Volume 24 Issue 3 Fall 2012
SASKATCHEWAN'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MAGAZINE
Main Street Project REVITALIZES WOLSELEY – Fallout Shelter Found in Eatonia
PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT #41484517
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2012 Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Heritage Architecture Excellence Awards Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan HELPING HERITAGE HAPPEN
Heritage Partership Fund FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE INITIATIVES
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he process for member organizations of the Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan to apply for money to Help Heritage Happen in your community has been streamlined. Visit our website (www.ahsk.ca) to learn more. So, if you have a project that needs money to Help Heritage Happen in your community this spring or summer visit the website right away or call the office at 359-0933 or at 1-877-903-0933 toll-free.
Here's a brief description of each of the four grants. Heritage Site Consultant Report Grant (Maximum $1,000) Success with any conservation project depends on its viability. AHSS supports conservation through providing grants for professional services like structural analysis, architectural design, legal consultation, and construction cost analysis to provide building owners the opportunity to more accurately gauge the feasibility, cost, and methodology for site conservation and re-use.
Heritage Forums Grant (Maximum $1,500) This matching grant program is intended to help community-based organizations that are members of the Society to defray costs of hosting conferences, presentations, panel discussions, seminars, workshops, awards ceremonies, and other educational forums that encourage or empower people of the community or province to acknowledge, preserve and/or promote their built historic and cultural heritage.
Heritage Publications Grant (Maximum $1,500) This matching grant is intended to help community-based member organizations to defray the cost of printing materials that promote public interest in membership, local programs and activities.
Heritage Communications Grant (Maximum $200) This matching grant is intended to help the Society's community-based member organizations to defray the cost of printing brochures or programs that promote public participation in local forums like conferences, presentations, panel discussions, seminars, workshops, awards ceremonies, walking tours, and other educational forums that encourage or empower people of the community or province to acknowledge, preserve and/or promote their built historic and cultural heritage.
Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan HELPING HERITAGE HAPPEN
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SASKATCHEWAN'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MAGAZINE
To reserve your space, please contact AHSS Administration 202 - 1275 Broad Street, Regina, SK S4R 1Y2; Phone: 306-359-0933 or 1-877-431-1399 Toll free Email: sahs@sasktel.net
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is committed to controlling collection, use and disclosure of personal information provided by our readers.
Visit www.ahsk.ca for further details and applications.
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WORTH We may contact readers periodically, conducting market research in an effort to improve the magazine. Any person, family or organization may subscribe to WORTH free of charge by calling (306) 359-0933 or 1-877-903-0933 toll-free. Return undeliverable copies to: WORTH Magazine #202 – 1275 Broad St. Regina, Saskatchewan S4R 1Y2
SASKATCHEWAN'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MAGAZINE
IN THIS ISSUE WORTH Magazine is published by the Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan (AHSS) Inc.
2012 Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Heritage Architecture Excellence Awards Recipients................................... 4
Submissions to WORTH are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit copy for clarity and length.
Chicago Architectural Tour Next May ..................................................... 7
Copy submission deadlines: Spring edition: February 25 Summer Edition: May 15 Autumn Edition: August 15 Winter Edition: November 15 Editor: Design:
VOLUME 24 ISSUE 3 Fall 2012
Wolseley Main Street Program Revitalizes Community ........................ 8 Saskatchewan Youth Passionate About Celebrating Heritage............ 11
Joe Ralko b-creative group
Š 2009 ISSN 1926-3198 ON OUR COVER: The Wolseley Town Hall and Opera House
Printed on FSC certified paper 50% recycled and 25% post-consumer recycled content. Acid and elemental chlorine free.
Her Honour, the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield is the Patron of the juried awards sponsored by the Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan.
Cold War Bunker in Eatonia ............ 14 Moose Jaw Historian Leith Knight column ............................ 16 A Beacon on the Prairie..................... 17 In The News ............................................. 20 Brick by Brick ......................................... 22
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Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan AWARDS
17th Annual Heritage Architecture Excellence Awards; Five Projects Recognized This Year
H
er Honour, the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield bestowed two projects from Moose Jaw and one each from Cannington Manor, Maple Creek and Moosomin with the prestigious Heritage Architecture Excellence Award. The Lieutenant Governor is the Patron of the juried awards sponsored Her Honour, the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield bestowed five projects by the Architectural Heritage Society with the prestigious Heritage Architecture Excellence Award this year. of Saskatchewan. Since the inception of the awards in 1996, a total of 130 projects throughout the province have been recognized. Awards were bestowed Tuesday, June 12, at Government House in Regina. Citations are presented to the project site owner, architect and general contractor in each category. The Bloodline Tattoo Company was honoured in the category of Sympathetic New Construction for the privately-financed commercial development at 22 Main Street North in Moose Jaw, an area where a trio of historic buildings were destroyed by a 2004 fire. The Folgizan Insurance Co. was bestowed with Rehabilitation Award for work done on The Binning Block at 29 High Street West. Work on the All Saints Church of England, constructed in 1884, was recognized in both the Interior and Exterior Conservation categories. In nearby Moosomin, the Stone House at 202 Cook Road was honoured in the Interior Conservation category for the removal and replacement of the deteriorated interior mortar in the 125-year-old residence. A home constructed in 1914 for William Redmond was honoured for the adaptive reuse of the residence into a bed and breakfast and dining establishment at 309 Marsh Street in Maple Creek. The awards ceremony celebrates outstanding contributions in building restoration, renovation, adaptive re-use and built heritage programming.
Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan HELPING HERITAGE HAPPEN
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Heritage Architecture Excellence RECIPIENTS
25th Anniversary
All Saints Church of England, Cannington Manor
Alan Gill, President of the Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan, cuts a cake with Her Honour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the not for profit organization.
Members of the All Saints church of England project at Cannington Manor were recognized in both the Interior and Exterior Conservation awards categories. From left to right are: Autumn Downey, Jim Hines, Tilly Palendat, Wes Palendat, Her Honour, Leigh Robinson, Michelle Moore, Josie Cuddington, Freida Cuddington, Val Cuddington, Jean Hindmarch.
Redmond House, Maple Creek
Bloodline Tattoo Company, Moose Jaw
Michael Morrow of Maple Creek was bestowed with an award in the adaptive reuse category for work on the historic Redmond House in Maple Creek.
Chet Spriggs of the Bloodline Tattoo Company and Raelyn Tilbury of Tilbury Design Ltd. in Moose Jaw were honoured in the Sympathetic New Construction category.
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Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Heritage Architecture Excellence AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Binning Block, Moose Jaw
The Stone House, Moosomin
Honoured for the Rehabilitation of The Binning Block in Moose Jaw from left to right from Her Honour were Teresa-Marie and Doug Mintenko, Helen and Richard Ingold.
An award for Interior Conservation of The Stone House was bestowed upon (left to right) Robert Griffin, Susan Pirie and Charlie Pirie.
Moose Jaw MLA Attends Event Warren Michelson, MLA for Moose Jaw North (centre, gesturing), visits with Brian Bell, Vice-President of the Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan following the awards presentation.
Full House – Again! More than 125 people attended the awards presentation and reception at Government House this year!
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Chicago Architectural Tour Next May! Plans are in the early stages, but the Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan is coordinating a weekend Chicago Architectural Tour next May! Details are being finalized. However, a group of 30 individuals or so will fly direct to Chicago and visit interesting locations in the city in collaboration with the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Cost will include the flight, accommodations (likely in the historic Palmer House) and tours on foot, via motor coach and a cruise along the Chicago River that provides a unique view of more than 50 buildings. Discover the neighborhood where Frank Lloyd Wright's famed Prairie Style of architecture evolved. You'll also enjoy a special one hour lecture with photographs on the “Rise of the Skyscrapers” following the Great Chicago Fire. More details will be posted on the Society's website and in Worth magazine as the project takes shape.
2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan Al Gill, President, Regina Brian Bell,Vice President, Moose Jaw Richard Hiebert, North Battleford Terry Sinclair, Regina
Become a Society Member. The Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan encourages, supports and rewards meaningful conservation of our built heritage. Any person, enterprise or community-based organization may apply to become a full and active member of AHSS for an annual membership fee of just $20. Fees help the Society communicate with members and provide grant funding for community-based programs and projects across Saskatchewan. To join simply complete and mail to AHSS, 202 -1275 Broad St, Regina, SK S4R 1Y2 or visit www.ahsk.ca for information under “Join”.
Michelle Taylor, Prince Albert Rod Stutt, Moose Jaw
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HELPING HERITAGE HAPPEN
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Wolseley
MAIN STREET PROGRAM REVITALIZES COMMUNITY
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Settled in 1882 when the Canadian Pacific Railway pushed across the Prairies, the Town of Wolseley now is undergoing a renaissance as one of four communities to participate in the province's Main Street program. “My initial review of the Main Street Program gave me the impression that it was the best economic revitalization model I had ever seen,” explained Ed Attridge, who resigned his position as municipal administrator to become the coordinator of Main Street Wolseley. “The immediate potential benefits of the program were obvious, but what really made an impression on me was that the overall benefit for the community was limited only by how, and to what degree, the community was willing to embrace and participate in the opportunity.” Situated around Adair Creek and Wolf Creek, early settlers named the community Wolf Creek because of the amount of wolves that called the area their home.
By Joe Ralko
Wolseley Town Hall
In 1898, the area was incorporated as the Town of Wolseley, which was the same name of Garnet Joseph Wolseley, a British General. Although General Wolseley's greatest significance to Saskatchewan's history appears to be his role in the Red River Rebellion of 1870, the town was named after him only because of its similarity to the name Wolf Creek. Many of the original
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buildings built before and during the time of the town's incorporation are still standing in Wolseley. These include Canada's first Beaver Lumber store, the Town Hall/Opera House, the oldest standing courthouse in Saskatchewan and Banbury House Inn. Together, with the swinging bridge and Fairly Lake, they create a picture perfect community The town's commitment to the restoration and preservation of the community's heritage buildings and historic houses, and their conservation of their wildlife, resulted in Wolseley being named one of Harrowsmith Country Life magazine's 10 prettiest Canadian communities in 2000. What was once just a small railroad town has flourished into one of Canada's best-kept secrets – a small town in Saskatchewan brimming with life and vitality. “The opportunity to become involved in the effort to maximize this overall community benefit was rather irresistible and I am happy to report that the program has met or exceeded my expectations in every respect,” Attridge said in an interview for Worth magazine.
