Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection celebrates its 150th Birthday on Saturday, June 2, 2012
WINNIPEG - June 1, 2012 - Portage and Main, one of Winnipeg's most iconic intersections is set to celebrate its 150th Birthday on Saturday, June 2, 2012. The intersection has been the site for a number of important historical events including the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 and the Save Our Jets Rally in May, 1995.
As a banking and financial centre, the iconic crossroads also played an important role in the development of Western Canada. Almost all major Canadian banks in operation at the turn of the century opened branches and offices at Portage and Main or within walking distance to the intersection.
Portage and Main Historical Background
The joining of the Main Road (Main Street) and the westward cart road (Portage Avenue) to form our now famous intersection occurred on June 2, 1862 when Henry McKenney and his business partner John Christian Shultz purchased Lot 248 from Andrew McDermot, with the intention of building a store where the north-south and east-west roads crossed.
The roads - known today as Portage Avenue and Main Street - existed long before 1862. By the early 1860s, Main Street was well-established and linked Upper Fort Garry to Lower Fort Garry. Portage Avenue was referred to variously as the Western Trail, Portage La Prairie Road and Portage Road, and served mainly as a trail for carts going west. McKenney's store remained on this site until it was demolished circa 1887.*
*Passage compiled using information from the paper: The Man Who Created the Corner of Portage and Main and was published as part of the Historical and Scientific Society of Manitoba Transactions (Series III, Number 26, 1969-1970).
Click here to view early photos of the Portage and Main intersection
For more historical information on The City of Winnipeg, please visit: winnipeg.ca/history/