Winnipeg loves its surface parking lots, and one of its most noticeable nudges its way closer to being a half-century old this year.
The McIntyre Block stood on Main Street between McDermot and Portage from 1898 to 1979. The owners hoped to cash in on increased modern development at Portage and Main, but nothing materialised. At one time, it was thought it might be home to a second tower of the TD Centre development (now 201 Portage Avenue).
A couple of years before the building was demolished, the National Film Board commissioned a film that explored the building and spoke to some of the interesting characters who had offices there. You can view it here.
If I were King of Winnipeg, this would be the standard practice before tearing down any substantial building. A social history of the building with video or audio clips from people telling stories about it. The items could be kept in the archives for future reference and research.
1 comment:
I agree, recording the history of a building by interviewing those who lived/worked there should be a standard thing. I knew a woman artist who had a studio there in the 1970s. Do you know if the building was in decent shape for renovation when they tore it down? I’m curious to know if it was salvageable in 1979.
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