Farewell to some old Sherbook Street houses !

 Apologies for any formatting wonkiness of late . Blogspot has 'improved' their post-making system but it does not work well for the type of posts I like to do. I spend as much time cleaning up formatting issues than I do writing the posts ! I also have to go back to a small font.

Farewell to a strip of four 1890 era houses along Sherbook Street:

370-372 Sherbrook St.(1893) 1,974 sq. ft. (for 2004 photo, pdf)

378 Sherbrook St. (1895) 1,356 sq. ft. (for 2004 photo, pdf)
382 Sherbrook St (1895) 1,440 sq. ft. (for 2004 photo, pdf)

386 Sherbrook St (1895) 1,542 sq. ft.

circa 2007

In the late 90s and early 00s I spent a lot of time across the street at the Sherbrook Pool and  I would often admire the homes and the neat wrought iron fence that surrounded a couple of them. By that point, though,  they were rooming houses in disrepair. It was some point in the mid 00s that I noticed that they were boarded, and not the 'waiting to receive TLC' type of boarded up. In 2007 I took my first round of snaps thinking that they would be gone one day soon.

The rumour at the time, and despite a search through the newspaper archives and city website, I can't confirm it, was that Lion's Housing bought them along with former Firehall No. 5 for future expansion (likely of their parking area). Let me know if you can add anything !

The Firehall is a municipally heritage site so it cannot be torn down (yet).

Of the four homes, the one I like the best is 370 /372 with it's interesting brickwork and tree-lined yard. Built in 1893 and at nearly 2,000 sq ft, it is the oldest and largest of the four. The city's Historical Buildings Committee refers to it as August Mauer house for the contractor who lived there from 1910 - 1935.

 Morning Telegram Oct 3 1906

Today it is a duplex but I am not sure if it was built that way. Ads offering rooms for rent at the address don't start until around 1906 and even in the 1940s it is referred to as a house not a duplex.

May 31 1941, Winnipeg Tribune

Sept. 11 1964 Winnipeg Free Press 

The house was sold at least twice after Mauer lived there. Within a couple of decades the house went from being a "fully modern 8 room brick house" to a revenue producing rooming house.

 

378 Sherbrook ca. 2004 (source)

July 25, 1895 Manitoba Free Press

The other houses were built in 1895, the same year that they graded, added lights and began waterworks on Mulligan Avenue. The name change to Sherbrooke Street was made in 1897 and Sherbrook, sans e, came about in the 19-teens.

Sherbrook looking north from Portage

Fire Hall No.5 at top, ca. unknown (source)

As for the neighbourhood around them, number 370 has always been the first residential house north of Portage on that side of Sherbrook. A city health and welfare office fronting onto Portage took up the space up to the fire hall.

Firehall No. 5 was built in 1904 and closed in 1919, according to the Winnipeg Fire Museum. IT spent time as a city hydro building. The last tenant, from 1963 to around 2005, was as an auto glass repair shop. It was sold by the city in 2007 (I can't find a record of to whom it was sold).

The Sherbrook Pool is the new kid on the block, built in 1930 !

My Winnipeg at Portage & Main - Photos !

 

See all you night owls there !

Update !

Well, that was kind cool ! A couple of hundred people out for the show. Someone with a coffee or hot chocolate wagon would have done a brisk trade ! 

Backtracks: The Story of Winnipeg’s Streetcars !

Backtracks: The Story of Winnipeg’s Streetcars

Sunday, Sept 19th, 2010
Time: (tbc)
Cinematheque

This thirty minute film and Winnipeg Streetcar photo display is being hosted to raise awareness, and hopefully some donations, for Winnipeg's last remaining streetcar, 356.

Admission is 10 cents or 3 for 25 cents just like the cost to ride the streetcar in 1918 !

More on the event, a movie trailer and Streetcar 356 history can be found at winnipegstreetcar.com.

Wither Orioles ?

A bit of unfortunate community drama in my neck of the West End.

I moved into the Burnell / St. Matthews area three years ago. At the time not a lot of programming was going on at Orioles. It, and the decline in West-End youth recreation in general, was fodder for some of my of my earliest posts. The club's rinks / tennis courts were long gone, the place looked like it was closed down, the odd time kids were in there but events did not seem well advertised or attended whenever I dropped in to see what was up.

Unfortunately, a lack of community participation helped put the second-oldest community club in the city out of commission. In 2006 Orioles amalgamated with Isaac Brock and Clifton Community Centres to create a new entity: the Vaolur Community Club to cover a catchment area of nearly 30,000 people, (one of the city's largest). Valour was headquartered out of the Issac Brock location and that's where a bulk of the programming and renovation money has gone as well.

In 2007 there was a change in fortune for Orioles. The Daniel McIntyre / St. Matthews Community Association, (DMSMCA), was formed and did their programming out of space at the community club. It had the feel of an old-time community centre again.

By the following year there was a lot of activity going on. A bike cage, community garden, resident programming (like art classes, safety courses and the produce canning workshop I was hoping to attend next week !). The core programming of the Community Association such as a housing committee and small grants program also happened from the site. The DMSMCA and Valour boards pooled their resources for youth rec programming.

