‘Almost unrecognizable’: Historical society laments demolition of century-old Main Street building

A historic Winnipeg building is gone from Winnipeg’s Main Street following a 2023 fire, and local historians are concerned. Joseph Bernacki reports.

Winnipeg historians are lamenting the loss of the 124-year-old Bell Block building on Main Street.

Seven Oaks Historical Society president Kenneth Ingram said he was sad to see the wrecking ball hit the block located at 813 Main Street on Wednesday.

Watching a building of that age go is a tough pill to swallow for the area, he said.

“That’s the unfortunate part because every time one of these buildings comes down, we lose a little bit of that history,” Ingram said.

His group has saved archival photos of Main Street, including the Bell Block.

The former apartment block and commercial building was all but destroyed by fire in March 2023 prompting the demolition.

Ingram said the Bell Block was once full of life—home to a bakery, a music store and later a furniture shop. He said brick builds like this tell the tales of some of the first Polish and Ukrainian settlers to come to Point Douglas in the early 20th century.

“This is an example of one of those modest, early Main Street blocks, the pre–World War One blocks that really used to line this whole area of Main Street,” Ingram said.

“It really tells the story of this part of the North End and Point Douglas.”

Heritage Winnipeg executive director Cindy Tugwell said Point Douglas is still bearing the brunt of burnt-out vacant buildings.

In January, the nearby Sutherland Hotel caught fire and now a pile of rubble stands in its place. She said there is a real concern for how Main Street may look in the future.

“We need to start looking at how to build supportive housing and start getting some real action and people on the streets, because businesses just cannot survive on this part of Main Street anymore,” Tugwell said.

She said developers should step up to preserve Main Street and not let it end up like the Bell Block.

“What I’d like to see is people bring it back and take it seriously and not just look at new builds in other parts of the city, but a real restoration program or rehabilitation program for this whole area of Main Street,” Tugwell said.