“I am a strong believer in small town community culture and felt that Wolseley had all the right attributes to ensure a successful program result. In fact, it seemed to me that the community was ideally poised for the Main Street Program.” Mayor Dennis Fjestad said many organizations have participated in the various events hosted by Main Street Wolseley. “These have ranged from the Friendship Centre (Senior's Drop In Centre) to children involved with our Christmas Party,” said the mayor who also is the Chair of the Main Street Wolseley program. “It would be very difficult to give a comprehensive total for the number of community volunteers who have 'taken hold' of our various projects.” Fjestad has seen some positive and immediate impact of the program on his town. “Main Street Wolseley is becoming a true volunteer community project. It is our hope and plan that more and more people will become directly involved in the future,” he explained. “One of the immediate effects of the program was the increased awareness of the need for the revitalization of our main street area. Another significant aspect is the necessity for coordinating the plans and efforts of community organizations. Our Main Street office quickly evolved into a clearing house of information for many community events. “Along with the Main Street program a cultural plan is being developed, the mayor said, adding he expects it will pay
huge dividends for Wolseley in the future. Ed Attridge researched the impact of the concept of a “Main Street Program” across Canada.
Attridge said the net effect of the program has been extremely positive both for users and participants. “To establish the program in Saskatchewan, in my opinion, is much needed,” he said. “Many of our communities have suffered through long periods of economic uncertainty and decline. This is now changing and our communities need to reflect the social and physical improvements that Saskatchewan's burgeoning industrial sector offers the opportunity for.” Saskatchewan, Attridge said, is rapidly becoming a destination province for industry, professionals, families and tourists. “The Main Street Program offers the opportunity to prepare for, and take advantage of, these changes through a process that is completely community-driven,” he said.
The Wolseley Project Original Beaver Lumber Store (left) and boarding house.
“The program has a proven successful track record in other provinces where it has significantly contributed to the economic sustainability of the community/region/ province,” the Wolseley coordinator concluded. “In Quebec for example, one successful program in one community has led to over 120 programs in 120 communities. Re-investment totals count in the millions of dollars, as does the revenue generation resultant from the projects.”
The program has two parts. “It provides matching dollars for building owners, at a maximum of a total of $50,000 per year, for highly visible improvements to buildings in the historical downtown area,” explained Ed Attridge, Coordinator, Main Street Wolseley. “Therefore, the minimum target for this component of the program is a total of $300,000 in physical improvements to buildings over the course of the 3-year program. Owners have not limited themselves to the matching dollars available. Several are planning improvements to their buildings that are in addition to those that are
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eligible under the Main Street program. For this reason, we expect reinvestment totals will significantly exceed the minimum targets by project end. Secondly, and of equal importance, the Main Street Program process involves the organization, promotion, and economic revitalization of the community. “ He said this is done by coordinating the existing capacity of the community and working to implement what the community thinks needs implementing. “I refer to this as the “reflective” component of the program as the benefit achieved, and the direction taken, is strongly linked to community involvement,” Attridge said. “In Wolseley, the Main Street participants have decided that our heritage buildings and Fairly Lake are the areas we would like to utilize and promote more effectively. To wit, Main Street Wolseley organized and successfully conducted the first fishing derby to occur in the lake – coinciding with the annual Wolseley Dam Days celebration – and is working towards building a boardwalk around the entire lake. “Most of our target objectives were achieved during the fishing derby”, Attridge reported,
Perley Block
Front Street
Fundraising grad held on Main Street
Swinging Bridge and Fairly Lake
“We wanted to raise the profile of the Main Street program, promote Fairly Lake as a recreational area, get kids more involved in Dam Days activities, and do so in an interesting and fun way. The derby went very well with nearly 300 people registering to fish and has received highly positive
reactions from the community as well as regional stakeholders and participants”. In addition, Main Street Wolseley is working to develop streetscape improvements such as an urban planting program and improved public amenities to complement the improvements being undertaken by the local building owners.
Main Street Saskatchewan Programs Wolseley, Indian Head, Maple Creek and Prince Albert were selected to participate in the Main Street Saskatchewan demonstration program from the 18 communities which had submitted proposals. Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Bill Hutchinson made the announcement as he visited Wolseley and Indian Head on August 19, 2011 and toured the main streets of each community. “We believe that through vision, creativity and planning, the historic main streets in these communities can return to prominence as places where commerce, community and culture once again meet,” Hutchinson said. “The Main Street Saskatchewan program is great because it supports economic development through heritage conservation, and strengthens our province's growing arts, culture and heritage sector.” Earlier this year, the Government of Saskatchewan announced a $1.65 million investment over three years to provide funding assistance
to four demonstration communities to implement the Main Street Saskatchewan approach to downtown revitalization. The four communities were selected on the basis of community readiness, community capacity, community support, existing historic buildings and potential for growth. The 3-year demonstration program includes matching funding to help cover operating costs and capital expenses for revitalizing main streets in each of the four communities. The Main Street program is one of the ways the provincial government is implementing the new cultural policy, Pride of Saskatchewan, which calls for supporting heritage stewardship and strengthening the province's vibrant arts and culture sector, both of which contribute to the economy and quality of life in the province. For information on the Main Street Saskatchewan demonstration program, visit www.pcs.gov.sk.ca/heritage.