Earlier this month that fortune was reversed. The DMSMCA was evicted from the centre by the Valour CC board.

A "Transitional Meeting" was held tonight at the West End Cultural Centre to give a face-to-face update on what happened and what will happen in the near future.

Board members of the DMSMCA steered pretty clear of getting into the 'he said - she said' of what happened. That was a good thing as there is nothing as mind-numbing as the minutiae of community association politics, (except, perhaps, the minutiae of university student council politics). Also, I got the sense that most of the 45 or so people in the room were already up to speed on whatever took place.

The meeting wasn't all bad news. The core programs remain in place and will continue to operate from temporary premises. Ones needing larger spaces such as a gym or hall are still being sorted out.

In early 2011 the DMSMCA will move their offices and open an expanded community resource centre in the former West End Library which will become their permanent home.

This leaves the question "what would Beth Eaton, (1952 Miss Orioles Community Club), think about all of this ?!"

I didn't know the woman but I imagine that she would not be very happy with what has happened to Orioles over the past few years.

First off, the community let Orioles die out due to lack of participation, (and amalgamation cash dangled by the city). Now, after a rebirth of sorts, community politics will put it back to being a less-used satellite centre again.

It was stressed tonight that if the community, used to a high-functioning community centre again, wanted to keep programming going they have to do two things. First, remain involved in what programming is being offered and be vocal about what they want to see offered at the club. Second, is to be vigilant as decisions about Orioles' future programming and direction are being made by the board of, effectively, another community centre.

A 2009 West End BIZ community study was mentioned at the meeting. It was a study of the site's strengths and weaknesses and what people would like to see offered there. Unfortunately, a conclusion that comes up again and again is to use the DMSCA to help recruit volunteers and make up for budget, staffing and programming deficiencies at the site. If you are a community resident, the report is a great primer on what Orioles is and what it can be.

Also see my history of Orioles CC !

Cool Weekend !

That was a great weekend downtown ! The wine and cheese was delicious and the dance party was great ! On Sunday, it was more about cycling !

Giveways, tweed rides, dragons, bagpipes, wine and cheese !

A busy weekend in the 'Peg !

We've got Scottish parades, Lights on Broadway, West Broadway Street Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Ciclovia, our first Tweed Ride, dancing on Broadway and a wine and cheese party !

To top it all off it's the city's final giveaway weekend of the year !

A great weekend to be in the 'Peg !

Remembering Ed Letinsky

This is part of my summer series of posts. Ones that I started but ran into difficulty filling in all of the blanks. If you can share any information, please do so !

If you've spent time in the Exchange in the past couple of years you may have seen this monument to Ed Letisnky. Who was this 'Architect of the People' ?

Age 10 with 'The Stargazer'

Edward C. Letinsky was born in 1940, grew up on Burrows Avenue and attended Aberdeen school.

The child showed a passion for art. The above photo appeared in the February 18, 1952 Winnipeg Free Press after the ten year old won a youth art competition that brought free art lessons for a year at the Art Gallery (then located in the Winnipeg Auditorium).

Clutching one of his creations, he told the Free Press that whatever he did in the future he hoped that it would involve sculpture and painting.

Fast forward to 1969 and Letinsky graduated from the U of M with a degree in architecture. Soon after he would begin working for the city planning department as an urban design co-ordinator.

Letinsky appears in the media from time to time associated with innovative inner city projects.

Edmonton and Assiniboine ca. 1973 (U of M, Trib Archives)

He was as part of the team that created the award-winning 'Port-a-Park' in 1972. Explaining that 'vacant lots are among the worst offenders in downgrading the image of a city' he touted the concept of a series of modular park items, from furniture to playground equipment, that could be set up quickly on a vacant lot. When the land gets developed again, the items could be brought to another location. The idea was to have a number of these temporary parks throughout the core area. Port-a-Park brought inquiries from Germany to Jamaica.

There were at least three Port-a-Parks set up. The first was in December 1971 at the south-west corner of Graham and Carlton. In the summer it was a sidewalk cafe / 'light refreshment park' and in the winter became a skating rink. In 1974 / 75 parks were set up at the SW corner of Garry and Ellice and on Donald near York.

Main and Higgins Park, ca. 1973 (U of M, Trib Archives)

In 1973 Letinsky was spearheading the conversion of the former Royal Alex Hotel lot at Main and Higgins into a parkland showcasing Manitoba's natural land forms and flora. Forty indigenous trees, 1.5 acres of natural grassland and a 75 foot pond with water lilies and bulrushes were to have been part of it. The initial phase of the landscaping was done but, for reasons unknown, it was never completed.

Letinsky was co-author of the initial report suggesting that the 'Albert Street Area' of downtown be slowly converted into a trendy shopping and dining district similar to what most other cities, notably Montreal and Vancouver, had done. He was an active supporter of the plan and worked with business and building owners to start the conversion to what would soon be known as "Old Market Square", now The Exchange District.

Letinsky kept his interest in art. In 1980 he released a book Ed Letinsky's Sketch Book and had begun another one, on karate, when tragedy struck.

