Winnipeg | Historical discussion

[j.online]

Was looking for a mid-90's street map of Winnipeg, but found this instead. It's a map the first Mennonite delegates from Russia/Prussia made & "points out places of particular interest to the Mennonite pioneers."

Wish we were able to still have Brown's creek run through the Exchange. Also, that short street between Portage & Main would have made for some nice angled buildings today...


[source]

(i'm still looking for that 90's street map tho... anyone have something?)

[j.online]

just did a quick overlay of Brown's creek on google earth and it seems John Hirsh Place is much of where old Brown's used to lie (wonder if it's still flowing underground...)

chalk that up to one more superfluous thing to know about Winnipeg.

[flatlander]

If I recall there is a marker for Brown's Creek somewhere near Waterfront Drive, maybe at the end of John Hirsch Place or Bannatyne? Somewhere around there anyhow.

Besides Brown's Creek, Colony Creek ran south along Colony (surprise) and west of the Legislature grounds. I'm sure if it remained today it would be very attractive.

I think the process you're referring to is called 'daylighting.' Many creeks were forced underground for flood control purposes, or perhaps they were seasonal, or whatever. Today these waterways are rehabilitated - I'm thinking of the Don River in toronto but perhaps it wasn't forced underground? Can't remember exactly.

When Waterfront Drive opened a few years ago they designed a small section on the east side with a bridge - i believe that is an acknowledgement of Brown's Creek. For some reason I think there was even a sound system incorporated into the project to convey the sound of rushing water. Who knows.

I picked up a book called "Winnipeg in Maps" at a used bookstore on Academy Road a few years ago. Don't think it's there anymore. The best map that shows Colony Creek is an HBC map from 1887. Both are shown on the Parr map of 1874 as well as one further north emptying into the Red around Alexander. In the Bird's Eye View map of 1880 I can't see any reference to Brown's although it very likely could be there.

[1ajs]

in the late 40's union tower had to have foundation stablization due to that creak

[Andy6]

And of course the foundations of the original City Hall collapsed into the creek, over top of which it was built. These little creeks were basically open sewers and mosquito breeding grounds in the 19th century and were covered up for health reasons as much as anything else, I think. There has been some effort to revive a buried creek in central Toronto (the Taddle Creek, not the Don River) but it hasn't come to anything.

Nice job with the overlay!

[1ajs]

theres also a creek by the redwood bridge... this city is riddles with them lol but yea they have all become storm sewers of sorts witch helps

but there is a storm sewer that fallows that streem if u take a walk during the summer u will find it in the ally between mtx and ashdown...

[flatlander]

http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=8900&SectionId=&InitUrl=

Going to P+D on Tuesday. City is recommending Grade II status, owner is appealing. The recommendation I assume was triggered by a demolition application.

[trueviking]

^^^sorry, i didnt see that....posted the ctv story in the construction thread...

Originally Posted by j.online

just did a quick overlay of Brown's creek on google earth and it seems John Hirsh Place is much of where old Brown's used to lie (wonder if it's still flowing underground...)

chalk that up to one more superfluous thing to know about Winnipeg.

the building i work in, just west of the traffic cirlce is starting to fall down...the foundations are collapsing and there is emergency work being done right now to stabilize it....my boss suddenly had a 6" gap below his window 2 weeks ago...the bricks were starting to shear on one corner....i wonder if the proximity to the old creek is part of the reason.

could also be that it is a 110 year old building, i guess.

[metonymy]

Here's a pic of the property the owner wants to "demolish for redevelopment".

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by metonymy

Here's a pic of the property the owner wants to "demolish for redevelopment".

here had to reupload it to image shack cause for some bizar reson it was not showing up


anyhow wtf why would someone want to demolish that?

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

the building i work in, just west of the traffic cirlce is starting to fall down...the foundations are collapsing and there is emergency work being done right now to stabilize it....my boss suddenly had a 6" gap below his window 2 weeks ago...the bricks were starting to shear on one corner....i wonder if the proximity to the old creek is part of the reason.

could also be that it is a 110 year old building, i guess.

eeek i hope its not a repeat of the old honey bee cafe on princess :S

also viking the ground is alot more wet then normal and so theres some more shifting going on and thus plays havic on areas where theres been land fill done i hope it can be fixed

[metonymy]

The letter on file from the owner, Prosperity Knitwear, requesting demolition only asks that the permit be issued at the earliest convenience, but doesn't say why.

[rgalston]

It's to build a... wait for it... multi-story parking garage. Or at least that was the word last summer.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by rgalston

It's to build a... wait for it... multi-story parking garage. Or at least that was the word last summer.

and why? theres a freaking empty surface lot across the st and kity corner why not build on those first

idiots

[JayM]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

and why? theres a freaking empty surface lot across the st and kity corner why not build on those first

idiots

Sweet! I cannot for the life of me see any downtown parking lots at all! (sarcasm)

[rgalston]

Rather unique-looking (to Winnipeg) apartment block on Graham Avenue between what looks to be Hargrave and Carlton, across from what's now the new Hydro building site, 1968. Banal '70s modernism replaced it long ago.

[1ajs]

:O i would rather have a restored version of that instead of that hauls store their now

[rgalston]

1880's duplex, SE corner of Logan and Martha, 1962--just before the Disraeli cut through the neighborhood

[1ajs]

now thats a shame

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by rgalston

1880's duplex, SE corner of Logan and Martha, 1962--just before the Disraeli cut through the neighborhood

But, wasn't the Disraeli bridge built sometime prior to 1957? I know when construction started Steve Juba (1957-77) was yet to be Mayor.