© 2023, Christian Cassidy
This mostly vacant lot at the corner of Logan Avenue and between Fountain and Ellen streets was once home to one of the city's largest stables. It was built for the Manitoba Cartage and Storage Company which operated from 1882 to about 1976, and for most of its existence had a strong presence in this neighbourhood.
April 1, 1905, Winnipeg Free Press
In September 1904, the city authorized the sale of a piece of land along Fountain Street between Higgins and Henry avenues to the Manitoba Cartage and Storage Company on which to build new
stables. The company already had a warehouse and office building further east on Henry Avenue at Lizzie Street.
Manitoba Cartage hired architect James Chisholm to design the structure. Chisholm was
a prolific architect at the time with hundreds of buildings to his
credit. Today, his best-known work is likely the original Olympia Hotel, which was later expanded and rechristened the Marlborough Hotel.
William Grace and Company was awarded the $50,000 contract to build the stable in April 1905.
The building measured 100-feet by 293-feet, was two storeys in height, and was built with steel beams finished in brick with stone accents. The ground floor was reserved for nearly 200 horses, while the upper level was for hay and feed storage.
It was described in the WInnipeg Tribune as "By far the largest (stables) in the city", and was also one of the most advanced in North America with electric automatic watering, drainage, and ventilation systems.
An extension measuring 154-feet by 40-feet, enough to hold another 50 horses and a hospital wing, was added in 1907.
Winning team, 1929 Royal Winter Fair, Toronto, (Source: Int'l Museum of the Horse)
Horses, of course, were the backbone of many companies during this era, and several prided themselves on the quality of their animals and even showed them at competitions. Different companies had their preferred breed of horse. Eaton's and Crescent Creamery used Hackneys, while Manitoba Cartage and Shea's Brewery preferred Clydesdales.
For decades, Shea's and Manitoba Cartage went head-to-head in the heavy draft category at important horse shows throughout Western Canada and beyond.
In December 1924, two of Manitoba Cartage's most prized horses, Chief and King, won first place for heavy draft team at the
International Livestock Show in Chicago. In the singles showing, Chief took first place, and King took fourth. In 1929, the company took best in show for its heavy draft team at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto (see photo above).
Most of the accolades for Manitoba Cartage's horses belonged to Scottish-born William McFadyen. The reputable horse breeder came to Manitoba around 1911 and began working for Manitoba Cartage as their stable foreman, and had his own business.
McFadyen soon became an esteemed member of the Manitoba Horse Breeders Association, and the success of his horses at high-profile events earned him an international reputation.
When he died in 1937 at the age of 71, T. P. Devlin, agricultural superintendent of the CNR, said "Mr. McFadyen had done more to aid producers of commercial horses than any other man in Manitoba".
August 25, 1926, Winnipeg Tribune
The risk of fire was a major concern for any company operating a stable. Despite shelling out top dollar for theirs to be constructed of fireproof materials, Manitoba Cartage's burned to the ground.
The fire started around 10:30 p.m. on the night of August 24, 1926, at the southwest corner of the building. Fortunately, it was noticed quickly enough by McFadyen that he, the night staff, firemen, and neighbours in what was still a fairly residential neighbourhood, were able to rescue the 200 horses inside, including champions like Chief and King. Some horses broke loose into the neighbourhood and had to be rounded up through the course of the night.
Firefighters from six fire halls were called out to fight the blaze. Three of them and a police officer ended up in hospital with minor injuries.
The cause of the fire was believed to be faulty wiring. Once that reached the tons of hay stored above, there was no stopping it.
A month after the fire, Manitoba Cartage took out a building permit for a new building at 345 Higgins Avenue that was built in stages over the next couple of years. Sadly, the new structure included a truck garage, not a stable. which signalled the beginning of the end for the company's prized Clydesdale fleet.
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