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Location The Main Street Wolseley is a community-wide process that uses the improvements to the historic downtown core as its' foundation. The historic downtown area of Wolseley is defined as including Front Street from the Post Office to the AG Auto building, and Sherbrooke Street from Front Street to Varennes Street, which encompasses the entire downtown area (approximately two square blocks). The historic opera house and courthouse are also included in the project target area. W
Saskatchewan Youth
PASSIONATE About Celebrating Their Heritage Jonah of Hugh Cairns VC School spoke with Ray Boughen, Member of Parliament for Palliser and a former Mayor of Moose Jaw, about his project: Draggins Rod and Custom Car Club at the 2012 Showcase. WORTH: SASKATCHEWAN'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MAGAZINE | 11
Saskatchewan Youth PASSIONATE
Gabrielle: Ecole Wilfred Walker School The Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918
Karlee: Stewart Nicks School Cirque du Soleil
Kaitlyn: Stewat Nicks School Titantic: Canadian Connection
T
First among these are the resources the SYHFA provides teachers and students. Our website contains letters to explain the program to community members and parents. There are resource guides, “how to” documents, time-lines, assessment documents, and curriculum correlational documents which trenchers use to deliver the Ministry of Educations approved program (www.saskyouthheritagefair.com). Secondly, there are the students, who when they hear about the program, understand the freedom they have to engage in an authentic learning experience.
Each child chooses a topic from Canadian history, heritage, or culture. Each uses the Inquiry Learning approach to research and write a research paper of between six to ten paragraphs which can be anywhere from 250 to 800 words. Students gather information from their parents, school resources, or community resources. The student then presents the research as a visual display with components of music, dance, drama, or computer assisted technology such as a slide show. During the 2011-2012 school year the SYFHA had 2,198students en-
he Saskatchewan Youth Heritage Fair Association (SYHFA) is a unique endeavour in this province. For the past 16 years the program has received an outstanding enthusiastic reception from parents, teachers, and most importantly, the students. While the focus of the work is on teachers to work with children from grades four to nine in all Saskatchewan schools through an Inquiry Leaning Experience, the heritage community across Saskatchewan directly supports the teachers and students as well. “Heritage Fairs” is a unique program in this province in that the fairs are a convergence of teachers, students, provincial curriculum with professional archivists, provincial and community based museums, history of designated heritage buildings, the resources of the Saskatchewan Library system, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina and financial supporters such as Canada's History, Ministry of Education, SaskCulture, Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, Saskatchewan Lotteries and Architectural Heritage Society of Saskatchewan and the list goes on and on. Many elements point to the success of the program.
Nisa: Saskatoon Misbah School Tim Horton's
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About Celebrating Their Heritage
Her Honour, the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield spoke with many of the students at Showcase 2012 in Moose Jaw.
Christian: Hugh Cairns VC School The Royal Canadian Navy and My Grandpa Doug
Sydney: Delisle Composite School Paranormal Prairies
The most exciting and engaging part of Showcase occurs when students and the public meets.
Alexander: W.S. Hawrylak School Bluenose
Nikolas and Reuben: École Monseigneur de Laval La résistance de Batoche
rolled from 41 schools and 18 different school divisions. There were 99 teachers who assisted their students to accomplish their goals. Students created 1,698 projects. Teachers enrol their classes on line. Schools host a school fair to which the community is invited. Then, regional organizers plan a regional fair and school representatives come and present there. Students win awards in many categories such as Best at Show in Military History, Architectural Heritage, The Arts, Agriculture, Built Heritage and so on. Several are selected to represent their region at the provincial level, the SYHFA Showcase. The showcase is a two day “History Fair”. Students from across the province come to the SYHFA Showcase venue. There are about 15 students from each region, so there are about 60 students in attendance together with teacher chaperones, and organizers. Students are engaged in ice breakers,
tours, and workshops. The most exciting and engaging part of Showcase occurs when students and the public meets. Students present their projects to their visitors in an engaging time of sharing knowledge and interests. The pictures on these pages represent the enthusiastic voice of students for our heritage. Through Inquiry Learning as the process for focusing on a topic and gathering information for explanatory and descriptive reports, students also engage in the arts to meaningfully represent their information. Parents, teachers, and the heritage community support the students with information, tours, personal guidance, and encouragement. Along the way, students increase their level of sense of worth, as they learn that they have a voice to which members of our communities listen. W
ŸSource: Wally Dyck has been active
in the SHYFA since he helped establish it 16 years ago.
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Modest Concrete-Block Bunker
HERITAGE By Bill Armstrong EATONIA – Beneath the restored one-of-a-kind 1925 Canadian National railway station in the Town of Eatonia sits a Cold War artifact at odds with the town's peaceful Heritage Park, which also includes a restored 1917 Eaton's catalogue house and a CN caboose. The modest concrete block nuclear fallout reporting post built in one corner of the station basement is one of the few surviving examples of the more than 100 such shelters known to have been built in Saskatchewan during a secret crash shelter-building program between 1959 and 1963. This modest shelter – just 10 feet by 7.5 feet – provides us with a glimpse into how Canada's military and political leaders attempted to come to grips with the unthinkable: how to restore order in the aftermath of a nuclear attack on Canadian soil. More than 2,000 fallout reporting posts like the one at Eatonia were built across the country as part of the government's Nuclear Detonation and Fallout Reporting System. The secret national plan called for reporting posts to be located on a grid south of the 55th parallel, with posts 15 miles (24 kilometres) apart on a north-south axis, and 45 miles apart from east to west.
