Originally standing on the bank of the Red River at the foot of what is now Market Avenue, the building became the first post office in Western Canada with the appointment of William Ross as postmaster by the Council of Assiniboia in 1855. The building was saved from demolition in 1947 by the Manitoba Historical Society and moved to Higgins Ave across from the C.P.R. station. There it was restored, with the land and house featuring artifacts, monuments and markers relevant to the early history of Manitoba. In 1984 the house was once more moved, this time to its present location in Joe Zuken Heritage Park in Point Douglas. Metis Postmaster William Ross was the second son of Alexander and Sarah Ross. He was born in the Columbia River area. When his father retired from the fur trade and he brought his wife and their children from British Columbia to Red River just after the amalgamation of the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. William married Jemima McKenzie the daughter of the well-known fur trader, Roderick McKenzie. William was appointed Sheriff of Assiniboia in 1851 and was appointed Post Master for Red River in 1855 by the Council of Assiniboia. He operated the postal service from his house near the Red River at the foot of Market Avenue. This house was built in 1851-52 by his sister Margaret's husband, Hugh Matteson. William donated the land for Winnipeg City Hall during the 1870s. The donation was conditional upon city hall not being moved. Other portions of the Ross estate were expropriated for Market Square and the Winnipeg Transfer Railway. Soil samples were conducted in 2011 at the site. Results were positive for "significant toxins in the soil". Ross House Museum received more than $31,000 in funding from the City of Winnipeg. However, under Mayor Bowman, these and other grants to civic museums were being reviewed. In 2018 operation of the Museum was given to the Seven Oaks House Museum from the ManitobaHistorical Society. The MHS had cited lack of government funding and security issues as reasons for handing over responsibilities to another organization.
