Memorable Manitobans: Edmund Watson (1856-1947)

Architect, carpenter.

Born at Lisburn, Ireland on 10 July 1856, son of Thomas and Jane Watson, he emigrated to Canada in 1884 and worked briefly as a carpenter at Winnipeg and Brandon. In 1891, he moved to Carman to design and build a home for his brother Johnston Watson. Subsequently, he planned and built many buildings in Carman from 1890 through the 1930s. He built several rural schools in the vicinity and also designed and built several commercial blocks along Main Street in Carman.

On 19 November 1895, he married Mary Ann Bruce (1862-1932) at Carman and they had three children: Thomas Johnston Watson (1897-?), Jean Ann Watson (1898-?), and George Bruce Watson (1900-?).

He died at Carman on 2 October 1947 and was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Some of his construction works in Manitoba included:

Building

Location

Year

Status

Smith House

111 First Street NW, Carman

1896

 

Leader Block

69 Main Street, Carman

1897

 

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

77 Second Avenue SW, Carman

1899

 

Lintrathen School No. 1118

RM of Dufferin

1901

 

Rosebank School No. 91

Rosebank, RM of Thompson

1906

 

Stephenfield School No. 518

Stephenfield, RM of Dufferin

1906

 

Newton School No. 58

RM of Roland

1909

 

Orr School No. 343

RM of Dufferin

?

 

Forrest School No. 202

?

?

 

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Edmond Watson, Carman, marks 91st birthday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 July 1947, page 8.

“Carman pioneer, E. Watson dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 October 1947, page 7.

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

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 November 2021

Memorable Manitobans

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