Eatonia Train Station
Bunks inside fallout shelter
Fallout Shelter Entrance
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Dr. Andrew Burtch, a historian with the Canada War Museum, has identified more than 100 reporting posts that were constructed in Saskatchewan, usually in the basements of railway stations, post offices and RCMP detachments. Most of those located under railway stations were likely buried when the stations were either demolished or moved. Bill Wardill is a local historian, a former mayor of Eatonia, and a member of the town's Heritage Board. As postmaster during the period when the shelter was built, Wardill says the construction project was an open secret in the community. “That's how it works in a small town. Activity like that would be noticed, and be the subject of conversation at the post office.” Wardill and other volunteers are restoring the shelter to what it might have looked like in the early 1960s, with canned food and household products lined on rudimentary shelves along one wall. Fold-down bunk beds and fallout monitoring equipment make an already confined space positively cramped. For the station agent and his wife, who would occupy the reporting post in a nuclear attack, staying sane until the “All Clear” signal was given might have been the greatest challenge. “The station agent knew
Storage Shelves in fallout shelter
telegraphy,” Wardill explains, “and he would have sent reports on fallout levels, and supported train operations, assuming trains were still running. While townspeople knew about the shelter, we never knew what equipment went into
it, or what was taken out. That part of the program remained a secret.” While the world came close to the brink of nuclear war a few times, the fallout reporting posts were never tested in actual conflict. Almost as soon as the
A radio for communications
Bill Wardill, former mayor and local historian
network of shelters was completed, and before all of them were properly equipped, the advent of thermonuclear weapons
and the hydrogen bomb made them obsolete. The unimaginable had trumped the unthinkable. Eatonia's humble reporting post remains as a reminder of Canada's largely forgotten response to the threat of nuclear attack. W
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Who are the First Nations Men Decorating the Fourth Avenue Bridge? ~ By Leith Knight, Moose Jaw Historian ~
N
o one knows for sure the identity of the two aboriginal men whose images decorate the light standards on Moose Jaw's Fourth Avenue bridge. Bear Ghost and Mike Oka were not members of the Moose Jaw Sioux, a remnant group of Sitting Bull's followers who camped here until 1913. Nor can they be found among the Assiniboine and Cree tribes whose traditional hunting territories straddled Moose Jaw Creek. The design of the viaduct was conceived on the drawing board of C.A.P.Turner, a Minneapolis architect. Detailed planning appears to have been drawn up in Minneapolis, and even the 1929 Moose Jaw city council was left in the dark. Fourth Avenue viaduct stands on or near one of the old crossings of Thunder Creek, probably dating from the fur trade era. James Hamilton Ross and his four companions, the first settlers to reach the site of Moose Jaw, found three men belonging to the railway survey crew living in a dugout abode along Thunder Creek near the site of the present viaduct.Track laying was still almost eight months away. Early travelers and settlers remembered the beauty of the Thunder Creek valley before the days of industry.The creek meandered through swampy ponds fringed with willow bushes. Short shrubs grew along the banks and the entire wide valley was a “paradise for birds.” Muskrats were abundant and fish came in plentiful numbers from the Qu'Appelle Valley. Until 1910, a footpath crossed CPR tracks at the site of the present viaduct, while the crossing of Thunder Creek was made via a flimsy wooden footbridge with railings. A generation of the town's youngsters grew up on that footbridge which to their great delight could be rocked with very
little effort. Sometimes it was called Fifty Cent Bridge because the kids would try to hoodwink unsuspecting pedestrians into paying a toll charge. Wagons and teams crossed the creek a short distance west near to where the CPR Outlook line now branches from the main yards.This trail came out of the valley near the site of the old Swift Canadian plant and meandered across the prairie to the southwest. By 1909, Moose Jaw had grown sufficiently to warrant something more substantial than a shaky footbridge over Thunder Creek, and a footpath over a busy trans-Canada rail line. Late in 1909 work commenced on an impressive viaduct, which would straddle the broad valley.Three concrete piers carried the steel structure over the CPR tracks in a span over 200 feet long. On the south side of the tracks, the bridge was carried on piles for 915 feet.The flooring of the entire bridge consisted of creosoted blocks. This structure stood until 1929 when the burgesses of Moose Jaw gave their approval to the erection of the present viaduct on the site of the 1909 one. On Dec. 19, 1929, Mayor James Pascoe officially opened the new concrete bridge and the images of Bear Ghost and Mike Oka were admired and wondered upon for the first time. Ted Bison of Sayre, Oklahoma, claimed that one of the images, Bear Ghost, was his
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great, great grandfather. In the tragic aftermath of the Little Big Horn battle, Bear Ghost and his fellow Sioux fled to Canada. Like many of the refugee Sioux, Bear Ghost soon returned to the United States. He died in old age near the Black Hills. From the Blackfoot of Alberta comes the name Mike Oka, who was a member of the Many Tumors division of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the most warlike and feared of all the plains tribes (and the earliest known occupants of the Canadian plains). Mike Oka was born in the Porcupine Hills in what is now southwestern Alberta, and was given the name “Mike” by the early settlers. In the 1930s, now an old and respected gentleman, he recalled some of the great battles fought between his tribe and other tribes of the plains. “I was quite a lad when the great battle was fought between the Bloods and the Assiniboines of Montana. My father took part in that battle. I could hear the guns very distinctly. “Our camps were at Fort Whoop-Up. That is where the fight began. Many of the enemy never reached the east shore of the Oldman River.They were killed in the water. “I never saw so many scalps in all my life as on the next day in a victory war dance. The heaviest part of the battle took place on the present site of the city of Lethbridge. While it is unlikely Mike Oka and Bear Ghost ever visited the site of Moose Jaw, they do represent the first people of the western plains who, for countless generations, hunted and lived near the valleys of Thunder Creek and the Moose Jaw River. W
ŸReprinted with permission from The Moose Jaw Times-Herald
Arlington House
A
Beacon Prairie ON THE
Proposed Capital Point hotel and condominium complex
History:
Don Meikle, the Senior City Planner consulted the City building permit records and reported on December 8, 2009 that “the first component of the current structure was in fact the first three floors of the north wing, which was constructed circa 1956 as an addition to an earlier building that was known as the Arlington Hotel. The north wing was designed by the local architect/engineer, H.K. (Ken) Black. According to the Henderson’s Directory, the name of the hotel had been changed to "The Plains" by 1957, perhaps in conjunction with the completion of the north wing.
