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Tuesday 11 January 2011

Saratoga Amusements / Surtees Building: Who is Maidie ?

Sometimes, a city's most nondescript building holds the greatest memories for those living there.


My latest post for Winnipeg Downtown Places looks at 314-320 Donald Street which was a Winnipeg entertainment mecca for nearly a century with Saratoga Bowling Lanes opening in 1906 and Stag Billiards Hall in 1913. A few major fires later the building is now government offices.

Surtees Building
One thing I was never able to figure out is who was Maidie Surtees ? I noticed the memorial out front many years ago but, despite everything that is online nowadays, can't find any sign of her (or who the son was who put it there).

If you know, drop me a line and I will gladly add it in !

1 comment:

Winnipeg Girl said...

Not an answer to your question, but just something I remember about the building...

I remember this housing "Donald Street Circus" a much loved predecessor to the Chuck E Cheese's of the world. Many of the games were on free play; I remember hours of playing "Ladybugs" a game similar to Pacman. I'll see if I can dig up some photos but if I had to hazard a guess, it would have been in business in about 1986.

Years ago, I also remember Academy Lanes having some of the old wall decorations from Donald Street Circus up in their party rooms upstairs.

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