On October 13, 1980 Letinsky was killed in a farming accident on his property in Oakbank at the age of 40 leaving a wife and daughter.

Val Werrier said of him:

"... he was a creative individual, he initiated the concept, and without direction from council co-authored the study with Gordon Courage, that eventually materialized
in the design of Old Market Square.... Once a rundown area with third rate hotels and lots of vacant space, Old Market Square today is a credit to the city". (WFP Oct 25, 1980)

After his death the Ed Letinsky Annual Sketch Prize was created for architecture students at the U of M.

In 1983 the cobble lane that ran from the northern tip of Albert Street into Market Square Park was named Letinsky Place, (in 2001 the lane was sold to the developer of the Ashdown building and the lane was absorbed into the parking area).

I could not find further information about the monument on Arthur Street.

He realized his fondest dream was building a house with the labour of his own hands which he had designed with stones and rock. He designed and built a garden and greenhouse. Ed dreamt of an early retirement in which he would devote all his time to art.
Letinsky obituary, Oct. 1980, Winnipeg Free Press

Casablanca: wasn't that special !

I do love classic cinema and have blogged before my hope that a local cinema would take to showing retro films with some regularity. It turns out that the place going retro is Silver City.

September's film is Casablanca, it played tonight and again on Sunday, Sept. 26. The venue was one of their larger cinemas, number 4, that I am guessing holds about 400. The place was close to full and why not ?!

One of Hollywood's great films for $5, taxes in. Not only was it nice to see a large crowd but also to the age range. Nearly half must have been in their twenties or younger and you could tell from the gasps and chatter that, for many, it was their first time seeing the film.

I've seen Casablanca a dozen times before but never on a big screen. Even though I knew the scenes and most of the dialogue I was amazed at the body language, the subtle twitches and other nuances that you just just cannot see on a TV screen.

There's a different film every month. October features Hitchcock's classic Psycho !

March 20, 1943, Winnipeg Tribune

Casablanca premiered in Winnipeg on March 11, 1943 at the Capitol, (though there was a one-night 'sneak preview at the Uptown on February 25, 1943.) This was just six weeks after the January 1943 'Casablanca Conference' between Sir Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt put the city's name on everyone's lips.

Ben Lepkin, a Tribune reviewer, said of the film: "The lush setting is the background for a swiftly paced melodrama played superbly by a top flight cast" (read the full review here).

Winnipeg For Sale / Sold September 2010

My semi-regular look at what's on offer around Winnipeg.

The most expensive pile I came across was this doozy on River Road in St. Andrews for a cool $1.9 million. What ? Only four bedrooms ?! I'll have to think about that !

Just a few doors down, a piece of Manitoba history appears to have sold. The circa 1850s girls school Twin Oaks. For more on the site's history. Asking price was a mere $1.15m.

A little closer to home...do you like cheese ? Then this is your dream come true ! La Grotta del Formaggio (the Cheese Cave, I believe that translates into) on Sargent is for sale ! Cool store, cool street.

With all the recent buzz about Central Park and the great African influx to the area I wonder if the place will ever get back to being a decent place to live ? The building at 411 Cumberland, right across from the park, has a few units for sale. I found one, complete with rental tenant in place, for just $49.5k. Here's a top floor suite for $79k. Seriously, for the paltry mortgage I'd put up with a heck of a lot and go on a couple of nice vacations every year !

This Osborne Village building is for sale at $1.9m. It notes 'sitting retail tenants' but if you've been following the recent saga of American Apparel you might want to have an idea for an alternate anchor.

Feeling like going underground ? The tailor shop in the Concourse is for sale ! It's a tiny place but, as the ad points out, the Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm hours would be nice.

Here's the most interesting building for sale this month: 229 Pritchard Ave. (I love these little industrial looking gems in the midst of a residential street !). I'm not sure what the last business was but a quick check of the Free Press Archives shows that back in the 30s it was the Hebrew Friends Temple.

Cyclists: Winnipeg Tweed Ride 2010 is almost here !

Next Sunday, pull out your pipe and don your best tweed for Winnipeg Tweed Ride 2010 ! (also see the Facebook page)

Tweed rides have been held in a number of cities including Sydney, London, Boston, Washington and San Francisco. Looks like a fun time !

Related:
Early cycling in Winnipeg West End Dumplings
Large poster for Tweed Ride 2010

A tragic day in Manitoba History

September 1st marks the anniversary of two of Manitoba's greatest disasters.

The Dugald Train Disaster of 1947 killed 31 and injured hundreds when the Minaki Express collided head-on with a work train. It remains Canada's third worst train disaster.

More on Dugald can be found in today's This Was Winnipeg post.

Manitoba Free Press September 3, 1929

On September 1, 1929 Winnipeg awoke stunned by news of the Medway Court fire at Ellice and Edmonton. Within minutes of the first alarm every on-duty fireman and piece of firefighting equipment in the city was called in. Despite their efforts and those of the Free Press night watchmen, nine people died, many of them children.

Last year was the 80th anniversary of Medway Court and I did a detailed post about the fire which, despite being tied for Winnipeg's worst fire in terms of loss of life, has no memorial. Please see Winnipeg's Fiery Holocaust.