The first business district in Neepawa was on the 4 corners of Hamilton St. & Walker Ave. The founders of Neepawa, J.J. Hamilton & John A. Davidson, opened a store on the NW corner. A general store was opened by J.A. Clare & George Brownwell on the NE corner. "The Neepawa House", a log hotel, was built on the SW corner by Charles Stewart. On the SE corner Allan McLean started a blacksmith shop.
For the first 15 years after Neepawa was incorporated as a town, the North End & South End were in constant competition to be the "main" business district.
The coming of the CPR to the North End gave that end an upper hand in early development. Most businesses to develop in this end were industrial based such as grain elevators, an implement warehouse and the sash & door factory. John Crawford sold farm implements next to the CPR station, Wakefield and Kellington operated a planing mill and R.C. Ennis operated the Beautiful Plains Milling Co.
The North end lost its advantage of the railroad when the CNR came to the South End. CNR became the dominant railway for the area's grain delivery and many businesses in the North End close, or moved to the South End like Wakefield and Kellington when R.H. Fusee purchased it.
The South End grew with a variety of businesses and was far from industrial based like the defeated North End. Jewellery stores, drugstores, hardware stores, banks and other businesses sprang up in many buildings that still serve us today with the same variety of services.
PROMINENT SETTLERS IN NEEPAWA
(during founding years)
- The Graham Family - first to settle in the Neepawa area - 1877.
- Andrew Baker - original homesteader of SE 33-14-15, now the site of Neepawa.
- John A. Davidson - with J.J. Hamilton, as founders of Neepawa, first M.L.A. in district.
- Johnathon J. Hamilton - town co-founder with John A. Davidson and first mayor elected December 1883.
- J.A. Clare and George Brownell - owned one of first four businesses in Neepawa, a general store.
- Chas. Stewart - owner of Neepawa House, a log hotel, another of the original four businesses.
- Wm. McLean - owner of the blacksmith shop, also one of the four originals.
- John T. Crawford - head of a farm machinery company, two terms in the legislature for the district.
- R.C. Ennis - prominent in developing the north end of Neepawa ; owner of the Beautiful Plains Milling Co.
- B.R. Hamilton - owner of the Hamilton's Hardware store.
- John J. McFadden - fist doctor and druggist in Neepawa.
- Thos. W. Brondgeest - proprietor of the first newspaper, The Canadian.
- David H. Harrison - operated a private bank in Neepawa - later it became the Merchant's Bank; Dr. Harrison was elected premier of Manitoba in 1887 and served the shortest term recorded, no other doctor has served in the capacity.
Business Establishments in Neepawa 1895
Back to Main Floor