Cornerstone : the journal of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation

20 Pages·1991·5.7 MB·English

by  Alberta Historical Resources Foundation

THE
CORNERSTONE
Stephen Avenue , C algary
Volume 14, Number 2, Spring 1991
The Alberta Historical Resources
Foundation, a Provincial Crown THE
Agency, was established in 1976 to assist
in the preservation of the Province's
historic buildings, sites and objects and
to encourage and promote public CORNERSTONE
awareness of Alberta's past. Donations Journal of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
and bequests of funds or property receive
the tax benefit of a donation to the
Crown.
Annual dues are $10.00 which entitles a
supporter to receive the Foundation's COVER PHOTO: Stephen Avenue, Calgary, in 1912, looking east from
quarterly Journal, The Cornerstone.
First Street West. Historic Stephen Avenue is being revitalized vuith a 1912
Albertans are invited to contact the theme as that date recalls a p eriod of g reat commercial prosperity and gracious
Foundation's office with their enquiries, architecture. The restoration of the building facades will reflect the dates of
news and information of subjects and
events which they want to share through construction, however, which range from about 1885 to 1930. Two of the
the pages of The Cornerstone. buildings, the Lancaster Building and the Standard Life Building, have
already undergone major rehabilitation. This spring, the Alberta Historical
Please direct all enquiries to:
Mark Rasmussen Resources Foundation committed $600,000 in a matching grant, spread over
Coordinating Director the next three years, to the Stephen Avenue Heritage Facade Program, the
O8El8dd2m 0o nS tt-. o 1 nS1,t2e p ShAtelrbnee'erstt a C o Tll6eGg e 2P8 coowsntesr so f a wnhdi c ht h ew i Fllo u bned a sthiaorne.d aPmhootnog Ctrheed i Cti:t y G loef n Cbaolwg-aArlyb,e rtthae buIinlsdtiintgust'e
Phone: [phone] Archives Collection.
Board of Directors
Honorary Chairman IN THIS ISSUE:
Dr. J. W . Gtant MacEwan,
Calgary Letter from the Minister 3
Chairman
Charlach Mackintosh Letter from the Foundation's Chairman 4
Edmonton Heritage Awards Extension 5
Zul Boga Calgary Spring Grants Review 6 -13
Elise Corbet Calgary Main Street Update 14
Bruce Haig Lethbridge
Gerry Howis Manning Stephen Avenue Rehabilitation 15
RC.o y R e Jdevnenrisn g sP erry CBaallzgaacr y Lethbridge Fireball #1 16
Jack ReiUy Wetaskiwin Dr. George/Kemp House Restoration 17
Yvette Vincent Bonnyville
Don Wheaton Edmonton Migration of Ukrainians to Canada Conference 18
Calendar of Events 19
Vice-Chairman
Elise Corbet Calgary Books 20
Publisher Editorial Policy
Alberta Historical
Resources Foundation The purpose of THE CORNERSTONE is primarily to inform
Editor others of the Foundation's activities and secondarily to
Barbara Dacks communicate heritage news from around the province. The
Foundation is unable to pay for articles or photographs used in
The Foundation receives technical and THE CORNERSTONE. Use of submitted material is at the
administtative support from Alberta discretion of the Editor.
Culture and Multiculturalism and is
responsible to its Minister.
PRIMARY FUNDING FOR THE ALBERTA HISTORICAL
ISSNO 707 - 705X
RESOURCES FOUNDATION COMES FROM
LOTTERIES
The Cornerstone, Page 2
Message from the Minister
Dear Foundation Members,
Congratulations are in order for the Alberta
Historical Resources Foundation these days. First,
ilto ti tse rg ioeso d li tcoe n ssee e f trhoem r tehnee w parlo v iofn c itahle Fgoouvnedrantmieonnts,
with three more years of assured funding. Second
over the last year, through some tough
streamlining, the organization moved more than
$250,000 formerly spent in its administrative
bTuhdeg et F oiuntnod a atddiiotni on ahla s g r panrtosv ifodre dit s ap unb l iecx c cellilenetnst.
ethxaatm p tlhee moaf x hiomwu m su cahm o uonrtgasn i ozfa t tihoenisr mcoanni e esn s uerned
up m the communities ^^-^^^^^^ ^^.^^^th three new members recently
ofotande Frame. Larry Chorney of Farrvrew who recently d"e to w ork
commitment are essential to the preservation and well bemg of A lberta s h eritage
Yours truly.