The story of the Plains Hotel goes back to an earlier facility, erected in 1956 as an addition to an existing building called the Arlington Hotel. According to Bill Argan, in his book “Regina, The First 100 years”, a hotel called the “Arlington House was built in 1915 on Albert Street at Victoria Avenue. The Arlington Hotel replaced Arlington House in 1936. Regina lawyer E.W. Hinkson acquired the Arlington Hotel in the 1930s. Along with his son Frank, he demolished the old Arlington and constructed a new hotel called the Plains in 1956. Frank Hinkson and his sons sold the Plains in 1983 to former Roughrider Larry Bird and partners.” Plains Hotel Weather Tower
Advertising on the Plains Hotel (centre) promoted redevelopment of the site while demolition of the Plains (right) took place in November and December, 2011. WORTH: SASKATCHEWAN'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MAGAZINE | 17
The basement and first three floors of the south/main block of the hotel appear to have been constructed in 1959-60, replacing the original hotel structure. This component, as well as subsequent fourth floor additions to both wings in 1963-64, was designed by Joseph Pettick.” In a subsequent communication, dated 10 April 2012, Meikle stated: “. . . it appears that construction of the north wing of what became the Plains Hotel might have actually commenced in 1957. This was the structure designed by Ken Black. The permit record identifies Joorisity Construction as the contractor . . . The building permit record identifies two permits being issued in 1959, in August and October of that year. The first permit identifies Poole Construction as the contractor. The second permit contains a reference to Hilsden & Company . . . the name appears again in relation to a permit that was issued on June 17, 1964 for the 4th floor additions, which also identifies Joseph Pettick as the architect.” When completed, the four storey hotel featured its trademark weather tower, which changed colours with changes in the weather forecast. As well, the pyramidal windows flanking the interior stairwell were a unique feature in Saskatchewan. Located at the junction of Highway 6 and Highway 1, the Plains Motor Hotel was regularly used by business people as a convenient place to deal with business matters. It included several amenities for the travelling public: restaurant, bar and a branch of the Imperial Bank of Canada (later C.I.B.C.). The Plains Hotel closed in 2009 when it was announced that a new hotel and condominium complex called Capital Pointe was to be constructed on this site. The old hotel stood vacant for over two years, but was eventually demolished late in 2011.
Architecture:
The Weather Tower:
H. K. (Ken) Black (1912-1993) Ken Black studied architecture and engineering in Toronto and began his architectural career in Ontario in 1937, but returned to Saskatchewan and joined the Sask. Association of Architects on July 5, 1941 and was assigned Registration number 148. During World War II Black served as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy, returning to his architectural practice after 1945. It was during his solo work that he designed the first segment of what was to become the Plains Hotel (north wing – 1956). After practicing on his own for some time, he joined in partnership with Harry Larson and Ken McMillan to form Black, Larson, McMillan & Partners in 1958. (This firm later became known as BLM Architects and erected many fine buildings throughout Saskatchewan.) Joseph Pettick (1924-2010) Joseph Pettick was accepted as a member of the Sask. Association of Architects on 27 Aug. 1954 and was assigned Registration Number 176. While Joe Pettick is perhaps better known for some of his landmark buildings, such as the SaskPower Head Office and Regina's current City Hall, in his earlier years he designed several buildings of less imposing design. After all, the bills had to be paid and, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a job was a job. Nevertheless, even for a basic design such as the Plains Hotel, Pettick inserted some artistic flare with the series of pyramidal windows running up the front of the building. The south wing and 4th floor were designed by Pettick in stages between 1957 and 1964. After an illustrious career and several partnerships, Pettick died in 2010.
Designer of Regina Landmark Recalls Its Creation Reported By Geoff Smith for CJME Radio, Regina Posted August 15, 2009 - 1:07 pm The man who designed a Regina landmark is pleased it's being preserved. The Plains "weather tower" is being incorporated into the design of Westgate Plaza, a 19-story condominium tower and eight-story hotel complex proposed for the Plains Hotel site. Since the mid1960s, the weather tower has perched on the Plains roof, signalling changing weather conditions. It was created by famed artist Ted Godwin of Calgary, who says he did it with farmers in mind. "A lot of farmers used to come in to Regina on Saturday," Godwin recalled for News Talk Radio's John Gormley Live, "and sometimes the RCMP would close the roads going out because of blizzards." In fact, Godwin, a member of the "Regina Five" group of artists, says he first proposed it to the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, but when they passed, a smaller version was sold to the Plains. Godwin explains the original inspiration was the tragic death of a youngster in a blizzard. He says to this day, he feels having a highly visible weather beacon is a good idea.
