The Bemis Brothers Bag Company (BBBC) began as the J. M. Bemis & Company as founded by Judson Moss Bemis at St. Louis, Missouri in 1858. In 1873, the venture was joined by his brother, Stephen Allen Bemis, and thus the BBBC was established. It was incorporated at St. Louis on 18 May 1885, and the two Bemis brothers were joined by partners J. G. Marriott [of St. Louis, MO], Chester Simmons [of Minneapolis, MN], and Alice C. Bemis [of Colorado Springs, CO]. Its initial capital stock of $350,000 was increase heavily during the first few decades; to .75 million (1889), 1.0 million (1895), 1.25 million (1898), 1.6 million (1900), 3.2 million (1902), 4.0 million (1905), 5.0 million (1906), 8.0 million (1910), 10.0 million (1917), and 20.0 million (1922). During this period of growth, BBBC located their head office at Boston, Massachusetts and sought to expand internationally. Winnipeg was chosen as the site for their first Canadian factory and warehouse. The first few BBBC Managers were George C. Watson (1906-?), James Harold Willard (1908-?), and Watler Axel Lawson (1919-?).
On 7 April 1906, the company acquired an operating license under the Foreign Corporations Act of Manitoba and commissioned a six-storey factory building, measuring 112 feet by 112 feet, upon designs of their own architect; W. H. Lester. Work was overseen by Mr. Stenerwald and the structure was erected by day labour. It was purportedly the first within the city to be erected entirely from reinforced concrete and steel. It was built at a cost of at least $60,000. The site was served via a spur track running parallel its southeast elevation. Initially capable of producing 75,000 bags a day, its machinery was capable of being augmented to produce 200,000 bags daily.
It has been converted to an apartment building.
Bemis Brothers Bag Building (June 2017)
Source: George Penner
Bag Factory Apartments (June 2017)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90290, W97.14008
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: James Harold Willard (1881-1918)
“Notice,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 May 1906, page 18.
“Building trades’ strike spreading,” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 September 1906, page 1.
“Huge bag factory nearly complete,” Winnipeg Telegram, 27 October 1906, page 7.
“Bemis Bro. Bag Co.,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 December 1906, page 17.
Companies Office corporation documents (CCA 0059), 86B - Bemis Brothers Bag Company, GR6427, Archives of Manitoba.
Orders-in-Council (EC 0003B), Order-in-Council #10681, GR1530, Archives of Manitoba.
Bemis Bag Company Building, 311 Alexander Avenue, Peterson Projects, January 2007.
Historical Timeline, Bemis 150th Anniversary.
We thank Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by George Penner and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 1 April 2026
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