Doug Main
Minister of Culture and Multiculturalism
The Cornerstone, Page 3
Message from the Foundation's Chairman
Dear Foundation Members :
On April 29th, the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation received
verification from the Minister responsible for Lotteries, the Hon. Ken Kowalski,
that our organization's lotteries license, on which our budget is b ased, had been
renewed. While we and our associated provincial heritage organizations had hoped
for an increase in funding, given the challenging economic times and a demand
that outreached the supply for lotteries dollars , o ur base allocation is to continue
at its present level ($2,850,000) for each of t he next three years. For that we are
most grateful, as are the thousands of c lients we serve across Alberta.
Accordingly , t he Foundation will continue to channel the following amounts
to its associates annually: the Alberta Museums Association $700,000; the
Alberta Archives Council $100,000; the Historical Society of A lberta $23,000;
the Alberta Genealogical Society $17,000; and the Archaeological Society of
Alberta $10,000. This leaves the Foundation itself with $2,000,000, of w hich
approximately $1 ,300,000 will go into conventional heritage grants, $250,000
into the Historical District Programme, nearly $400,000 in support to the
Alberta Main Street Programme, with the balance and interest towards general
administration and miscellaneous projects.
This issue of T he Cornerstone highlights the grants commitments from the
Spring Grants Review, with 90 projects from across the province awarded
approximately $650,000. In addition, the Board of D irectors approved a total of
up to $150,000 spread over the next two years for continuation of t he Crowsnest
Pass Ecomuseum Trust's area conservation initiative, and $600,000 over the
next three years towards the Stephen Avenue Mall Facade Rehabilitation Project.
This latter work in Calgary involves Alberta's finest collection of e arly
commercial buildings, and potentially one of t he best historic districts in the
country. The Board has also committed up to $200,000 over the next two years
to completing the restoration of t he 1893 Dr. George Residence in Innisfail, the
province's first museum.
As the Board continues to move its meetings around the province and meets
with various community heritage groups, we hope to see many of y ou. Please
accept our best wishes for a pleasant Spring.
Sincerely yours ,
Charlach R.D. Mackintosh
Chairman of t he Board
The Cornerstone, Page 4
Summer Board Meeting Bar U Ranch News
The next meeting of the Board of The federal government has purchased 99
Directors of the Alberta Historical Resources hectares of the historic Bar U Ranch in
Foundation will be held in Cardston, on June Longview, Alberta. The 110 year-old Bar U
14 and 15, 1991. The Board hopes, at this Ranch will become a national historic site
time, to meet with some local officials in the and could be open to the public as early as
community and have the opportunity to visit next summer.
some of the local heritage projects. In this Located 96 kilometres south of Calgary,
way, the Board can become more aware of the ranch was once owned by George Lane,
programme needs in the community and can one of the "Big Four" cattlemen who
underwrote the first Calgary Stampede in
raise the Foundation's profile at the
grassroots level. 1912. The property obtained by the Parks
Service consists of the original ranch
headquarters, including barns, residences and
a number of other historic buildings. Public
input by local residents will help determine
how the site will be operated.
— Courtesy of t he Canadian Parks Service
NOTICE
Heritage Awards Programme of t he Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
Unlike our Spring Grants Review Award of H onour (I)
where the Board of Directors of the - for ongoing and profound commitment to
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation heritage preservation in Alberta.
was flooded with applications, relatively
few submissions for our annual Heritage Community Heritage Award (1)
Awards were received by the February - for those cities, towns, villages, reserves,
deadline. Consequently, the competition is or l.D.s that have demonstrated a strong
being extended until August 31, 1991, commitment to heritage conservation.
with selections and announcements in the
Fall. Winners receive a framed certificate at a
Categories for the Awards are as special banquet and are featured in The
follows: Cornerstone as well as various media
releases. Please take this opportunity to
Architectural Heritage Awards (2) assist us in recognizing those who have
- for individuals or groups who produced shown exceptional or innovative
outstanding examples of architectural achievement in preserving and interpreting
restoration in the province, small or large Alberta's heritage. For further information
scale. and application forms, please contact: The
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation,
Heritage Sites & Resources Award (1) 8820 - 1 12 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G
- for direct action in saving a threatened 2P8. Telephone: [phone].
heritage building/site/resource.
Heritage Service Award (1)
- for exceptional service in promoting
Alberta history.
The Cornerstone, Page 5
SPRING GRANTS REVIEW
In total, 117 grant applications were received by the Foundation for the February 1, 1991
deadline. The Board of Directors approved grants to 90 projects, as follows:
9 Feasibility Studies $ 79,500
52 Historic Resource Preservation $ 416,905
3 Heritage Awareness $ 10,500
2 Professional Development $ 1,000
11 Publications $ 29,500
12 Research $ 102,388
1 Workshops/Seminars/Conferences $ 1,000
Total $ 640,793
Once again, the Foundation approved a great variety of projects for funding. Applications
came from around the province. The Foundation is pleased to contribute to the continuing
efforts of individuals, businesses, community and church groups and local governments
committed to heritage conservation.
