Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. John's Garage / Luxton Garage / Ward's Garage (169 Luxton Avenue, Winnipeg)

This one-storey pre-cast concrete block building on Luxton Avenue in Winnipeg, measuring 30 feet by 50 feet, was designed and built in 1912 at a cost of about $1,500, by owner David Alex Wadsworth, as an automotive repair garage.

Originally operated as St. John's Garage, it was sold to Frank P. Goldstone in 1917. In 1920, Goldstone leased the garage to Ernest Hastings Allman who renamed it the Luxton Garage. In 1937, the garage was purchased by Frederick Peter Ward who renamed it Ward's Garage. He would be the longest-serving owner of the building.

Operated by a variety of tenants, at the time of a 2025 site visit the building was in use for storage.

The former St. John's Garage

The former St. John's Garage (December 2014)
Source: Christian Cassidy

The former St. John's Garage

The former St. John's Garage (August 2025)
Source: Jordan Makichuk

The former St. John's Garage

The former St. John's Garage (December 2025)
Source: Kerrin Asmundson

Rear of the former St. John;s Garage

Rear of the former St. John's Garage (August 2025)
Source: Jordan Makichuk

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.92613, W97.12244
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

MHS Resources: Manitoba Bricks and Blocks: Blocks

Sources:

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1550/1912, City of Winnipeg Archives

Winnipeg fire insurance map, #305 January 1957, City of Winnipeg Archives

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

Property Details [169 Luxton Avenue], Winnipeg Assessment and Taxation.

169 Luxton Avenue - Ward's Garage by Christian Cassidy, Winnipeg Places, 5 January 2015.

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk, Christian Cassidy, Kerrin Asmundson, and Kenneth Ingram.

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.

Page revised: 26 December 2025

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