Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 1 (54 King Street, Winnipeg)

This Winnipeg site was acquired by the Winnipeg Hydro-Electric System (later known as City Hydro, now Manitoba Hydro) from Cyrus McBean in mid-summer 1910 for $43,080. Sub-Station No. 1 was designed by the engineering firm of Smith Kerry & Chace and built between 1910 and 1911. The tender for the structure’s steel was awarded to the Manitoba Bridge and Iron Works for $12,413. Power was brought here from the Pointe du Bois Generating Station, via the Rover Avenue Electric Terminal, and stepped down from 12,000 volts to a voltage serviceable for local distribution lines.

The building backs on the City Hydro Showroom on Princess Avenue.

Construction of Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 1 (July 1911) Source: Manitoba Hydro Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 1 (January 2017) Source: Nathan Kramer Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 1 (February 2021) Source: George Penner Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89686, W97.14234 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Manitoba Business: Smith Kerry & Chace

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pointe du Bois Generating Station (Pointe du Bois, Whiteshell Provincial Park)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pointe du Bois Staff House (Pointe du Bois, Whiteshell Provincial Park)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pointe du Bois Stone House (Pointe du Bois, Whiteshell Provincial Park)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Slave Falls Generating Station (Winnipeg River, Whiteshell Provincial Park)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Rover Avenue Electric Terminal (199 Annabella Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Showroom (55 Princess Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 1 (54 King Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 2 (300 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: May Street Substation / Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 3 (541 Waterfront Drive, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 4 (811 St. Matthews Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro Substation No. 5 (Scotland Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Hydro War Memorial (Winnipeg)

Sources:

“Site for power station bought in heart of city,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 June 1910, page 1.

“City of Winnipeg - Electrical Distribution System - Substation No. 1,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 October 1910, page 9.

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 3080/1910, City of Winnipeg Archives.

“Tender accepted for steel work,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 January 1911, page 1.

“City of Winnipeg Electrical Distribution System - Tender for Superstructure of Sub-Station No. 1,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 February 1911, page 21.

“City of Winnipeg - Electrical Distribution System - Tenders for 500 K.W. transformers,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 May 1911, page 2.

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2060/1911, City of Winnipeg Archives.

“City of Winnipeg - Electrical Distribution System - Tenders for oil and water systems for Sub-Station No. 1,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 August 1911, page 2.

“City of Winnipeg - Electrical Distribution System - Tenders for steam heating system for Office Sub-Station No. 1,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 July 1911, page 5.

“Judge opens probe into city deals,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 January 1912, page 1.

“Winnipeg Electric Building Sub-Station,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 May 1912, page 11.

We thank Bruce Owen (Manitoba Hydro) and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 December 2022

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