No, it's not Mom's Winnipeg address when she lived with her mother, Zelma, and younger brother Wes in the 1940s. 324 Young Street is the neighbour immediately south of their apartment.
Zelma's suite (#1 - 326 Young Street) in the Davidson Block was mere feet from the taller building next door. Living in its shadow could be precarious.
 |
The red dot marks the Davidson Block, c. 1957. Suite #1, 326 Young Street was the bottom left unit.
[Vintage Winnipeg] |
Unlike the Davidson Block, the imposing building next door at 324 Young Street remains. It was built in 1914, and has been home to a number of businesses since then.
 |
324 Young Street [West End Biz]
|
Now an Antique Mall, the 100+-year-old building was best known as the long-time home of Fort Garry Dyers and Cleaners Limited.
 |
Broadway Blouse Co. operated out of 324 Young Street, not Broadway.
[Winnipeg Free Press want ads, March 14, 1917 and March 27, 1918]
|
 |
In 1920 Fort Garry Cleaners & Dyers Inc. announced their move from 386 Colony to a fire-proof building at 324 Young Street. The line "We have no connection with any business carried on at 484 Portage ave." refers to Perth Dye Works.
[Winnipeg Free Press, January 31, 1920]
|
 |
Perth's, close by at 484 Portage Avenue, was originally called Fort Garry Dyers and Cleaners. It was started by Nathan Portnoy in 1914 (and named after Perth, Scotland).
[Winnipeg Free Press, Dec. 18, 1919 and https://perths.ca/about]
|
The claim in the 1920 Removal Notice that 324 Young Street was a fire-proof building would be tested five years later. In January of 1925 gasoline in the basement exploded, causing a fire that gutted the building. Two employees were seriously hurt, including one who was blown through a brick wall.
 |
Imagine living mere feet from this building. Firefighters from several stations worked quickly to prevent the fire from spreading to the Davidson Block.
[Winnipeg Tribune, January 21, 1925]
|
 |
"Smoke from the blaze was dense, the air not clearing to the north for several blocks. The sound of the explosion was heard for a considerable distance."
[Winnipeg Free Press, January 21, 1925]
|
The explosion made headlines in Winnipeg's newspapers. The Winnipeg Free Press noted that "The Davidson block, owned by George Ashdown, immediately adjoining the building, was considerably damaged by smoke."
 |
Looking east, at the rear of the Davidson Block and the adjacent Fort Garry Cleaners. Zelma lived in Suite 1, on the main floor of the apartment block and closest to 324 Young Street. The CBC building was on the east side of Young Street at Portage Avenue. Wesley Hall (University of Winnipeg) is visible at the top of the photo.
|
The explosion and fire on January 20, 1925 disrupted business, but the company moved quickly to resume operations. The building remained standing and was repaired.
 |
This notice ran in the Winnipeg Free Press on January 21, 1925, just one day after the explosion.
|
 |
Immediately after the explosion, Fort Garry Cleaners set up temporary operations just feet away on Portage Avenue, in what is now a Tattoo shop. [Google maps]
|
All was quiet until April 25, 1926.
 |
Another fire at 324 Young Street made the front pages again. Kids playing outside noticed the smoke, and firefighters were able to extinguish a small blaze on the first floor.
[Winnipeg Free Press, April 26, 1926]
|
In the winter of 1932-33 the threat to 324 Young Street was not fire, it was attempted burglaries.
 |
This time the explosion at 324 Young Street was caused by two burglars blowing off the door of the safe. An inner door foiled their efforts, and they ran away empty-handed.
[Winnipeg Tribune, December 22, 1932]
|
 |
A few weeks later, safecrackers tried to rob Fort Garry Dyers and Cleaners again. They managed to move the safe to the basement from offices on the main floor, but were scared off by a policeman on patrol.
[Winnipeg Tribune, February 11, 1933]
|
The company weathered these affronts and carried on through the 1930s.
 |
Drycleaners were often dyers as well, and it was a big part of their business. By dying older or stained clothes customers could save money and get more use out of their wardrobes.
[Winnipeg Free Press, October 20, 1934]
|
 |
Fort Garry Dyers & Cleaners also offered furrier and tailoring services. Its address wasn't really "Young at Portage" but that was close enough and easier to remember.
[Winnipeg Tribune, October 5, 1935]
|
In 1935 a Winnipeg Tribune article applauded Fort Garry Dyers and Cleaners Ltd. and told its 17-year story. W.E. Thurber started the business in 1918 in small quarters on Colony Street. In 1921 the company moved to 324 Young Street, where it operated until 1962.
 |
The company boasted 24-hour service, the latest equipment for odourless cleaning, a fleet of new delivery trucks, and a bowling championship!
[Winnipeg Tribune, October 5, 1935]
|
An October 1935 advertisement offered customers free storage of spring and summer clothing, insured against fire and theft.
 |
[Winnipeg Free Press, October 28, 1935]
|
 |
[Winnipeg Tribune, December 8, 1941]
|
World War II brought more business, and, yikes, another drastic fire!
 |
Five fire stations attended this major fire. Clothing, furs, expensive carpets, and R.C.A.F. uniforms and flying suits were at risk. Fifty employees would be out of work for some time.
[Winnipeg Tribune, February 7, 1944]
|
The 1944 fire was massive, and although the company was insured, damage was extensive, largely due to water and smoke. An investigation concluded that painters' drop sheets spontaneously combusted and started the fire.
 |
An explosion heard when the fire first started was due to a detonator in the pocket of a railway man's pair of overalls left for cleaning.
[Winnipeg Tribune, February 8, 1944] |
 |
It was some relief to learn that 1,200 R.C.A.F. uniforms were damaged, not 10,000 as feared.
[Winnipeg Tribune, February 10, 1944]
|
 |
Always empty your pockets before dropping off your dry-cleaning.
[Winnipeg Free Press, February 12, 1944]
|
The resilient company was back in operation six weeks later.
 |
"The management again wishes to thank their customers for bearing with them during this regrettable break in service."
[Winnipeg Tribune, March 27, 1944]
|
It seems dry-cleaning and dying is a dangerous business. Calamities were all too common.
 |
Another near-disaster averted.
[Winnipeg Free Press, August 10, 1951]
|
Neighbours like Zelma Stevens (and no doubt, the CBC across the street) must have been relieved in 1962 when the drycleaning firm ceased operations at 324 Young Street. A much safer business, Peter's Auction Sales Ltd., moved into the building. The Wachniak family ran its auction business there for 40 years. In 2002 the building was sold and became a most suitable location for the Old House Revival antique mall.
 |
A typical advertisement from Peter's Auction Sales Ltd.
[Winnipeg Free Press, October 10, 1975]
|
 |
Several generations of Wachniaks were auctioneers. Peter's Auction Sales held auctions every Wednesday at Young Street. Wachniak Quality Auctions held theirs on the last Wednesday each month at 288 King Street.
[Winnipeg Free Press, May 14, 1982]
|
 |
| Fort Garry Dyers & Cleaners Limited |
