Discussions

Very sad news about two of Brandon's most substantial and oldest buildings that were victims of yesterday's fire. At least everyone got out unhurt.  
 
A couple of years back, I started a project about Brandon's historic buildings, including these two, that I never got around to completing. I found my notes and banged them into shape. They're too long and too many images to be able to insert here, so pardon the links:  
 
- Hanbury Hardware Building at 705 Pacific (1907) http://westenddumplings.blogspot.ca/2018/05/brandon-fire-destroys-two-historic.html  
 
- Massey Harris Building at 638 Pacific (1914) http://westenddumplings.blogspot.ca/2018/05/brandon-fire-destroys-two-historic_20.html

Thanks for the posting. Found this very interesting!

have any history of the Collyers building. At onetime it must of had something to do with Cockshutt Equipment.

Looking back at its address, the earlierst I can find is 1981 Rob's Auto Store, then by 1987 or so it was Collyers.  
 
There's nothing listed for that address in the 70s but if it was part of another business or the entrance moved, it could have had been under a different address.

Thank you Christian, always interesting information coming from you. I appreciate it.

In 1973, 601 Pacific, which I am assuming is the same building, opened as a Standard Auto Glass outlet.

Wasn't that where they sold and serviced the British imports Austin MGB Triumph and Volvo and Subaru at one time, it was in that area maybe or is that building gone long ago.

I believe that was European auto that was at the east end of the Collyers building Not too sure that Len's American Motors wasn't in that area at one time.

JimSloane said "I believe that was European auto that was at the east end of the Collyers building Not too sure that Len's American Motors wasn't in that area at one time. "

That sounds right and I think Len had the dealership a while, then got the American Motors franchise,and latter or right away moved to Tenth, I know after they moved a friend used to get their Volvo serviced at Lens on tenth they had all the manuals still.

If memory serves me, the building housed Brandon British Auto, not European Auto. Len, who already owned Len's AM Motors on Tenth St, acquired Brandon British Auto and it became Len's Auto World. For a time Len owned both dealerships.

predated all of those businesses in that building. On the side that faces north, Cockshutt Farm Equipment can be read. Just trying to figure out when they open and closed. And if they were the original occupants.

Thanks for that bit of info. I think I pieced it together. The short answer is late 1946-ish.  
 
The original Cockshutt building at this location was built in late 1910. In 1946, a fire in an add-on warehouse behind the Massey building sent flying embers across the street to the Cockshutt building. Both buildings were destroyed. The company, now a dealership – not a corporate store, moved to temporary premises in the Brown Block.  
 
They didn’t really advertise between June 1946 and late 1948 so I can’t tell exactly when this was rebuilt, though they appear in the 1947 street directory as back at “Pacific and 6th”. I’m guessing this might have had something to do with the war. There wouldn’t have been much in the way of new tractors or parts to sell until companies like Cockshutt went back to civilian manufacturing.  
 
A series of dealerships took over the space, including Roy Sales and Service from 1960 to mid-1960s.  
 
The space appears then to have been subdivided into different addresses.

Here's a more detailed version of the building's history: http://westenddumplings.blogspot.ca/2018/05/brandons-fire-third-historic-building.html

Thanks for the information.

I don't think it was "destroyed", most of the damage sustained by the Massey Building was water from fire fighting efforts. For the most part, the Massey Building survived the fire.  
 
Otherwise, great information!

Hopefully it can be saved.  
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brandon-massey-manor-saved-1.4672811

mrchristian said "Very sad news about two of Brandon's most substantial and oldest buildings that were victims of yesterday's fire. At least everyone got out unhurt.     A couple of years back, I started a project about Brandon's historic buildings, including these two, that I never got around to completing. I found my notes and banged them into shape. They're too long and too many images to be able to insert here, so pardon the links:     - Hanbury Hardware Building at 705 Pacific (1907) http://westenddumplings.blogspot.ca/2018/05/brandon-fire-destroys-two-historic.html     - Massey Harris Building at 638 Pacific (1914) http://westenddumplings.blogspot.ca/2018/05/brandon-fire-destroys-two-historic_20.html "

I thought that the Massey Harris building address was actually 5 Seventh Street. That is what my old Henderson's Directory states. The City tax map shows it as 638 Pacific Ave.

mrchristian said "Looking back at its address, the earlierst I can find is 1981 Rob's Auto Store, then by 1987 or so it was Collyers.     There's nothing listed for that address in the 70s but if it was part of another business or the entrance moved, it could have had been under a different address. "

My 1953 Henderson's Directory shows Govt Liquor Control Comn at 701 Pacific. Did they share space in the Christie School Supply building then? My 1955 Henderson's Directory shows Butcher and Son (motorcycle department) at 702 Pacific Ave: and my 1980 Henderson's Directory shows Collyer's Sales and Service auto repair at 702 Pacific. Would that be where Massey Manor parking lot is now?

702 Pacific would have been where Auto Parts Central is now.

Every one who added to mrchristians post. And mrchristian or course for all his hard work.  
 
Buildings can be replaced ( sort of) , businesses re0loacte often-lives and history can only be remembered and honoured.  
 
Thank you mrchristion et al for documenting those memories,

There was an Austin car dealership there somewhere. I believe it was owned by Butcher. I remember my dad buying a 1949 Austin and later a 1955 Austin there.

If you read the blog post,  
 
- in 1923 part of the main floor of the Hanbury Building was leased to the provincial government to become Brandon's first post-prohibition liquor store. It lasted until just after a modern Liquor Mart opened on Tenth Street in 1970.  
 
- Yes, Colliers operated at a couple of different locations as a gas station / garage, including across the street on pacific, until a sales division was created and moved into the Coockshutt Building.