Memorable Manitobans: Johann “John” Schwab (1864-1931)

Architect.

Born in Austria on 12 February 1864, he came to Winnipeg in 1898 and became a Canadian citizen in 1903. He worked as an architect until at least 1916. Schwab died at the Winnipeg General Hospital on 12 January 1931 and was buried in the Old Kildonan Cemetery. He was survived by widow Sabina “Sofia” Strobel (1867-1938), a daughter, and seven sons.

Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:

Building

Location

Year

Status

Edmonton Duplex

368 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg

1901

 

Johnson House (Thomas Herman Johnson)

633 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg

1901

Demolished (?)

Brown Block

323-327 Garry Street, Winnipeg

1903

Demolished (?)

Hoover and Town Manufacturing Building [four-storey brick structure]

James Avenue (at Louise Street), Winnipeg

1903

Collapsed (1905)

Trick Block

972½ Main Street, Winnipeg

1903

Demolished (?)

Zimmerman Block / Hoffman Block

671-673 Main Street, Winnipeg

1903

Demolished (1987)

Havana Cigar Syndicate Block

187 Sutherland Avenue, Winnipeg

1903

 

German Society Building

61 Heaton Avenue, Winnipeg

1904

 

House of Jacob Synagogue

45 Schultz Street, Winnipeg

1904

Demolished (?)

Pulford Block

398.5 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

1904

Demolished (?)

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

390 Dufferin Avenue, Winnipeg

1905

Demolished (?)

Lauzon Block

339 William Avenue, Winnipeg

1905

 

Central Block

333 William Avenue, Winnipeg

1906

 

Chlopan Block

580-590 Burrows Avenue, Winnipeg

1907

 

Missler Terrace

247-251 Manitoba Avenue, Winnipeg

1909

 

German Lutheran Church

779 Manitoba Avenue, Winnipeg

1910

Demolished (?)

Sources:

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 486/1901 [Johnson House], City of Winnipeg Archives.

“Tragic horror wrought by storm at midnight,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 July 1905, page 1.

“Was it wind or lightning,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 July 1905, page 8.

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Deaths and funerals,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 January 1931, page 4.

“Mrs. Sabina Schwab,” Winnipeg Tribune, 9 March 1938, page 5.

Some Old Winnipeg Buildings by Randy R. Rostecki, MHS Transactions, Series 3, Number 29, 1972-73 Season.

Winnipeg Buildings Index.

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

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 19 March 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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