Historic Sites of Manitoba: Crawford Block / Kennedy Block (640 Rosser Avenue, Brandon)

This three-storey building in Brandon was constructed in mid-1907 for businessman Edward Crawford using red bricks obtained from the Edrans-Brandon Pressed Brick Company. Initially a two-storey building, its main floor was occupied for over thirty years by the men’s clothing retailer Gooden Rae & Company (owned by Crawford with partners William S. Gooden and John E. Rae) and a cafe, with residential space on the upper floor. Following a disastrous fire on 31 December 1915 that started in its basement, the block was almost completely rebuilt by architect David Marshall, becoming a three-storey structure with the top two floors being residential.

In 1941, the building was acquired by Patrick Angus Kennedy and it became known as the Kennedy Block. His company P. A. Kennedy Music operated at this location for over thirty years then, for another thirty years, the building was occupied by the Trade Fair Exchange. The block has undergone restoration and now offers both commercial and residential space.

Crawford Block / Kennedy Block (May 2018) Source: George Penner Crawford Block / Kennedy Block (August 2023) Source: Eva Janssen Crawford Block / Kennedy Block (August 2023) Source: Eva Janssen Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84836, W99.94703 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: David Marshall (1879-?)

Memorable Manitobans: Patrick Angus Kennedy (1880-1962)

MHS Resources: Manitoba Bricks and Blocks: Edrans-Brandon Pressed Brick Company

Sources:

“A handsome block,” Brandon Sun, 15 August 1907, page 32.

“$30,000 fire in Crawford Block Friday night,” Brandon Sun, 6 January 1916, page 18.

“Plans to improve and enlarge the Crawford Block,” Brandon Sun, 13 April 1916, page 31.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

We thank George Penner and Eva Janssen for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 September 2023

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