Lowden Nursery

This page is part of the Collection Businesses.

Between 1937 and 1945 Henry Albert Lowden and his son Henry James Lowden owned and operated Charleswood Nursery on Roblin Blvd, one mile west of City Park. Here they grew bedding plants, nursery stock, cut flowers, and onions. The cut flowers were peonies blooms that they sold at the racetrack for $0.25 a dozen. The onions were grown on contract for onion seed and the bulbs for the garden market.

I have found some information on the greenhouse operated by your grandfather in the 1930’s & ‘40’s. In the Museum archives, we have the voter’s lists for Charleswood from 1910-1972. We also have the Charleswood Council minutes from 1913-1972. The greenhouse was on lot 35 (now 3505 Roblin Blvd.). From the Voters List I found that your family owned the river lot from the Assiniboine River to Roblin Blvd. There is a busy Co-op Gas station and car wash, on Roblin Blvd, at that location today. On the north part of lot 35 there are a few condos and towards the river luxurious homes. I also saw that in 1956 Wm. Lowden retired to 85 Harstone Rd. I don’t know where that house is located as the city changed the street numbering system in the 1970’s. I’ll try to locate that location on Harstone. Our city tax system is still based on the river lot system, along with added street names & numbers. I have attached some information from the Voter’s Lists. I’ll send more information in another email. I’m still looking for information. I haven’t gone through the Council Minutes, yet. I haven’t found any photos either. I asked long time resident Len Van Roon Sr. & he doesn’t recall your family. He grew up on the west part of Charleswood and he was away in Europe & England during the Second World War. I’m looking forward to receiving information from you.

Here is more information on Lot 35 (Charleswood) that may be of interest to you. 2572 – 1875 survey map of St. Charles Parish showing Lot 35 2578 – 1963 aerial photo of part of Charleswood showing Roblin Blvd. (east) 2577 – Voter List 1957 2576 – Voter List 1957 showing the owners of the nursery business on Lot 35 (3505 Roblin Blvd.). It looks like the Lowden Family sold their business to the May Family.