Interesting artifacts have surfaced during the renovation of the Virden heritage building on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Nelson Street.
The building, formerly Victoria Jewellers, now belongs to Jason Creller and the main floor retail space has new tenants - Shari Lyn Fashions.
The history of this 117-year-old building (construction circa 1898) includes the mystery of the Virden tunnels. In the dimly lit, north end of the basement there is a framed doorway to a passageway, apparently going nowhere, now.
This is the entrance to a system of tunnels, which now appear to be filled in with sand and gravel.
Built back in the prohibition era, the underground network is said to connect to the Alexandera Hotel and the original Central Hotel (the current hotel is apparently the third Central Hotel).
Keith Creller, former owner of the building has taken an interest in the building’s history. He says the tunnel also originally carried on, allthe way over to what was the Balmoral Hotel, (on
Seventh and Wellington, where Martin’s Pharmacy is now located). Built by John Cain, the large brick-faced building bore the name “Mid-Town Block” inscribed over the centre entrance.
The history of the Cain Block, as it was also known, can be found on Ken Storie’s website -Virtual Manitoba.
The Manitoba historian has documented the building’s heritage value and calls it “the most impressive pre- 1900 building remaining in the Virden Heritage Business District.” He describes the corner building as, “Ambitious in form and style, it is a fine example of a multiuses commercial block.”
Cain built it to house his Hardware Store.
Next, the building was purchased by Eugene Dely, who afterward moved across the street and opened a restaurant. Other businesses operated out of the corner location, including RCA owned by Dave Petch and then McDougall Fabric Store.
Creller points out a photo (hanging in the Central Hotel) which dates the building as a Robinson Store owned by a Mr. Gallant in 1947. It was Brown & Fowler Clothing and later became Larry’s Lunch.
Niakwa Pizza took it over and then it became Century Pizza, owned by Randy Slater. He moved out in 1994, when the senior Creller bought the building, eventually opening it as Victoria Jewellers.
Part of the building included a string of businesses - a pool hall which was Victoria Tobacco and Gift, Virden Green Velvet owned by Doug Pidobni, Lloyd Gibson Pool Hall, Victoria Billiards owned by Charley Forster and Ernie Forster.
Upstairs history
The upper floor has housed businesses including lawyers and denturists. In the middle of the 20th Century, Steve Hegion (Hegion & Associates, Milestone Petroleum and Copperhead Oil Company) was an upper floor tenant.
Two music businesses were there including Al Jackson Music and Anna Sproule who taught
accordion and guitar in the 1970s. The second floor was later turned into residential suites and now, four newly renovated apartments are nearly ready for occupancy.
