Located on the south side of Woodrow Place in Winnipeg, adjacent to Gloucester Apartments, Elgin Court was a series of two-and-a-half storey duplexes designed and built by Peter Cornelius Samwell. Its building permit was issued in mid-July 1914, less than two weeks before the onset of the First World War. Construction progress slowly until wrapping up around November 1915. Of the planned six double units, only five were completed, at an estimated cost of $35,000. Each unit measured 22 feet wide by 30 feet long and provided quarters for two families. In 1930, $500 in foundation repairs was undertaken. The ten-suite complex was demolished in the 1960s.
Early plans for a seven-storey apartment (1964) to replace Elgin Court were not realized and instead, in January 1968, approval was granted for a two-storey apartment block. The present block apartment, dating from 2022, has 33 suites and was completed by Dyck's Cabinet and Woodworking Limited at a cost of $198,000.
Aerial view of Elgin Court (1923) by Royal Canadian Air Force
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Surveys Branch aerial photographs (A 0262), GR11610, FA 23 - 55.Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87930, W97.16221
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Peter Cornelius Samwell [Samwel] (1874-1951)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2419/1914, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Unfurnished suites [Elgin Court, Woodrow Place],” Manitoba Free Press, 12 September 1915, page 12.
“Rice-Ratheram,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 November 1915, page 11.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 3655/1930, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“The Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg - Board of Adjustment Zoning - 3. Case No. 400-64,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 November 1964, page 59.
“New $198,000 apartment block planned for city,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 January 1968, page 2.
“Now leasing W.E. New Apt 36 Woodrow Place,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 June 1968, page 52.
“104 - Suites for Rent Unfurnished [New 36 Woodrow Pl.],” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 September 1968, page 33.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Find a Postal Code, Canada Post.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 13 August 2022
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