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Princess Street Warehouse
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The Confederation Life Association built this five-storey
brick warehouse in 1885 as a speculative venture. A twin
section existed where the three-storey building is now
located. It was built by William Brydon and B.R. Robertson,
a partnership of general contractors and suppliers of business
materials who may have also provided the plans for the
building, a popular practice in Winnipeg at the time.
The structure was originally only three storeys high. Featuring
large storefront windows, the building was divided into two
symmetrical sections separated by a party wall. The
southern portion was leased to Hodgson, Sumner and Company,
a wholesale firm dealing in dry goods, small wares and fancy
goods. Sutherland and Campbell, a wholesale grocery
firm occupied the other half of the building. These
pioneer enterprises, were part of the warehousing district
that supplied goods for the homesteaders that were pouring
through Winnipeg.
