Here is the best business location
in Brandon in 1882 — the corner
of Sixth and Rosser, looking
towards Pacific Avenue.

“One of the greatest boons
ever conferred upon the tavelling
public of the North-west was the
opening of this fine hotel in April
of the present year (1882).” The
description goes on to say that the
hotel can accommodate 100

 

guests, the upper floor being
exclusively dormitories. ”Both
[proprietors Messrs. Carson and
Caulfield] have other branches of
business on hand, but in none
have they furnished a more useful
institution, and one that will do
more for the progress of Brandon

than the Grand Central Hotel.”
Jas. A. Smart’s business here is
a $15,000 stock of hardware,

paints, glass, and such. Mr. Smart
was elected one of Brandon’s first
aldermen —- having shown himself
“one of her most enterprising and
public—spirited citizens". He later
served two terms as mayor of the
city, and represented Brandon in
the Provincial Legislature. He was
appointed deputy to the Minister
of the interior, Clifford Sifton.

The year is “1905. Imagine yourself

standing in the middle of Rosser

Avenue at the Eleventh Street
intersection, looking east. The
space at the extreme left will
eventually accommodate the Bank

, of Montreal (our present Library).

A couple of rigs stand in front of
the Post Office, and the building
on this side of it is the Union Bank
of Canada. The top floor of the
Fraser Block, 1027 Rosser Avenue,
was one of the earlier locations of
Professor McKee’s Academy when
it was moved here from Rapid
City in 1890. it became known as
Brandon College in 1897.

Obviously, this is not a one-
way street, for whatever way is
most convenient is the way to go.
Paving is in the future.