1852 - 1907
Colony Gardens, Home of Alexander and Sarah Ross, before 1885
The construction of Ross House began in 1852, at what is now 90 Market Ave in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. It was built on the South section of the land grant originally given to Alexander Ross in 1825 when he retired from HBC service. The property was between modern-day William Ave (named for William Ross) and Pacific Ave, a narrow lot that stretched all the way from the Red River to McPhillips St. This allowed everyone access to the river for farming and daily use. Alexander and his wife Sarah's home, called "Colony Gardens", was built about 200 metres from where Ross House would later be built. This house was demolished in 1885 after Sarah Ross died.
Ross House, later known as “Brookbank”, was built for William and Jemima (McKenzie) Ross, with most of the carpentry work done by William’s brother-in-law, Hugh Matheson. It is built with oak logs in the Red River Frame style, with each log squared by an axe and held together with wooden joints and pins.
Construction was delayed when a major flood in 1852 washed away the construction materials and created a shortage of wood in the Settlement. In the end, the home cost more than 252 pounds, equivalent to $50,000 in 2021. William himself wrote: “Without boasting it is the best, the handsomest,and most comfortable house on the banks of the Rivière Rouge.”
In 1855, William Ross was appointed Postmaster, and his home was used as the first post office west of The Great Lakes. One of the front rooms was used as the post office, and the Ross children were kept busy hauling water from the river to clean the muddy boot prints. William handled 2,912 letters, 2,437 newspapers, and 580 parcels during his first year as postmaster, in exchange for a salary of 5 pounds per year. The house served as post office until William’s untimely death due to tuberculosis in 1856.
Construction was delayed when a major flood in 1852 washed away the construction materials and created a shortage of wood in the Settlement. In the end, the home cost more than 252 pounds, equivalent to $50,000 in 2021. William himself wrote: “Without boasting it is the best, the handsomest,and most comfortable house on the banks of the Rivière Rouge.”
In 1855, William Ross was appointed Postmaster, and his home was used as the first post office west of The Great Lakes. One of the front rooms was used as the post office, and the Ross children were kept busy hauling water from the river to clean the muddy boot prints. William handled 2,912 letters, 2,437 newspapers, and 580 parcels during his first year as postmaster, in exchange for a salary of 5 pounds per year. The house served as post office until William’s untimely death due to tuberculosis in 1856.
William Coldwell, Jemima McKenzie Ross [Coldwell], and grandson Clarence James outside Ross House, c.1898
After William’s death, Jemima continued to raise their 5 children in the home they had built. She maintained control of the property, under the condition that if she remarried, it would pass to their children. In 1875, Jemima reached an agreement with her 2 surviving children (Margaret & William Roderick) that she could keep the home after remarrying. Later that year, she married once again to William Coldwell. Jemima and Coldwell called their home “Brookbank” because it sat on the bank of Brown’s Creek, which once cut across Main St near City Hall, but has since been filled in.
While occupied by Jemima and Coldwell, a summer kitchen was added to the home. This was built in the same Red River Frame style as the home, with plaster and white wash. This part of the house no longer stands, but an office building was rebuilt in the same style to represent it. Coldwell became disabled and used a wheelchair, leaving him unable to work and mostly confined to the home. The two were known to entertain many visitors in the home while serving tea and “eatables”.
It was around this time that Jemima and Coldwell began selling off pieces of the property to support themselves. City council minutes show that Jemima gifted the City of Winnipeg land to build the first City Hall and Market Square in 1875, while land was forcibly purchased for the Winnipeg Railway Transfer in 1881 and 1886. In 1907, Jemima and Coldwell moved to British Columbia to live with his son. Soon after, Coldwell passed and Jemima returned to Manitoba to spend her final years with her daughter, Margaret Ross James in Grosse Isle.
While occupied by Jemima and Coldwell, a summer kitchen was added to the home. This was built in the same Red River Frame style as the home, with plaster and white wash. This part of the house no longer stands, but an office building was rebuilt in the same style to represent it. Coldwell became disabled and used a wheelchair, leaving him unable to work and mostly confined to the home. The two were known to entertain many visitors in the home while serving tea and “eatables”.
It was around this time that Jemima and Coldwell began selling off pieces of the property to support themselves. City council minutes show that Jemima gifted the City of Winnipeg land to build the first City Hall and Market Square in 1875, while land was forcibly purchased for the Winnipeg Railway Transfer in 1881 and 1886. In 1907, Jemima and Coldwell moved to British Columbia to live with his son. Soon after, Coldwell passed and Jemima returned to Manitoba to spend her final years with her daughter, Margaret Ross James in Grosse Isle.
1907 - Present
Ross House undergoing restoration at Sir William Whyte Park, c.1950
After Jemima and Coldwell moved out, the home was sold and used as a construction company's office until 1946, when it was sold to the City of Winnipeg. By then, the surrounding area had become heavily developed, and the City planned to demolish the house to make way for a warehouse. Fortunately, the Manitoba Historical Society stepped in and had the house moved to a temporary site on James Ave, saving it from demolition. It remained there for 2 years, until the James Ave location was also sold to the City. The house was moved again in 1949 to Sir William Whyte Park on Higgins Ave.
A four-year restoration was completed in 1953, and Ross House was opened as a museum for the first time. This location was initially busy with tourists, as the Canadian Pacific Rail station across the street saw a large volume of passenger traffic. This traffic declined when the nearby Royal Alexandria Hotel was demolished in 1971 and passenger service ended in the late 1970s.
A four-year restoration was completed in 1953, and Ross House was opened as a museum for the first time. This location was initially busy with tourists, as the Canadian Pacific Rail station across the street saw a large volume of passenger traffic. This traffic declined when the nearby Royal Alexandria Hotel was demolished in 1971 and passenger service ended in the late 1970s.
Ross House moving over the Disraeli Bridge, c.1984
In 1984, Ross House was moved to its current location in Joe Zuken Park. Located on land formerly used by Vulcan Iron Works, this site was chosen to become a Heritage Park as a way to redevelop the heavily contaminated location. The soil in the area contains high levels of lead, a remnant of the foundry that no longer stands. The original vision was for the park to represent different periods in Winnipeg’s history, beginning with Ross House and continuing into agricultural and modern industrial development. The house was restored again, but the rest of the project was never completed.
The Manitoba Historical Society continued to operate the museum until 2018, when they ended their involvement. The Board of Seven Oaks House Museum took over and continues to operate Ross House on behalf of the City of Winnipeg.
The Manitoba Historical Society continued to operate the museum until 2018, when they ended their involvement. The Board of Seven Oaks House Museum took over and continues to operate Ross House on behalf of the City of Winnipeg.
Ross House Museum, July 2024