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Brick Production: Saskatchewan Clay Products, Estevan While over 100 brick plants produced bricks throughout the province between 1877 and 1997, only three of those factories at Estevan, Claybank and Bruno were major producers and serviced more than just a local mar-
ket. There are currently no operational brick factories in Saskatchewan. The plants at Estevan and Bruno have been almost totally demolished; the one at Claybank is preserved and designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. It is also the best preserved historic brick plant in North America. The Estevan Brick Company was established in 1906 and remained in operation until 1997. As such, it was the longest operating brick factory in the history of Saskatchewan. While in private hand for most of its history, the plant was acquired by the provincial government in 1948 and was redeveloped into a Crown Corporation named Saskatchewan Clay Products. The business operated under that name and several others until 1969, when it was again sold to private enterprise. It was while operating as a Crown Corporation that Estevan bricks were supplied for construction of the Plains Hotel. Bricks manufactured at Estevan were among the highest quality in
western Canada, and many important private and public buildings were faced with its bricks throughout the 20th century. Unlike Claybank and Bruno, which had clays that limited their colour range (beige and brown at Claybank; orange at Bruno), the plant at Estevan was able to produce bricks of any colour. Among buildings faced with Estevan brick are: the Estevan Court House and the Saskatchewan Training School at Moose Jaw, as well as the Administration Building and Finance Building, situated just south of the Legislative Building, and the now-demolished Gathercole Technical School in Saskatoon. The distinctive pattern on the exterior bricks of the Plains Hotel was
created by a roller that passed over the brick surface as the brick came through the production line. The pattern is repetitive and served as a more artistic version of an earlier design known as “rough texture”. The bricks selected for the Plains Hotel were made through an extruded process, and included three holes in each brick to reduce the weight and cost of brick production. These holes also provided additional strength as the setting mortar penetrated the holes and thereby helped provide a stronger bond. Some of the Estevan bricks in the Hotel displayed the name of the brick manufacturing company on the back of the brick: “Saskatchewan Clay Products”, as well as the location of manufacture: “Estevan, Canada”. Others lack this identification but display a series of vertical lines on the back of the brick. All of the brick show curved striations where the cutting wire sliced through the ribbon of wet clay moved along the conveyor belt. W
SASK. ARCHIVES BOARD: “Saskatchewan Association of Architects: Registration Ledger”, Accession File: 45000-50 / PR 07-016. WORTH Magazine, Vol. 22, Issue 4, Winter 2010 – “Joseph Pettick: Prolific Design of 1000 Projects”, by Al Rosseker, p. 12-16 WORTH Magazine, Vol. 23, Issue 4, Winter 2011 – “Let the Good Times Roll: A History of BLM Architects”, by Don Black. P. 12-15
p. 17 – Demolition of the Plains Hotel – Ross Herrington, 2 December 2011 p. 18-- Plains Hotel advertisement – Regina Leader Post, 8 June 1965 p. 18 – H.K. Black – personal collection of Don Black p. 18 – Joseph Pettick – Regina Leader Post, obituary, 20 September 2010 p. 18 – Weather Tower – Frank Korvemaker, 23 August 2009 p. 19 – Mounted brick souvenir – Saskatchewan Archives Board event, photo by Len Sereda, 9 Feb. 2012
SOURCES: “An Archaeological Survey of Bricks Manufacture in Saskatchewan” – M.A. Thesis – Larry E. Buhr, 1997, University of Saskatchewan, p. 148-160. “A Tale that is Told – Estevan 1890-1980, Vol. 1”, 1981, p. 91. “Portraits of an Era: The Aerial Photography of Howdy McPhail”, by Bill Waiser, 2010, p. 127 “Regina's Secret Spaces: Love and Lore of Local Geography”, by Lorne Beug, Anne Campbell, Jeannie Mah & Don Hall, 2006, p. 80-81 “Regina: The First 100 Years”, by William Argan, Pam Cowan and Gordon Staseson, 2002, p. 175 CJME RADIO: “Designer of Regina Landmark Recalls Its Creation”, Reported By Geoff Smith for CJME Radio, Regina, Posted August 15, 2009 - 1:07 pm Personal Communication: Bernie Flaman, Jeannie Mah, Audrey Price, Terry Sinclair and Rod Stutt - 8 December 2009 Personal Communication: Ross Herrington - 2 & 8 December 2011 Personal Communication: Don Meikle – 8 December 2009 and 10 & 11 April 2012 REGINA LEADER POST: June 8, 1965, Section 2, p. 10
IMAGES: p. 17 – Plains Hotel Tower – Frank Korvemaker, 23 Aug. 2009 p. 17 - Capital Pointe – Chamberlain Architects, Constructors and Managers, as shown on CBC News: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ saskatchewan/story/2010/05/25/ sk-regina-building-1005.html p. 17: Arlington Hotel – William Argan p. 17 – Plains Hotel and Dominion Automobile Association – Frank Korvemaker, 23 August 2009 p. 17 – Plains Hotel – with Capital Pointe signage – Frank Korvemaker, 14 August 2009
PREPARED BY: Frank Korvemaker, S.A.A. (Hon.) Archivist / Construction Historian 59 Compton Road Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 2Y2 Tel: (306) 586-1405 E-mail: fkorvemaker@accesscomm.ca For information on the Saskatchewan Association of Architects: www.saskarchitects.com
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IN THE NEWS Kevin Doherty – Saskatchewan's New Heritage Minister Kevin Doherty, who was recently appointed Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in November 2011 for the constituency of Regina Northeast. Prior to his cabinet appointment, Doherty served as a member of Treasury Board. Born in Rose Valley, Kevin's parents Lenora and Mike still live on the family farm. After graduating from Rose Valley High School, Doherty earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Saskatchewan in 1985. In his professional life, he has worked as a division director for Investors Group (he was formerly a Certified Financial Planner), the director of government relations for Bayer Healthcare, as well as the manager of provincial relations for Glaxo Wellcome. He also served as the Vice-President of Corporate Relations for SaskPower. Kevin has a strong and diverse track record of community involvement.
