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Located on the northwest corner of Logan Avenue and Laura Street in Winnipeg, this three-storey structure was designed and built in 1904 by the ownership duo, operating as Richards & Son, of Albert Henry Richards (1853-1909) and his eldest son George E. Richards at a cost of about $16,000.
The structure on this corner lot comprised two buildings, one of which measured 28 feet by 50 feet and a second 58 feet by 60 feet. In 1906, a 28 feet by 50 feet single-storey addition was built by Richards & Son, who also operated a cobler family business from one of the ground level commercial units on Logan Avenue. Originally containing a single-family dwelling, the space was later renovated into multi-resident apartments with around 18 units.
Albert Henry Richards was born at England on 31 January 1853 and, along with his wife Ellen Richards (1857-1905), immigrated to Canada in 1870. They had six children: George E. Richards (1875-?, husband of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cumbers), Phillip Briton Richards (c1877-1943), Albert Henry Richards (1881-1905), Ellen Richards (c1884-1910, wife of Mr. Parks), William John Richards (1889-1939), and James Edward Richards (1891-?). He worked as a cobler/shoemaker and they resided in Ontario before moving west, spending time at Vancouver, British Columbia (1891) before moving to Winnipeg. He died at Winnipeg on 5 November 1909 and was buried in the St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery. His Will specified that the Richards Block was to be given to his five surviving children.
In May 1957, the Richards Block was ordered shuttered by the Health Department; however, because the building technically met provincial Public Health Act requirements, its re-opening could not be prevented. At least three fires occurred in the building, in May 1961 [at which time 80 occupants lived there], January 1968, and June 1968. The January fire resulted in the death of a child.
In July 1968, the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg served owner Richard Bird notice to demolish the building or the city would do it. The Richards Block was duly demolished in July 1968.
Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90548, W97.14433
denoted by symbol on the map above
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 807/1904, City of Winnipeg Archives.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 203/1906, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 21 - revised August 1906, Library and Archives Canada.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 21 - revised May 1914, Library and Archives Canada.
Archives of Manitoba fire insurance plan collection / Western Canada Fire Underwriters Association - Volume 2 - Winnipeg - Sheet #240, Archives of Manitoba.
Marriage [George Richards and Lissie Cumbers] and death [Ellen Richards, Albert H. Richards] registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), #5610 - Albert Henry Richards, GR0170, Archives of Manitoba.
“[The death occurred yesterday of Lily Christine ...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 May 1907, page 3.
Obituary [Ellen Parks], Winnipeg Tribune, 14 March 1910, page 5.
“Serious stabbing,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 May 1910, page 5.
Obituary [W. J. Richards], Winnipeg Tribune, 21 June 1939, page 9.
Death notice [William John Richards], Winnipeg Tribune, 23 June 1939, page 20.
Obituary [Mrs. William Richards], Winnipeg Tribune, 26 September 1942, page 24.
Obituary [Phillip Briton Richards], Winnipeg Free Press, 9 January 1943, page 4.
Obituary [Mrs. Mary Richards], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 1964, page 28.
“City Health men shut down block,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 March 1957, page 3.
“80 flee blaze in block,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 May 1961, page 3.
“Mrs. Kept gives tea for daughter,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 June 1962, page 10.
“Fearful mothers picket ruined block,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 1968, page 3.
“Bldg. order given,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 1968, page 3.
“7 Old cars hauled away,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 July 1968, page 36.
“Three shells at metro's core:” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 January 1969, Leisure Magazine page 2.
St. John’s Anglican Cathedral Cemetery burial transcriptions, FindAGrave.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 15 July 2023
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