A glass menagerie: Rare negatives give glimpse into city’s history

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/06/2014 (4456 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wayne Glowacki/Winnipeg Free Press
Glass negatives by photographer E.J.C. Smith, taken circa 1898. His photo store was located at 276 Smith Street in Winnipeg.
Wayne Glowacki/Winnipeg Free Press Glass negatives by photographer E.J.C. Smith, taken circa 1898. His photo store was located at 276 Smith Street in Winnipeg.
The glass negatives transport viewers to early life in Winnipeg, portraits of its citizens and even a canoe ride down the Red River. Often the background is as important as the main subject.
The glass negatives transport viewers to early life in Winnipeg, portraits of its citizens and even a canoe ride down the Red River. Often the background is as important as the main subject.
View from the Forks across the Red River at the original St.Boniface Cathedral on Taché before the basilica was built.
View from the Forks across the Red River at the original St.Boniface Cathedral on Taché before the basilica was built.
The negatives were found in faded boxes that bore red stamps — SMITH PHOTOGRAPHER 276 Smith Street, Winnipeg — and contained the four-and-a-quarter-inch square Vive Special Rapid Dry Plates made in Chicago.
The negatives were found in faded boxes that bore red stamps — SMITH PHOTOGRAPHER 276 Smith Street, Winnipeg — and contained the four-and-a-quarter-inch square Vive Special Rapid Dry Plates made in Chicago.
E.J.C. Smith frequently placed advertisements in the Manitoba Free Press at the turn of the century selling the latest camera equipment from his shop or the want ad: “A1 Man Needed For Developing.” Unfortunately, it’s unclear if Smith was the photographer of these images.
E.J.C. Smith frequently placed advertisements in the Manitoba Free Press at the turn of the century selling the latest camera equipment from his shop or the want ad: “A1 Man Needed For Developing.” Unfortunately, it’s unclear if Smith was the photographer of these images.
It's easy to understand why most of the pictures were taken outdoors. The manual states the camera may require an exposure time of a minute or a minute-and-a-half when taking interior pictures by dull, cloudy window light.
It's easy to understand why most of the pictures were taken outdoors. The manual states the camera may require an exposure time of a minute or a minute-and-a-half when taking interior pictures by dull, cloudy window light.
The Vive Camera Company ended operations in 1908. The camera manual states: “No other camera is so simple and sure.”
The Vive Camera Company ended operations in 1908. The camera manual states: “No other camera is so simple and sure.”
Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

The good, bad and record setting performance in Bombers loss to Elks

Joshua Frey-Sam 8 minute read Preview

The good, bad and record setting performance in Bombers loss to Elks

Joshua Frey-Sam 8 minute read Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 22-19 defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium in Alberta on Friday was fitting for all the wrong reasons.

The Bombers looked reinvigorated as they jumped out to a 16-point lead in the first half. Then some bad habits reared their ugly head, as the Elks roared back with 19 straight points before kicker Vincent Blanchard walked it off with a 40-yard field goal.

A night that began with so much promise left many fans to wonder what the ceiling actually is for this team in 2026.

On offence, Zach Collaros completed 19 of 30 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and an interception; Brady Oliveira amassed 118 yards on 16 carries and added a pair of catches for 11 yards; and Nic Demski secured five grabs for 80 yards.

Read
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026

Driver, 21, killed in Interlake crash

1 minute read 11:44 AM CDT

A 21-year-old Thompson man was killed in a crash in the Interlake on Sunday.

RCMP said a southbound truck went into a ditch on Highway 6, just north of Moosehorn, and rolled multiple times at about 5 a.m.

The 21-year-old man, who died at the scene, was driving the truck, police said.

Six passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries. A STARS air ambulance was called to the scene.

Teacher starts petition to reduce e-scooter injuries

Zoe Pierce 3 minute read Preview

Teacher starts petition to reduce e-scooter injuries

Zoe Pierce 3 minute read 6:53 PM CDT

As reports of e-scooter injuries continue to surface in Manitoba, a Winnipeg teacher is calling for stronger regulations, public education and enforcement before more people are seriously hurt.

Read
6:53 PM CDT

H.P. Tergesen & Sons General Market surpasses 127 years as family-run business in Gimli

Aaron Epp 7 minute read Preview

H.P. Tergesen & Sons General Market surpasses 127 years as family-run business in Gimli

Aaron Epp 7 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

GIMLI — Walk into the store. Meander past the clothing, candy and candles. Find him in the corner, his eyes scanning the bookshelves, a smile on his face as a half-dozen people explore this side of the shop.

Wearing grey shorts and a light blue shirt, Stefan Tergesen, the fourth-generation proprietor of H.P. Tergesen & Sons General Market, is explaining his vision for what’s widely recognized as the oldest general store in Western Canada.

“First and foremost, I want everybody to enjoy being in here,” he says. “I want you at some point to look and go, ‘Oh, cool!’ after seeing something that gets your blood flowing.”

If you ever find yourself on the west side of Lake Winnipeg, some 80 kilometres north of Manitoba’s capital, and you realize you forgot to pack something, there’s a good chance you’ll find it at Tergesen’s.

Read
6:00 AM CDT

City inundated with thousands of complaints after launch of new transit system

Morgan Modjeski 11 minute read Preview

City inundated with thousands of complaints after launch of new transit system

Morgan Modjeski 11 minute read Friday, Aug. 21, 2026

Despite complaints from thousands of dissatisfied users, Winnipeg hasn't hit the brakes on the rollout of its new primary transit network. And it appears that ignoring the public response cost Winnipeg Transit millions of dollars in lost revenue and ridership.

Read
Friday, Aug. 21, 2026

City’s landfill gas project hasn’t gained any steam after four years

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

City’s landfill gas project hasn’t gained any steam after four years

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read 5:45 PM CDT

Four years after the city started working on a proposal to convert potent landfill gases into renewable energy, a lack of buyers is being blamed for holding the project up.

In March 2022, city council directed staff to complete a deal with Integrated Gas Recovery Services, which would see Winnipeg become a raw landfill gas supplier and potentially earn millions of dollars of new revenue.

If city council approved the proposed contract, the reuse of landfill gas would then replace the city’s current practice of flaring — burning as it’s released — the vast majority of methane produced at Brady Road landfill.

However, the effort has faced a few different roadblocks since it began.

Read
5:45 PM CDT