His service includes: ! President of the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union; ! Member of the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors; ! Vice-chair of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation; ! Member of the Regina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; and ! President of the Saskatchewan Special Olympics.
Virtual Museum Launched in Watrous A number of interested individuals began meeting about a year ago toward the establishment of a Heritage Centre and Museum for the Watrous area. On March 5, 2012, the Town of Watrous established a Board tasked with preserving the history of Watrous and area. Its goal is erect a facility to house artifacts and archives. Until that happens, the Watrous and District Heritage Centre exists online as a virtual museum. Photographs and the plan for the centre can be viewed at www.aadtek.com/WatrousMuseum.
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In the May cabinet shuffle, Premier Brad Wall appointed Doherty as the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, which includes responsibility for heritage. In addition, Kevin was appointed Minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission and has responsibility for: ! Interprovincial Lotteries; ! Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts; ! Saskatchewan Arts Board; ! Western Development Museum; ! Meewasin Valley Authority; ! Wascana Centre Authority; ! Wakamow Valley Authority; and ! Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority. Kevin enjoys spending time at the cabin in northern Saskatchewan, travelling, golfing, reading, motorcycling and snowmobiling. Source: Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.
IN THE NEWS
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Anniversary Photo Display at Government House th
Photographs depicting Saskatchewan's rich architectural history were are on display at Government House in Regina for more than two months. Entitled an Architectural Heritage Retrospective, the display was made possible by the support from the Community Pride program of the Community Initiatives Fund.
Keith Knox Heritage Youth Award Members of the Regina Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) voted unanimously to recommend the city name its heritage youth award in honour of Keith Knox who died on May 6 of mesothelioma, a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos. Knox was a member of Regina MHAC and in the past had been president of the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society and the Regina Plains Museum. In addition, he was a member of the Bell Barn Society of Indian Head, Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society and Biographies Regina. He also served as Saskatchewan governor for Heritage Canada. Regina city council is expected to deal with the Regina MHAC recommendation later this fall.
Correction! Ooops, We're Sorry! There was an error in the nomination form submitted to the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan's Heritage Architecture Excellence Award committee for the work achieved by the Bloodline Tattoo Co. in Moose Jaw. As a result, the article in the summer edition of Worth (Vol. 24 Issue 2) incorrectly referred to “Architect:Tilbury Architectural Design.” The reference should have been: “Designer:Tilbury Design Ltd.” We apologize for the error and did not mean to misrepresent the individual or the company.
WORTH: SASKATCHEWAN'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MAGAZINE | 21
NORTH AMERICAN BRICK By Frank Korvemaker - fkorvemaker@accesscomm.ca
A 1913 composite view of the crude wooden structures comprising the brick factory for the new Prince Albert Penitentiary, with the main three storey brick jail in the background. (Source: Public Works and Government Services Canada)
A plain orangey-red brick with a ½ inch deep frog is typical of the bricks made at the Prince Albert Penitentiary early in the 20th century.
Brick Name: Unknown Brick Manufacturer: Prince Albert Penitentiary Brickyard Manufacture Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
COMMENTS: In 1909 the federal government announced that a contract had been issued to the Saskatchewan Building Construction Company to erect a penitentiary at Prince Albert. It was substantially completed by 1911. Located on the grounds of the former Indian Residential School (operated by the Anglican Church), the massive complex ultimately included a number of red brick structures, encircled by a high brick wall, with a number of lookout towers. The remaining St. Mary's Anglican Church, a log building erected here in 1875, was dwarfed by its new neighbor. Both facilities dealt with the sins of men, but in a dramatically different manner. Plans for the buildings were prepared by the Department of Public Works, and construction lasted several years. Bricks for the complex were made on site in a single purpose factory, which included a kiln and various drying sheds. The bricks illustrated here are from the Warden's House, erected in 1913 and demolished in 2011. Penitentiary brickyards exist elsewhere in North America, but the Prince Albert operation is the only brick factory in Saskatchewan known to have been established for this kind of function. Other major jails were located at Battleford, Moosomin, Regina and Saskatoon. W Sources: [1] “An Archaeological Survey of Brick Manufacture in Saskatchewan”
Date(s) of Manufacture: 1913 Brick Type: Face (smooth) Approximate Dimensions: 8 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/8 inches/ 202 x 97 x 55 mm
– M.A. Thesis – Larry E. Buhr, 1997, University of Saskatchewan, p. 216; [2] Sessional Papers, Department of Public Works, 1911, p. 32; [3] “Prince Albert: The First Century: 1866-1966”, by Gary Abrams, 1976, p. 158; [4] Bernie Flaman and Linda Kaminski, Public Works & Government Services Canada, Personal Communications: various dates - 2011-2012; [5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan_Federal_Penitentiary
Colour: orangy-red
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Exercise your senses...
?
Feel the bricks...
W E
See the history...
Smell the cinnamon buns...
Hear the trains...
N
Take a self-guided walking tour in Regina’s Warehouse District. Visit www.warehousedistrict.ca.
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