Historic Sites of Manitoba: Mackenzie and Powis Warehouse / Earn International (78-84 Princess Street, Winnipeg)

This three-storey  brick building was designed by local architect George Browne and built in 1891 for the wholesale grocery firm of Mackenzie and Powis. The firm had been organized in 1882 by partners William H. Lyon, Kenneth Mackenzie, and Edmund Powis. By the time of construction, Lyon had left the firm, which became Mackenzie and Powis.

By the late 1890s, only Mackenzie remained with the firm, renaming it the K. Mackenzie Company. He retired in 1910 and, six years later, the building was sold to the Redmond Company, a manufacturer and wholesaler of furs and winter clothing. Ownership was later assumed by the Montreal Trust Company, which leased space to various occupants through the years. It was bought in the early 1940s by Cornelius Abraham DeFehr, who specialized in the sale of furniture and appliances. DeFehr Furniture remained at the site until the mid-1990s.

In the mid-1970s, the building was joined to the adjacent one at 86-88 Princess Street by openings made in a wall between them. Further integration occurred in 1991 when boilers were installed in 86-88 Princess to heat both structures. In 1997, the entire property was sold to Earn International Inc. The building is a municipally-designated historic site.

Former Mackenzie and Powis Warehouse (June 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Former Mackenzie and Powis Warehouse (April 2017) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89793, W97.14265 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Miller-Morse Building (86-88 Princess Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lyon Block / Aikins Block / Bate Block (221 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Memorable Manitobans: William H. Lyon (c1833-1897)

Memorable Manitobans: Kenneth Mackenzie (1839-1928)

Memorable Manitobans: Edmund Powis (c1845-1930)

Sources:

Mackenzie and Powis Warehouse (78-84 Princess Street), City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, August 1998.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 14 January 2020

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