)
Elliott House (Dawson Kerr Elliott)	Winnipeg	?
Orton House (George Turner Orton)	Winnipeg	?
Wickson House (Arthur Wickson)	Winnipeg	?
Watson House (W. J. Watson)	Winnipeg	?
Gordon House (J. C. Gordon)	Winnipeg	?
Aberdeen School	444 Flora Avenue, Winnipeg	1893	Demolished (?)
Mulvey School No. 2	Broadway at Maryland Street, Winnipeg	1893
Toronto Hide and Wool Building	298 Ross Avenue, Winnipeg	1893
East Ward School	Portage la Prairie	1894
North Ward School	Portage la Prairie	1894
West Ward School	Portage la Prairie	1894
Central Judicial District Courthouse	Portage la Prairie	1894-1895
North Central School	Winnipeg	?
Manitoba College (addition)	Winnipeg	?
Hudson’s Bay Company Office	Winnipeg	?
Dominion Soudack Fur Association	294-296 William Avenue, Winnipeg	1885, 1904
Civic Market	Winnipeg	1890	Demolished (1964)
MacGregor Block	180-182 Princess Street, Winnipeg	1892
Masonic Temple	335 Donald Street, Winnipeg	1895
Wesley College	515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg	1895
Minnedosa South School	Minnedosa	1898
University of Manitoba Science Building	Winnipeg	1899-1900
Gault Building	92-104 Arthur Street, Winnipeg	1900
University of Manitoba Science Building	Broadway, Winnipeg	1900	Demolished (1961)
YMCA Building	276 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg	1900
Belcher House	37 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg	1901
Union Bank Building	33 Main Street, Carberry	1901	Deconstructed (2023)
Strathcona Block	181 Broadway / 160 Main Street, Winnipeg	1902	Destroyed by fire (1 February 1976)
Union Bank Building	Seventh Street, Gretna, Municipality of Rhineland	1902	Destroyed by fire (1913)
Union Bank Building	39 Maple Avenue East, Hamiota, Municipality of Hamiota	1902
Union Bank Building	103 Broadway Street, Holland, RM of Victoria	1903
Verhoeven House	137 West Gate, Winnipeg	1903-1904
Robinson House	97 Nassau Street North, Winnipeg	1903
Andrews House (Alfred Joseph Andrews)	749 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg	1905	Demolished (1953)
Osborne Block	110-118 Osborne Street, Winnipeg	1905
Evans House (William Sanford Evans)	Winnipeg	?

Sources:

The Canadian Album: Men of Canada or Success by Example, Vol. III, Bradley, Garretson & Company, Brantford, Ontario, 1894.

A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.

“A change of name,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 February 1907, page 2.

Crescentwood: A History by R. R. Rostecki, Crescentwood Home Owners Association, 1993.

Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950 by Robert G. Hill, Toronto.

Winnipeg Building Index

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 10 December 2024

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!