Historic Sites of Manitoba: Campbell Brothers and Wilson Warehouse / Adelman Building (92-100 Princess Street, Winnipeg)

This building on Princess Street in Winnipeg was designed by architect John Hamilton Gordon Russell for one of western Canada’s largest wholesale grocers, Campbell Brothers and Wilson. Formed in 1885 by Robert Joseph Campbell and his brothers, the company was joined by Robert Richey Wilson in 1900. Like other Winnipeg firms of its type, the company bought merchandise in large quantities then broke them into small units for sale to retail merchants. It specialized in tea, coffee, spices, mustards, jelly powders, and tobacco.

Built in 1903 by the Manitoba Construction Company, the Campbell Brothers and Wilson Warehouse was located on a spur line of the Canadian Pacific Railway that provided a convenient means of sending and receiving goods. In 1912, two additional floors designed by Russell were added to the building by the Shepley Construction Company at a cost of about $27,000.

Some employees of the company who were killed during service in the First World War were commemorated at a 61st Battalion concert held at the Walker Theatre on 13-14 December 1915.

In 1945, the business was sold to wholesale grocer J. M. Sinclair, who continued to use the building until 1958 and, two years, it became a furniture store. The building, now a municipally-designated historic site, has been converted to condominiums.

Adelman Building / Campbell Brothers & Wilson Warehouse

Adelman Building / Campbell Brothers and Wilson Warehouse (no date)
Source: Christian Cassidy

Adelman Building / Campbell Brothers & Wilson Warehouse

Adelman Building / Campbell Brothers and Wilson Warehouse (May 2019)
Source: George Penner

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89842, W97.14225
denoted by symbol on the map above

First World War Casualties

Name

Occupation

Service

Rank

Birth Date

Death Date

Cyril George Michael Brimble

Traveller

27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

11 September 1888

16 October 1915

James Foster

Shipper

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lance Sergeant

13 April 1892

8 October 1916

Alexander Malcolm
[Next of Kin]

Warehouseman

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

16 January 1885

5 April 1917

William McDonald

Grocers Clerk

27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

4 November 1888

26 November 1915

James McKee

Grocer

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Sergeant

20 January 1894

14 April 1917

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: John Hamilton Gordon Russell (1863-1946)

Manitoba Business: Kelly Brothers / Manitoba Construction Company / Kelly Brothers and Mitchell / Thomas Kelly and Sons

Manitoba Business: Mills and Shepley / Shepley Construction Company

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

100 Princess Street - Penthouse Condominiums, Winnipeg Downtown Places.

Sources:

Adelman Building / Campbell Brothers and Wilson Warehouse, 92-100 Princess Street, City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, November 1982.

We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Christian Cassidy, Darryl Toews, and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 17 April 2024

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