George Browne (1852-1919)

Architect.

Born at Montreal in 1852, the youngest son of architect George Browne and Anna Maria Jameson. He was educated in Montreal High School after which he worked at his father’s office until he was 18 years old, when he went to New York to study in the office of Russell Sturgis. For three years starting in 1873, he studied architecture in England, Ireland, France, Italy, and Switzerland. He returned to Montreal in 1877 where he practiced as an architect for two years until he moved to Manitoba. He farmed until 1882 when he resumed his architectural practice. In 1883, he married Louisa Anna Nicolls.

The following were among Browne’s architectural works:

• Massey-Harris Building (296 William Avenue, Winnipeg), 1885
• Miller-Morse Building (78-88 Princess Street, Winnipeg), 1887
• McKenzie, Powis & Company warehouse (Winnipeg)
• Dawson Kerr Elliott residence (Winnipeg)
• George Turner Orton residence (Winnipeg)
• Arthur Wickson residence (Winnipeg)
• W. J. Watson residence (Winnipeg)
• J. C. Gordon residence (Winnipeg)
• Mulvey School (Winnipeg)
• Aberdeen School (Winnipeg)
• North Central School (Winnipeg)
• Manitoba College addition (Winnipeg)
• Hudson’s Bay Company office (Winnipeg)
• Hudson’s Bay Company warehouse (Vancouver, BC)
• Dominion Soudack Fur Association (294-296 William Avenue, Winnipeg), 1885, 1904
• Civic Market (Winnipeg), 1890, demolished 1964
• MacGregor Block (180-182 Princess Street, Winnipeg), 1892
• Masonic Temple (335 Donald Street, Winnipeg), 1895
• Wesley College (University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg), 1895
• Gault Building (92-104 Arthur Street, Winnipeg), 1900
• University of Manitoba Science Building (Broadway, Winnipeg), 1900, demolished 1961
• YMCA Building (276 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg), 1900
• Henry Martyn Belcher residence (37 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg), 1901
• Strathcona Block (Fort Garry Court, Winnipeg), 1901, demolished 1974
• A. J. Andrews residence (749 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg), 1905, demolished 1953
• William Sanford Evans residence (Winnipeg)

In 1910, Browne left Winnipeg for New York City, and he died at South Nyack, New York on 12 March 1919.

Sources:

The Canadian Album: Men of Canada or Success by Example, Vol. III, Bradley, Garretson & Company, Brantford, Ontario, 1894.

George Browne Jr., The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Winnipeg Building Index, University of Manitoba.

Crescentwood: A History by R. R. Rostecki, Crescentwood Home Owners Association, 1993.

Profile revised: 26 December 2009

A collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Send inquiries to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Suggest a Memorable Manitoban  |  Sources  |  Acknowledgements