The Merchants Bank of Canada - Winnipeg MB
Posted by: 
PeterNoG
N 49° 55.502 W 097° 07.540
14U E 634532 N 5531979
This nice old converted bank building at 1386 Main Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba was used for banking from 1913 until 1979. Child & Family Services have been using it since 1985.
Waymark Code: WM8R6N
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date Posted: 05/05/2010
Views: 4
~ Text from marker on building ~
The Merchants Building
1386 Main Street
In 1913 the Merchants Bank of Canada announced the construction of a new building to service the prosperous new suburb which was developing north of Redwood Avenue. J.D. Atchison of Winnipeg was appointed architect and the contract awarded to George Fuller Construction of New York. The construction process consumed 23 cords of stone, 125,000 bricks, 1500 yards of plaster and 40 cubic yards of concrete. The Bank Directors approved a total expenditure of 28,000.00 dollars.
The Merchant's Bank was absorbed by the Bank of Montreal in 1921. The new owner utilized the building and constructed the north side addition in 1961. In 1979 the Bank of Montreal vacated this building and relocated to new premises.
In 1985 the North-West Child and Family Services purchased the building and immediately undertook a major retrofit to provide suitable work space for the agencies purposes in serving the local community. Westland Construction of Winnipeg contracted to complete the modernization, energy upgrading and partial restoration. In consultation with the historic building committee, particular attention was given to retraining the beauty and distinction of this important heritage building.
~ Description from
Canada's Historic Places ~
The Merchants Bank, a dignified structure of exceptional design and detail, is an extraordinary Winnipeg example of a branch bank built just prior to World War I on the commercial edge of a growing middle-income residential district. In marked contrast to the era's more common Beaux-Arts and Neo-Classical banking halls, this facility is in the style of a stately Italian Renaissance Revival palazzo, which fits well with the generally low-density development around it. Large round-arched openings and fine finishes of red brick, Bedford stone and elegantly sculpted terra cotta highlight the composition of architect J.D. Atchison. The building's qualities, outside and within, along with its advantageous Main Street location, have given it high utility, enabling it to serve as office space after functioning as branch bank until 1979.