Located on the southwest corner of Logan Avenue at Martha Street in Winnipeg, measuring 105 feet wide by 50 feet deep, the three-storey structure was designed by Charles Saunders Bridgman for owner David Ripstein and completed by contractor William Horner in 1906 at a cost of about $32,000. The building was built of red brick with limestone facings. The ground level featured several commercial units, with the upper two levels having approximately 14 apartments. The block represented a continuation of the southeastward expansions to the Occidental Hotel, also owned by Ripstein, along Logan Avenue.
The building later came into City ownership and was used for low-cost housing. By the mid-1930s, it had fallen into an unsafe state of disrepair and was ordered vacated. In 1938, the City Council commissioned new architectural plans from Bridgman as to how the building might be revitalized, with the proposed complete overhaul and redesign to cost some $36,000 and provide quarters to 30 two-room suites. The plan was ultimately scrapped and, around April 1940, a demolition contract of $1,050 was awarded to the Canadian Wrecking and Salvage Company.
As of 2023, the property is used as a surface parking lot.
Ripstein Block (1906)
Source: Manitoba Free Press, 6 December 1906, page 26Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90212, W97.13485
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Charles Saunders Bridgman (1876-1965)
Memorable Manitobans: William Horner (1860-1916)
Memorable Manitobans: David Ripstein (1851-1923)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: White Rose Hotel / Occidental Hotel (631 Main Street, Winnipeg)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 480/1906, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Work begins on the New Ripstein Block,” Winnipeg Telegram, 17 April 1906, page 5.
“Front view of the New Ripstein Block,” Winnipeg Telegram, 24 June 1906, page 4.
“New mark for Winnipeg’s building record,” Winnipeg Telegram, 18 September 1906, page 17.
“Ripstein Block,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 December 1906, page 26.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 8 - revised August 1906, Library and Archives Canada.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 8 - revised May 1914, Library and Archives Canada.
“Retail stores show great expansion [Ripstein Block],” Manitoba Free Press, 6 December 1906, page 28.
“Eight families driver out of homes by fire,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 April 1924, page 2.
“City to modernize some of its holdings,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 September 1937, page 68.
“Would renovate city properties,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 July 1938, page 4.
“City housing problem tackled,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 July 1938, page 4.
“Houses going up,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 August 1938, page 20.
“Relief policy flare-up,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 April 1940, page 3.
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 and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 29 December 2023
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