The Board is assisted in its adjudication by a historical and technical assessment, prepared
for each of the Historic Resource Preservation and Feasibility Study projects cooperatively by
Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism, as well as by information provided by applicants and
others. Recommendations are based on available funds taking into consideration the nature
and urgency of the work and the status of the resource, with work priority given to: 1. site
archaeological and palaeontological work; site drainage and stabilization; building structural
work; building services preservation; 2. exterior building/structure fabric restoration; 3. interior
building/structure fabric and fixture restoration; and status priority given to properties
designated under the Historical Resources Act and those with potential for designation.
The maximums placed on some funding recommendations represent, in the Board's view, a
fair amount in relation to the Foundation's budget limitations, the applicant's financial ability
to undertake the project and the urgency or priority of each project.
Publications must have significant Alberta heritage content to be considered. Manuscripts
are evaluated according to their research interest and value, the quality of their composition
and their potential market. Heritage awareness, research, education and workshops, seminars,
conferences projects are assessed on merit. Priority is given to those that will have major large-
scale and long term impact on Alberta heritage development.
Funded Projects
Feasibility Studies: Historic Resource Preservation:
Melsness Mercantile, Valhalla Centre, Knox United Church, Calgary, $2,500;
$3,900; George Pegg Botanic Garden, Trondhjem Lutheran Church, Round Hill,
Darwell, $10,000; Glen Ranche/Rener $475; Calgary No. 1 Branch Legion, $1,000;
House, Lundbreck, $7,500; Strathcona
Viking Railway Station, $10,000; St. Savior's
County Regional Heritage Resources Anglican Church, Etzikom, $2,500; St.
Management Master Plan, Sherwood Park, Peter's Lutheran Church, Scapa, $3,500; Old
$10,000; Grace Presbyterian Church, Town Office/Cereal Prairie Pioneer Museum,
Calgary, $5,000; Haultain School, Calgary, Cereal, $3,000; Oppertshauser House, Stony
$7,500; 1907 Didsbury Public School, Plain, $2,564; Enchant Evangelical Free
Didsbury, $10,000; Sheppard Block, Church, Enchant, $10,000; HiUhurst United
Edmonton, $12,000; Fraser and Seabloom Church, Calgary, $2,350; Cathedral Church
Block, Calgary, $10,000. of the Redeemer, Calgary, $10,000;
Continued on page 7
The Cornerstone, Page 6
Funded Projects
(continued from page 6) Heritage Awareness:
Hargrave's Pioneers of South Eastern
Nimmons Residence, Calgary, $800; Flasch Alberta, Medicine Hat, $4,500; Ukrainian
Residence, Okotoks, $3,000; Strathcona Pioneer Homesteads Sign, County of
Library, Edmonton, $5,000; C.P.R. Lamont,$l, 000; Centennial Monument of
Ditchrider House, Brooks, $5,000; T.D. the Arrival of Iwan Pylypow in Alberta, Star,
Lewis Residence, Claresholm, $5,000; Peace
$5,000.
River N.A.R. Station, $13,000; Athabasca
Public School, Athabasca, $10,000; Stirling Publications:
Barn, Stirling, $5,000; Chinese Free Masons A Mission of Caring, Catholic Health
Building, Lethbridge, $15,000; Medalta Association, $3,000; Echoes from This, Our
Potteries, Medicine Hat, $50,000; Nixon Land, Berry Creek, $3,000; Sweaty Brows
Residence, Lethbridge, $2,000; Stavely and Breaking Plows, Mayton, $3,000;
United Church, Stavely, $5,000; Big Valley History of the Shrine Parish, Skaro, $1,500;
CNR Station, $4,800; Red Deer Court Cameo of the West, Namao, $3,000; A
House, Red Deer, $725; Inglewood History of the Prince of Wales Hotel,
Telephone Building, Calgary, $6,741; Old (Waterton), $3,000; In the Shadow of the
Rockies: Diary of the Castle Mountain
Lineham House, Okotoks, $1,500; "Ray
Internment Camp, 1915-1917, $3,000;
Smith & 'Company" - The Old Hardware,
Delburne, $5,000; Braeside Lodge, Calgary, Viking History Book, $5,000; Early Days in
$5,000; Allen Bungalow, Red Deer, $1,500; Edworthy Park and the Neighboring Areas
Chief Crowfoot Grave Historical Sites, of Brickhurn and Lowery Qardens, $1,500;
Cluny, $15,000; Hiebert House, Didsbury, Walk Through Old Strathcona, $2,500; A
$3,000; St. Ann Ranch, Trochu, $10,000; History of Rugby Football in Edmonton,
Hampton School, Ohaton, $2,000; Holy
$3,000.
