Formerly located along the east side of Edmonton Street between Portage Avenue and Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, this four-storey brick building, measuring 50 feet by 79 feet, was designed by local architect John Hamilton Gordon Russell and built in 1909 by the Griffin Brothers for owner John Crichton at a cost of about $46,000. In its original configuration, the block contained 16 residential apartments along with quarters for an on-site janitor. Known initially as the Medway Block, the Medway Court name originated as early as 1912. It was also occasionally referenced as Midway Court.
The building was destroyed on 1 September 1929 by a fire that also caused nine fatalities and numerous injuries. A subsequent investigation cited deficiencies with the metal fire escape which, though non-flamable, became unusable due to heat from the blaze, leading to some occupants jumping from windows and balconies to escape the flames.
The gutted structure was demolished and a two-storey building that housed a bowling alley was built on the site. That building was later removed and the area is now a surface parking lot.
Medway Court (1909)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 10 June 1909, page 1.
Medway Court (2 September 1929)
Source: ”After the fire,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 September 1929.Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89331, W97.14756
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: John Hamilton Gordon Russell (1863-1946)
Memorable Manitobans: John Crichton (1871-1950)
Manitoba Business: Griffin Brothers
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1802/1909, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Apartment blocks,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 March 1909, page 1.
“Winnipeg, Man.,” Contract Record and Engineering Review, 7 April 1909, page 23.
“Winnipeg, Man.,” Contract Record and Engineering Review, 19 May 1909, page 21.
“Fine apartment block,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 June 1909, page 1.
“Fine apartment block,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 June 1909, page 20.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 42 - revised May 1914, Library and Archives Canada.
“J. Crichton & Co. [We are allocating suites in the new Medway block ...],” Manitoba Free Press, 2 May 1910, page 17.
“11 die in Winnipeg fire,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 September 1929, pages 1-3.
“Higher value represented in new building,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 September 1929, page 4.
“Injured victims describe horrors of apartment,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 2 Septemer 1929, page 4.
“After the fire,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 2 Septemer 1929, page 4.
“Fire escape,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 Septemer 1929, page 5.
“Three of four fire injured recovering,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 Septemer 1929, page 2.
“Says Medway Crt. not adequately eqiupped with means of escape,” Manitoba Free Press, 11 September 1929, pages 1 & 2.
“Barry announces fire to be probed,” Manitoba Free Press, 12 Septemer 1929, page 4.
““Fire Prevention Week” opens Sunday; of special significance this year,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 October 1929, page 29.
“Recommends filling station be authorized,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 December 1929, page 4.
“Fire and plane crash cost eleven lives [September],” Manitoba Free Press, 1 January 1930, page 4.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #102 February 1963, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 22 July 2025
