Roseville Cottage

In the summer of 1875, the merchant John Higgins constructed a house along the river at Point Douglas, known as Roseville Cottage.

At 68, John Higgins was one of the oldest free traders at Red River, first peddling general goods by cart around the settlement. By the time of the Provisional government in the winter of 1869-'70, Higgins had partnered with W.H. Lyon in a store built on the west side of the main road opposite Post Office Street. In 1874, Higgins built a new brick store on the same site, described as "a mammoth mercantile palace" that the Manitoba Free Press speculated would be "extremely doubtful if it is excelled by many metropolitan shops. It certainly stands out from the smaller wood frame commercial buildings that lined the main street of a brand new and desperately optimistic city.


The new Higgins store (left), on the west side of Main St. just south of McDermot, c.1875. Credit

Roseville Cottage stood on five acres of land on the south riverbank in Point Douglas, near the foot of present-day Gomez Street. In an article in the Manitoba Free Press, it was noted that Higgins' new house was a 15-minute walk to the post office (then on present-day Lombard Avenue), and commands a “good view of the river and a large portion of the city.” The grounds around the house were neatly landscaped with grass, and ornamental and fruit trees. At the back of the lot, extending up to Point Douglas Avenue (present-day CPR mainline), Higgins used the land for market farming.

The house itself was constructed of brick and featuring two bay windows, a small portico at the entrance, and three arched dormer windows protruding from the hipped roof. At a time (not unlike today) when every new impressive building offering validation to the local civic esteem, boosters could get a fix by strolling past Higgins' new residence; the Free Press noting that "those who are anxious to see what our Province can produce will be able to form a high opinion of Manitoba by a visit to Roseville Cottage."


Roseville Cottage, c.1880. Credit

John Higgins remained at the house until his death in 1884, and it appeared on the 1905 Winnipeg Fire Insurance Map, surrounded by the Alexander Black Lumber yards. It is likely that Roseville Cottage was demolished early in the 20th century.