This two-storey brick building on Broadway in Winnipeg, originally measuring 55 feet by 114 feet, was designed by local architect John Nelson Semmens and built in 1911 by contractor Stewart M. Cameron for brothers Thomas George Breen, Nixon John Breen, and William Wright Breen of Breen Motor Company at a cost of about $15,000. In its original configuration, the building had showroom space on its main floor that sold Chevrolet, Saxon, Chalmer, and Franklin automobiles while the second was occupied by offices. The rear of the building was for auto repair.
Later in 1911, a two-storey brick addition, measuring 50 feet by 132 feet, also designed by Semmens, was built on the west side of the building by contractor Cameron at a cost of about $20,000. The company operated in this building until 1922 when it consolidated all its offices into a single location the newly built Breen Motor Company Building on Main Street.
At the time of a 2023 site visit, the former dealership building had been extensively renovated and was occupied by a flooring store.
Breen Garage and Auto Sales Building (September 1916)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 23 December 1916, page 9.
Breen Garage and Auto Sales Building (January 2023)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88567, W97.15998
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: John Nelson Semmens (1879-1960)
Memorable Manitobans: Thomas George Breen (1877-1957)
Memorable Manitobans: Nixon John Breen (1872-1954)
Memorable Manitoban: William Wright Breen (1882-1927)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Breen House (39 Nanton Boulevard, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Breen House (25 Ruskin Row, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Breen Motor Company Building (245 Main Street, Winnipeg)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 305/1911, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Another large garage,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 March 1911, page 5.
“Building permits,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 March 1911, page 26.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2469/1911, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Home of the Chevrolet, Saxon, Chalmer and Franklin cars,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 December 1916, page 9.
“City sales room of the Breen motor company,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 February 1920, page 11.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #146 December 1955, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950 by Robert G. Hill, Toronto.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 29 March 2025
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