515 Waterfront Drive - Thomas Davidson Manufacturing Co. Building (R.I.P.)

 © 2026, Christian Cassidy

Place: Thomas Davidson Manufacturing Co. Building
Address: 25 May Street, now 515 Waterfront Drive
Constructed: 1905
Demolished: April 2026
Architect: John Woodman
Contractors: Waterworth and Fee

I'm sad about this building. In the heydey of construction along Waterfront Drive, I thought that this would be a super building to convert into residences. It's right on the water, should have been well built as it was a metal manufacturing plant, had plenty of space next to it for parking or a modern entrance, and loads of windows! Rest in peace.

April 5, 1905, Manitoba Free Press

This building was constructed in 1905 for the Montreal-based Thomas Davidson Manufacturing Company Ltd, "makers of enameled steel ware, pressed pieces, and jappaned tinware." 

It was designed by local architect John Woodman, who had just worked on Winnipeg's massive Eaton's department store.

In May 1905, the construction tender was let to the short-lived firm of Waterworth and Fee on McDermot Avenue. It also constructed the initial Marshall Wells building on Market Avenue, though not its 1906 four-storey addition.

The brick and stone building measured 60 feet x 120 feet, was four storeys* tall with a "tall basement" and cost between $45,000 and $50,000 to construct. A Tribune article noted that "it is of heavy mill construction and equipped with electric elevators and all kinds of modern machinery."

(*Yes, I realize it appears to be three storeys tall, the tender and article after its opening mention four.  This could be due to the "tall basement", or the 1944 may have required a floor to be removed.)

It originally advertised with an address of 25 May Street, but later became 15 May Street. May was changed to Waterfront Drive around 2002.

November 22, 1919, Winnipeg Tribune

Under general manager J. Taylor Webb, the plant manufactured enamel plates, metal cutlery, tin shingles for outbuildings, enamelled advertising signs, and canisters for food products. For the most part, its dealings were with industry, so it did not need to advertise in local newspapers. One exception was marketing its own stove briefly in the 19-teens.

In late 1927, what the Canadian Press called "one of the largest industrial mergers in the history of the Dominion" took place when the McClary Manufacturing Co. of London, Ontario, Sheet Metal Products of Canada Ltd, Thomas Davidson Manufacturing Co. of Montreal, and a couple of smaller entities agreed to merge into a single General Steel Wares Company.

This appears to have  been the end for Davidson in Winnipeg. The 1928 street directory shows this address containing "McLeod's Ltd. warehouse no. 4."

By 1936, the building was vacant and was purchased the following year by By 1937, clothing manufacturer J. L. Morton and Co. It took out a $5,000 permit to upgrade its electrical.

Morton did not need the entire building, so it rented warehouse space to Falcon Hardware, a division of Merchants Consolidated, and the United Stores grocery chain.

A huge fire took place at the building in 1944, wiping out much of Morton's clothing and material. After that, the company disappeared, and its space was filled by a couple of smaller companies.

Falcon Hardware ghost sign on north wall

By the early 1950s, Merchants Consolidated owned the building and used it as its goods warehouse and distribution centre for its various divisions, such as Solo, Allied Hardware, and Family Fare.

It's likely that the company remained here until 1973, when a new distribution centre was opened in Transcona that consolidated its offices and various warehouses around the inner city.

Vitafoam Products Canada Ltd. of Toronto, now known as the VPC Group, appear to have first established a Winnipeg plant in 1975, thanks to an economic development grant of $30,000.

The company produced polyurethane foam for cushions, mattresses, carpet underlay, and other applications.

It's unclear when the factory closed. As late as 2017, Vita Foam trucks can be seen in the loading bay.

A search of the city's meeting agendas show no zoning or variance hearings for the land.