Memorable Manitobans: Charles Wallace Sharp (1852-1924)

Charles Wallace Sharp Click to enlarge

Building contractor, municipal official.

Born in Salisbury, England on 22 June 1852, he came to Winnipeg in 1873, soon becoming prominent in theatrical circles. For some time he was manager of the old Princess Theatre, at the corner of Princess Street and Ross Avenue. In 1883, in partnership with Robert Gerrie, he bought the theatre. He also owned a roller skating rink. In partnership with his half-brother James W. Smith, he founded the firm of Smith and Sharp that was responsible for the construction of many early buildings in Winnipeg, and the Western Construction Company (1904). In addition to his contracting business, he was a director of the Manitoba Gypsum Company and Canadian Industrial Exhibition Association.

In 1879, he married Mary Louisa Leckie (1857-1945) with whom he had seven children: Louisa Jane Sharp (1881-?, wife of Percy S. White), Grace Belle Sharp (1884-?, wife of J. R. Higgins), George Wallace Sharp, Irene Marie Sharp (1888-?, wife of Frederick William Harper), Milton Hoffe Sharp (1892-?), Charles Monckto Sharp (1895-?), and Cedric Sharp (1897-?). The Sharp family built a home on Wellington Crescent, next door to John James Borebank. He served on the board of the Winnipeg Playgrounds Association. After years of service on the Winnipeg Public Parks Board, he was appointed Chairman and served in that capacity for several years until the end of 1914. He was a member of the Masons and Central Congregational Church.

He died at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on 30 September 1924 due to injuries sustained in a fall. His body was returned to Winnipeg for burial in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Some of his construction works in Manitoba included:

Building	Location	Year	Status
Grand Pacific Hotel	Main Street, Winnipeg	?
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral	353 St. Mary Avenue, Winnipeg	?
Sandison Block	302-304 Main Street, Winnipeg	1904	Demolished (1970s)
Carnegie Library	380 William Avenue, Winnipeg	1905
Holyrood Court	563 William Avenue, Winnipeg	1906
Great West Life Building	177 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg	1909-1911
Canada Permanent Mortgage Building	298 Garry Street, Winnipeg	1909
McLaren Hotel	554 Main Street, Winnipeg	1910
Farmer Block	333 Main Street, Winnipeg	1910-1911	Demolished (1980)
McKittrick House	64 Middle Gate, Winnipeg)	1913
CPR Sleeping Car Building	Winnipeg	?

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: James W. Smith (1843-1917)

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Chas. W. Sharp dies as result of accident,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 October 1924. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B8]

“Chas. W. Sharp laid to rest,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 October 1924, page 11.

This page was prepared by Harry Shave and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 5 November 2023

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. 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 Browse deaths occurring in: 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!