This four-storey brick building on Tenth Street in Brandon, measuring 50 feet by 120 feet, was designed by architect William Nicholson Lailey and built in 1905 by numerous subtrades including D. Crystal (concrete basement), J. McMillan (walls and floors), A. J. Carter & Company (brick work), George Stewart (carpentry), T. Harrison (roofing), Brandon Machine Works (iron work), A. Trench (metallic roofing), McDiarmid & Clark (sash, door, and factory work), Keith Brothers (heating and plumbing), Calladon & Arnett (boiler), and T. Cooter (painting).
The building's first occupant was the furniture company of Campbell & Campbell founded by Archibald Forbes Campbell and R. J. Campbell. In the basement was the company's picture framing department, storage for beds and springs, and the heating plant. The main sales area was on the ground and second floors, with corporate offices at the rear of the ground floor. On the second floor was a toilet room and a rest room for women. Furniture displays were deployed throughout the third and fourth floors. Also on the top floor was the upholstery department.
In 1920, George William Fergusson and Fergus John Wright became partners, after which the firm was known as Campbell Fergusson and Wright.
Vacant in the late 1930s, in 1939 the building was renovated into barracks for the 71st Battery. From 1943 to 1945, during the Second World War, it was the home for the United Service Centre that provided services to over a half million military personnel.
In October 1945, the building was sold to George Bass who operated a restaurant on its main floor for several years.
Campbell Building (no date) by Commercial Bureau
Source: Eric Fergusson
Campbell Building (1973) by Lawrence Stuckey
Source: Lawrence Stuckey Collection, S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University
Campbell Building (August 2023)
Source: Eva Janssen
Campbell Building (May 2026)
Source: George PennerSite Location (lat/long): N49.84879, W99.95108
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Archibald Forbes “Archie” Campbell (1854-1943)
Memorable Manitobans: George William Fergusson (1879-1963)
Memorable Manitobans: Fergus John Wright (1883-?)
Memorable Manitobans: George Nicholas Bass (1897-1978)
“Opening of new building,” Brandon Sun, 19 October 1905, page 12.
“New partners in well known firm,” Brandon Sun, 20 April 1920, page 23.
We thank Eric Fergusson, Eva Janssen, and George Penner for providing information used here.
This page was prepared by Christy Henry and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 8 June 2026
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