The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1984, Page 22

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SUMMER, 1984
nues and by Amy St., this was one of
two major parks in the core area of
Winnipeg at the turn of the century.
The first “Icelandic Festival” (“Islen-
dingadagurinn”) in Manitoba was held
here on 2 August 1890. Today the park
is marked by the tall Hydro chimney
stacks.
At the corner of Main and Higgins A ve.,
turn right (east) along Higgins. On your
left
12. C.P.R. STATION (Main St. and
Higgins Ave.). The long-time location
of the CPR railway station in Winni-
peg, this was the place where many
early immigrants first set foot in the
city after their long train ride from the
east coast ports. Many hotels and bars
once lined the streets around the station.
Turn left (north) at Annabella St. and
drive to the intersection of Annabella and
Sutherland Ave. The portion of Annabella
north of this intersection was once the most
sinful street in the city.
13. ANNABELLA STREET (Portion
north of Sutherland Ave.). From 1909
until after the end of the Second World
War, this street was the heart of Win-
nipeg’s “red light district”. The
brothels occupied all of the houses on
this portion of the street and, in 1909-
11, also included the houses on Mc-
Farlane St. (to the east). As many as
50-60 “houses” operated here at one
time, including Minnie Woods (“Queen
of the Brothels”) at 157 and Gertie
Cumey on the NE comer of Suther-
land. The Great Depression and the
advent of “willing amateurs” helped
to hasten the district’s downfall. To-
day it is a quiet, respectable neighbour-
hood.
At Rover Ave., turn right (east), drive
two blocks and then turn right (south)
along Syndicate St.
14. SIR WILLIAM STEPHENSON
HOME (175 Syndicate St.). William
Stanger, better known as Sir William
Stephenson, grew up on Syndicate St.
in this house owned by his foster-
father Vigfus Stephenson. Sir Wil-
liam, probably born at 28 Higgins
Ave., had an Icelandic mother. After
his father died, he went to live with
the Stephensons and eventually adopt-
ed their name as his own. Sir William
was head of the British Security Co-
ordination Service during the Second
World War, and was knighted by King
George VI for his work. The book “A
Man Called Intrepid” described him
and his work during the war. Syndi-
cate St. was the centre of Icelandic
settlement on Point Douglas as early
as 1879.
Turn left (east) at Sutherland and follow
it to Higgins Ave. Turn right here and
follow Higgins back to Main St., watching
for
15. BROWN AND RUTHERFORD
(Sutherland and Higgins). A number
of Icelandic immigrants worked for
such companies as Brown and Ruther-
ford (lumber mill) or Ogilvie Mills
(grain) during the last two decades of
the 19th century. Both of these com-
panies were located then, as now, in
the Point Douglas area (Ogilvie is
located along Higgins Avenue) and
helped to draw the Icelanders into the
area as residents.
At Main St., turn left (south) and move
into a right-hand lane. Turn right (west) at
Logan Ave., and follow it through to
Sherbrook St. After passing Isabel St. (at
the Salter Bridge) watch to your left to see
16. LAURA GOODMAN SALVERSON
BIRTHPLACE (Bushnell St.). Ac-
cording to her autobiography, Salver-
son was bom on Bushnell St. in 1890.
She is one of Winnipeg’s most illus-