Winnipeg Was Once Chicago of The North
Ever notice the buildings in Winnipeg’s Exchange District? Ever wonder why it’s called The Exchange District for that matter?
Way back in 1881, the central area of downtown Winnipeg was a thriving trades business area. Winnipeg had 3 major newspapers that were all located on the same block of Albert Street known then as “Newspaper Row”.
The Exchange District was filled with warehouses and railroads. Trains would travel through the area to pick up their orders and drop off their deliveries. This caused Winnipeg to florish and would become to be known as the “Gateway to the West”. People on the westcoast were unable to recieve their Shipped orders from the old countries without them being transferred from the eastcoast and through by train.
Aspiring arcitects from Chicago and New York needed practice testing out their designs. Buildings were designed and built in the Exchange that carry great detail and craftmanship. In 1997, The Exchange District became a National Historic Site. It is known as one of the most historically intact turn-of-the-century commercial districts on the continent.
The first World War took it’s toll on the booming industry of Winnipeg. Orders and shipments were stopped and the railroad was used for more than deliveries. Businesses suffered. Afterward, the Great Depression happened which only made things worse. A lot of the businesses and industries were forced to shut down.
Winnipeg’s industry started to look good again after the depression lifted, orders began once again travelling through the prairies once again. Until a new passage way was opened for ships to sail through. The Panama Canal was opened. Ships could freely make their journey around the lower side of the continent now and sail on through to the westcoast. The trades had shifted.
Although I am jotting down things I read from here and there, I am not too certain of the actual dates these events took place, but if it wasn’t for these events in the first place, Winnipeg might still be a thriving metropolios.
Thanks alot history.