This small one-storey brick building on Seventh Avenue South in Virden, measuring 28 feet by 43 feet, was designed by architect Alexander D. Melville and erected in 1930, at a cost of $15,351, to house local circuitry of the Manitoba Telephone System. In 2008, it was in use for provincial government offices. Damaged in a 2012 fire, the building was put up for sale in 2015. It was vacant at the time of a 2018 site visit.
Telephone Exchange Building at Virden (no date)
Source: The Telephone Echo, Volume 10, Number 5, page 47, January 1931.
Former Telephone Exchange Building at Virden (September 2008)
Source: Ken Storie
Former Telephone Exchange Building at Virden (June 2020)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Former Telephone Exchange Building at Virden (July 2023)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84899, W100.93020
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander D. Melville (1873-1949)
MHS Centennial Business: Manitoba Government Telephones / Manitoba Telephone System / MTS Allstream / Bell MTS
“Plan big expenditure for phone extensions,” Manitoba Free Press, 22 March 1930, page 11.
“Plans ready for six new telephone exchange,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 March 1930, page 31.
“Telephone exchange building at Virden, Man.,” Manitoba Free Press, 12 June 1930, page 21.
“Telephone exchange building at Virden, Man.,” Manitoba Free Press, 13 June 1930, page 22.
“Telephone exchange building at Virden, Man.,” Manitoba Free Press, 14 June 1930, page 38.
“Telephone exchange building at Virden, Man.,” Manitoba Free Press, 16 June 1930, page 27.
“Tenders,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 June 1930, page 27.
“Telephone exchange building at Virden, Man.,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 June 1930, page 35.
“Telephone exchange building at Virden, Man.,” Manitoba Free Press, 23 June 1930, page 19.
Report to the Honourable the Provincial Treasurer, Manitoba Telephone System, November 30, 1930, Archives of Manitoba, Minister of Public Utilities files, GR1550.
“Developed commercial property for sale,” Virden Empire-Advance, 15 May 2015, page A25.
“Price reduced,” Brandon Sun, 8 April 2017, page 32.
This page was prepared by Ken Storie, Gordon Goldsborough, and Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 23 October 2023
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