This four-storey brick and stone warehouse at the southeast corner of James Avenue at Bertha Street in Winnipeg, measuring 48 feet by 100 feet, was designed by local architect Victor William Horwood. It was built between 1910 and 1911 by contractor William John Palmer for the boot and shoe firm of Ryan Brothers (Thomas Ryan, James Ryan, George Ryan, and Michael Ryan). They had purchased the land from the realty brokerage of T. H. Crotty and Company in September 1910.
The warehouse was later acquired by the Great West Electric and Radio Company. The structure was eventually converted into residential condominiums. It became a municipally-designated historic building in 2018.
The former Great West Electric Building (October 2016)
Source: Nathan Kramer
The former Great West Electric Building (October 2016)
Source: Nathan Kramer
The former Great West Electric Building (October 2023)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89871, W97.13406
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Thomas Henry McCaughey Crotty (1869-1946)
Memorable Manitobans: Victor William Horwood (1878-1939)
Memorable Manitobans: William John Palmer (1874-1943)
Memorable Manitobans: Thomas Ryan (1849-1937)
Memorable Manitobans: James Ryan (1852-1937)
Memorable Manitobans: George Ryan (1859-1948)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2975/1910, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“[T. H. Crotty & Co. ...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 October 1910, page 6.
“Tenders,” Manitoba Free Press, 1 October 1910, page 8.
“Local notes [Fire from a pot of boiling roofing tar...],” Manitoba Free Press, 24 December 1910, page 21.
“Warehouse space to let,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 April 1911, page 7.
“Ryan Brothers Western Limited,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 August 1949, page 26.
Ryan Brothers Building, 110 James Avenue by Murray Peterson, City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings and Resources Committee, August 2014.
We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 14 February 2025
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