Farewell, Yellow Warehouse

In early October workmen started prepping The Yellow Warehouse at 764 Main Street for demolition, part of Winnipeg's recent demolition derby. Here is a look back at the building before it's gone.

Most Winnipeggers have driven past the circa 1909 Stuart Machinery / Yellow Warehouse building hundreds of times and not given it much thought. Located just above eye level as you enter the CPR subway it's easy to miss, even with the garish paint job.

James Stuart (Source: MHS)

In my research I found a fascinating prehistory involving James Stuart, the first owner of this building. Stuart's story is also that of the formation of the city's municipal electric and water service. For more on Stewart pre-764 Main Street.

Catholic Centennial Souvenir, 1912 (Source)

The Stuart Machinery Limited company specialized in the sale of machinery to the electrical, lumber, water and laundry industries. In fact, they could assemble and ship-to-site the entire compliment of machinery needed for a lumber mill, industrial laundry or small electrical generating station - you just had to have the empty building ready !

The first Stuart machinery building on the site, a more modest two storey affair, was badly damaged in a fire in March 1909. The salvageable portion of of the building was dragged to the back of the property and they rented nearby space to make up for what they lost.

February 12, 1910, Winnipeg Free Press

In the summer of 1909 construction began on a new four storey, red brick building. It opened in February 1910. Given that it would be warehousing industrial machinery, it boasted a 7 x 18 foot elevator capable of carrying six tons.

March 11, 1912, The New York Times, (read the Times story)

Barely two years after opening, Stewart Machinery was almost razed again by the devastating Radford-Wright building fire.

A serial arsonist named James Dodds had been terrorizing the city for months. On the night of March 9, 1912 he set fire to the neighbouring Radford Wright building, a window and door manufacturer. An employee of Stuart Machinery noticed smoke and notified police. His quick action likely saved the entire block from burning.

Radford-Wright site in 1912 (source) and 2011

When the burning walls collapsed seven people lost their lives, including two firemen. Nine others were injured. The lot remains empty to this day. (For more on Dodds and his fires.)

Newspaper ad ca. 1908

Stuart Machinery carried on for only another year. In 1913 James Stuart sold both of his companies, (the James Stuart Electric Company was where he spent most of his time). Stuart Machinery was bought by long-time rival W. R. Williams Machinery.

January 20, 1925, Winnipeg Free Press

James Stuart died in January 1925 at his daughter's home at Manhattan Beach, California. The former alderman, school trustee and first Water and Light Commissioner of the city was 72.

September 3, 1919, Winnipeg Free Press

Williams Machinery carried on at the site until the Depression when they closed their Winnipeg facility.

April 29, 1956, Winnipeg Free Press

June 20, 1935, Winnipeg Free Press

In 1935 Winnipeg's soon to be wholesale king Joe Werier bought the building.

Werier emigrated with his parents Joseph and Mary from Odessa, Russia in 1903. Here, he married a Scottish woman named Ada and had four daughters and five sons. He was active in the founding of a number of Jewish organizations in the city including the Hebrew Sick Benefit Association.

In February 1928 Werier bought out a grocery wholesale business and soon 764 Main became became a grocery warehouse upstairs with his paint and wallpaper retail store on the main floor.

Ad ca. August 1952

Over time, pretty much everything imaginable was sold from the building. From used hospital beds and jewellery to farm tractors and sausage stuffers. The mainstays of the business, though, became used restaurant equipment and used office furniture.

Werier sign, Princess Street ca. 2010

September 1, 1971, Winnipeg Free Press

Joseph Werier died in 1956 and son Sam took over the business. In 1961 J Werier and Co. added a location at 238 Princess Street and in 1971 the 764 Main location was renamed, and repainted, The Yellow Warehouse.

May 28, 1999, Winnipeg Free Press

The Yellow Warehouse continued in business until 1999. The building sat vacant until 2007 when the neighbouring Vineyard Church bought the property. After an unsuccessful attempt at redeveloping the building the decision was made to demolish it and beautify the site.

Photos from October 2011:

J Werier sign peeking from under the yellow paint


Front entrance

Main floor staircase

Lonely angel

Updates:

November 2011. First strike but through mid December, nothing more !