R.I.P. St. Anthony's tree on Burnell Street

© 2021, Christian Cassidy

The tree in front of St. Anthony of Padua Hungarian Roman Catholic Church at 371 Burnell Street Street was seen sporting the "orange dot of death" in the summer of 2020. I missed when the tree came down, though removal crews were on Burnell Street in August 2020 and at least once more since then.

Comparing the size of the tree to the 1964 cornerstone of the building it is clear that the tree predates the building by quite some time. I thought I would try to find out when it was likely planted.

Urban development did not come to much of Burnell Street until after 1905. That year, only four addresses existed on the east side between Portage and Ellice and by 1911 there were more than 30. Going through old street directories and counting off houses from the nearest side street, it seems this tree first graced the front yard of a house 371 Burnell Street.

1916 Census of the Prairie Provinces

371 Burnell was built around 1914. Its first owner was the McVicker family who came from Ireland in 1906 and previously lived on Hargrave Street. According to Henderson's Street Directory, Arthur McVicker was an auditor with the City of Winnipeg and son, Arthur Jr., 20, was a clerk at Wm. R. Milton Bakery on Bannatyne Street.

The McVickers did not stay long at this address. The October 7, 1916 Winnipeg Tribune notes that after five years as a city auditor McVicker tendered his resignation to take a position with Price Waterhouse and Company. It was likely a job in another city as the McVickers disappear from street directories by 1917.

It can't be known for sure if the McVickers were the ones who planted the tree. They were, however,  the first owners of the house and likely thought they would remain there for some time with Mr. McVicker established in a career with the city.

Though the neighbourhood would have been quite built up by the time their house was built, the view from their front window was likely pretty bleak and in need of a tree. Burnell Street had been pasture land with a couple of commercial stables and a dairy operation on it. Even by 1914, the west side of Burnell across from the house was still undeveloped and likely still a horse pasture or the southern tip of the field behind Greenway School.

December 26, 1964, Winnipeg Free Press

How did the tree end up in front of St. Anthony's?

A small protestant chapel called Church of Christ popped up just north of 371 Burnell Street in the 1940s. In 1950, it was purchased by the newly formed St. Anthony of Padua Hungarian Roman Catholic Church.

As the Hungarian population of Winnipeg grew, so did the need for a larger church. The congregation bought a couple of neighbouring properties, including 371, on which to build the current church in 1964.

The stump in May 2022

See my other tree-related posts and columns here.