Historic Sites of Manitoba: McRae Garage and Auto Sales Building (407-409 William Avenue, Winnipeg)

This two-storey building on William Avenue in Winnipeg was designed by local architect John Nelson Semmens and built in 1912 for Alexander Conley McRae of A. C. McRae Motor Company at a cost of about $20,000. The following year, McRae was joined by David Wesley “Wes” Griffith to establish McRae and Griffith Limited. The building had showroom space that sold Mitchell, National, and Waverly Electric automobiles and later Chevrolet automobiles on the main floor with offices on the second floor. The rear of the building was used for auto repair.

McRae Garage and Auto Sales Building (1912) Source: Manitoba Free Press, 11 May 1912, page 25. McRae Garage and Auto Sales Building (September 2022) Source: Jordan Makichuk Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90117, W97.14589 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: John Nelson Semmens (1879-1960)

Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Conley McRae (1862-1920)

Memorable Manitobans: Robert Farquhar McRae (1877-1962)

Memorable Manitobans: David Wesley “Wes” Griffith (1879-1943)

Sources:

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1992/1912, City of Winnipeg Archives.

“Another automobile garage,” Manitoba Free Press, 11 May 1912, page 25.

“Many building permits,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 June 1912, page 8.

“New garage nearly ready,” Manitoba Free Press, 9 November 1912, page 13.

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

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 September 2023

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