The once glorious Kensington Street

An October 9, 1961, Winnipeg Free Press story about the expropriation of homes and businesses for the St. James Bridge Expansion is one of the most informative newspaper archives about an important part of St. James history. St. James Mayor Tom Findlay is quoted as stating that 20 businesses and 65 homes would have to be expropriated. The businesses that ended up being expropriated included the Piano House, a Chicken Delight store, All State Insurance, Carman Ruttan's Drugs. and a church at 247 Kensington. There had been a church on this site for almost 50 years. 

Later in October 1961, Findlay would lose his bid for re-election.(1) For several decades, it appeared that this expropriation had been totally necessary. However, in 2013, the City of Winnipeg, despite strong community opposition, constructed a Fire Hall inside the 1962 Cloverleaf at 1705 Portage Avenue. During the middle 1980's, the rest of Kensington between Portage and Ness was demolished to make way for Madison Square. 

Was this development meant to create an East St. James's meeting place? Prior to these two major expropriations, Kensington had already been a meeting place featuring a community club, church, small grocery stores, and public gatherings in private homes.

 In 1916, Border Community Club began as an outdoor rink with a small warming shack.(2) During the early days of the club, Charles Dipple, a volunteer, always had candy for the children. In 1938, a new clubhouse was constructed. The Club hosted pre-teen dances, teas, moccasin dances on ice, a junior girls sewing club and winter carnivals. The club is remembered for its pee wee hockey. The Club operated a five-team league. On January 30, 1943, the Club held a Booster Night. Well known hockey players Bill Juzda, and Danny Summers helped with the coaching. In 1963, Border Community Club was demolished as part of the St. James Bridge expropriation. The Club moved to its current location on Hampton Street. In 1975, Border and the Collegiate Street Airways Community Club merged, becoming the Hampton Street Bord Aire Community Club. 

 During the 1930's, some Kensington Street residents hosted public gatherings in their homes. In 1933, Emerson Talanadge and Livinia Chapman held meetings and dances of the Winnipeg Highland Association Private Homes in their home. Also, Mr. and Mrs. George McKenzie hosted similar Highland events. In 1935, Mrs. Thomas Brown housed a Whist Drive for the Ladies Auxiliary of Canadians War Disabilities Pensioners.

 During the 1920's, the Children of Kensington Street were often featured on the Winnipeg Free Press Children’s Sunbeams Page. In 1924, Harry Schneider won first prize in naming the picture His Name's not Backus. Harry's caption was "He's not trying to stop the flow." 

In 1927, Dorothy Fleming won a colouring contest. In 1929, Miriam Shepton wrote a letter about her cat Cutie. Cutie will be in the St. James Pet Hall of Fame which is part of this project. Other children mentioned were George Rendall, Annie Cobb, Charles Sephton, Billie Rose, and Matt Shepton. In 1952, John Cliffe was awarded a British Government Athlone Fellowship for his work on gas turbines. Another human-interest story about Wilhelmina Joel's garden with its large cucumbers was told in a 1955 archive of Free Press Smedley's Corner.

 A couple of young people who grew up on Kensington left us far too soon. In 1936, Thomas Ruttle died at age 21 from heat stroke suffered at the Polo Park Racetrack. Thomas had been member of the Winnipeg Deaf hockey Team. 

Leonard Shakespeare became a St. Boniface Police Officer. In 1969, Leonard, age 26 was tragically murdered on duty while responding to an armed robbery. A residential Windsor Park Street is named in Leonard's Memory.

 I found two acts of heroism in the archives. On July 16, 1942, Mabel Johnson was seriously wounded in a robbery of her small grocery store just south of Ness and Kensington. Fanny Hamilton put her own life in danger assisting Mabel until a doctor and St. James Police arrived. In December 1951, Lee Frankham, a resident of Kensington Street and a pilot for Riverton Airways, rescued Willard Olson who was trapped on George Island on the northern tip of Lake Winnipeg

 At the time of his 1923 passing, William Armishaw was the President of the Great War Veterans Association of St. James (now the St. James Legion). 

Many residents had impressive longevity records in their jobs. They included:

 Robert Parker 32 years at Winnipeg Electric, Charles Dougherty 39 years at CNR, George Hargraves 32 years at Eaton’s, Joseph Land 40 years at Crescent Creamery, John Taylor 28 years at Weststeel. 

 During the 1970's, two small parks were created on Kensington Street. The Kensington Street South Playground only lasted a few years due to the Madison Square expropriation. In 2004, the Kensington street North Children's Playground was renamed Luigi D'Ottavio park in memory of Luigi D'Ottavio. Luigi and Elisabetta and family were long-time residents of the 400 Block of Kensington. After his retirement, Luigi was a crossing guard at both Berry and Ness, and Queen and Portage.

 Kensington between Silver an St. Matthews is now totally commercial . I will leave that block for inclusion in a possible future story.

 The interesting history of Kensington Street can never be expropriated.