The two story, solid brick (the
bricks were produced by the Broadview Brick Company) building was built in
1911. The building had only two owners, Mr. Arthur Edwards, and The Wyllie
family.
On July 1, 1943 Bill Wyllie
bought the business from Mr. Clerkson. In 1954 Alex Wyllie bought into the
partnership with his brother Duncan to follow in 1960.
At one time the second floor of
the building was used as living quarters and then a hardware department.
In the early years a Liquor
blending and bottling operation was conducted from the second floor, known as
the Winnipeg Wine Company.
Bill Wyllie’s story of the
company was told like this:
“The Company received orders by
mail. If they needed to make Rye Whisky for the orders, they used Rye Whisky,
Grain Alcohol and soft water, all put in a big tub. The color was very pale by
all this dilution, so sugar was burnt on the stove; it was then pocked up with a
cloth on a stick, and dipped into the whisky mixture. When the color was brought
up to normal, the whisky was bottled. The bottles were then corked and capsuled,
and any label you desired was available and applied. The whisky was then packed
into cases and shipped via Rail, mainly to the Kenora, Ontario area.
Unfortunately in January of
2003, the store burned to the ground by a fire in a neighboring building.
