In 1881 the mad real estate speculation associated with the railroad era effectively touched Winnipeg, and the city was on the threshold of a great two-year boom. This map of 1881 is a refinement of John Parr’s 1874 Plan of Winnipeg; here we can see the basic Winnipeg plan of today. Portage Avenue has been cut through the gridiron and many districts have been subdivided into lots. Main Street thrusts through the site of Fort Garry, though the Fort was only beginning to be demolished. The complex street pattern of Winnipeg is the result of many separate gridiron blocks being fitted like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle into the spaces left between major traffic arteries or lot lines. For example, the triangular section between Portage Avenue and Notre Dame is filled in with a grid, explaining the jogs in the streets. The greatest agent of innovation, however is the railroad. It is shown coming into St. Boniface from the south, and curving to cross the Red River over Louise bridge, which was first used in 1881. Some important educational institutions, St. Boniface, St. John’s and Manitoba Colleges are marked. In 1881 Winnipeg had a population of 7,985, and though buildings were scattered within most of the area shown on this map, most of the streets were of course not built up. (Warkentin and Ruggles. Historical Atlas of Manitoba. map 193, p. 384)

Map Shewing the City of Winnipeg, and Parts of the Parishes of St. Boniface and St. John in the Province of Manitoba. From Actual Surveyes by G. McPhillips Jun. D.L.S. City Surveyor. 1881. Scale 1 inch to 792 feet. Prepared by G. McPhillips, City Survey Office, Winnipeg, November 13th, 1881. G.B. Bemister, Del.