Portage Avenue and Main Street in 1874 (CITY OF WINNIPEG ARCHIVES)
Winnipeg’s most famous intersection — and perhaps the country’s windiest — is turning 150 on Saturday.
Portage Avenue and Main Street will celebrate a milestone as being the heart of the city, serving as a hub for the banking and financial centre, and site for numerous historical events.
According to the city, the joining of the Main Road (Main Street) and the westward cart road (Portage Avenue) to form the 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.
On Friday afternoon, Creswin Properties, which has tenants at 201 Portage Avenue at the intersection’s northwest corner, served up birthday cake to the public in the courtyard to celebrate.