Trinity Anglican Church, Edmonton,
$15,000; McGregor/Coote House, Research:
Edmonton, $4,500; Grierson/Rees House, A Community Fair Study: The Sundre
Edmonton, $750; Emmanuel Anglican School Fair, or "Prizes for Pigs" $5,728;
Church, Gibbons, $5,000; Beatty House, Edmonton City-wide Heritage Resource
Rimbey, $10,000; Sproule Farm Yard, Inventory - Phase I, $ 20,000; Women and
Strathmore, $5,000; Hiebert Residence, War: The Experience of Canadian Nurses in
Didsbury, $9,000; Parsons Residence, Red War, $8,000; John Laurie Biography,
Deer, $10,000; Bellevue Restaurant, $10,000; Voices of Old Strathcona - A n Oral
Bellevue, $5,000; Duggan House, Edmonton, History Project, $9,000; Fort Calgary
$40,000; Toronto Dominion Bank Building, Archaeological Project, $10,000; The
Calgary, $30,000; Hick-Sehl Building, Welsch Site: North Campsite Stratigraphic
Lethbridge, $15,000; McLean Residence, Correlation Project, $10,000; Historic
Edmonton, $4,000; Shilo School, Caroline, Walking Tour, Stony Plain, $5,000; Samson
$8,500; Knox United Church, Calgary, History Project, $10,000; Inglewood Area
$15,000; Shaw and Cooper Block, Nanton, Historical Research Plan, $9,980; Alberta
Irish: Roots, Reasons and Impact, $1,000; A
$3,200; St. Michael's Anglican Church,
Canmore, $5,000; Brazeau Collieries, History of the Residential School System
Nordegg, $10,000. and Members of the Cold Lake First Nations,
$4,130.
Professional Development in Heritage
Preservation: Workshops/Seminars/Conferences :
Society for the Study of Architecture in The Migration of Ukrainians to Western
Canada After 1891 Conference, $1,000.
Canada - Dorothy Field, $500; Society for
the Study of Architecture in Canada - Etna
Dominey, $500.
The Cornerstone, Page 7
Approved Grant Applications
The following are examples of projects being funded:
Qlen Ranche/Rener Residence (1910) Haultain School (1893)
Lundhreck: $7,500 towards a feasibility study Calgary: $7,500 towards an
to assess the potential and costs associated with architectural/ engineering study that will include a
the development/rehabilitation of the site. The soils analysis, an investigation of potential
structural problems and stone deterioration
Glen Ranche belongs to the era of small ranch
below grade and provide recommendations for
operations developed by the turn of the century .
repair, design drawings, specifications and a
The house is a rare example of the use of stone
detailed budget. The school is a unique
as a building material in country homes. adaptation in Alberta of a style of architecture
(Potential Provincial Historic Resource) primarily reserved for monumental civic
structures and was the first school in Calgary to
have electricity and be built of sandstone.
(Registered Historic Resource, 1979)
1907 T>idshury ^uhXic School Sheppard Block (1909)
Didshury: $10,000 towards an Edmonton: $12,000 towards an engineering
architectural/engineering study to assess the study on the cost of new construction and the
building s condition and compliance with the cost of retention of existing usable building
building code and to recommend an architectural elements from the remaining facades; and the
program for future development and design of a new structural system incorporating
preservation. It was the first school in the district the old floor system and preserving, stabilizing
to offer Grade 12. (Local Historic Resource) and supporting the remaining building fabric.
Built by William Sheppard, an early hotelier in
Strathconal South Edmonton, the Block was one
Photo Credits: Historic Sites and Archives of the first brick buildings on Whyte Avenue. It
was recently gutted by fire leaving the front
Branch, Alberta Culture and
facade, and portions of t he east, north and west
Multiculturalism. walls intact. (Local Historic Resource)
The Cornerstone, Page 8
Approved Grant Applications continued
Ingleuiood Telephone Building (1909) "Ray Smith & Company" - T he Old
Calgary: $6,741 to repaint the tin roof and all Hardware (1917)
exterior windows and doors. The building played Delhurne: $5,000 for the reshingling of t he roof
an important role in the development of with No. ] grade cedar shingles and structural
and electrical upgrading required for restoration.
Calgary's early telephone system and was in
operation until 1957. (Registered Historic
The store is one of Delburne's four surviving
Resource, 1981) buildings constructed between 1913-17 and
reflects the community' s rapid expansion, as
evidenced by its "boomtown" facade. (Potential
Designated Site)
Braeside Lodge (ca. 1925) Allen Bungalow (1912)
Calgary: $5,000 towards installation of Red Deer: $1 ,500 towards the repainting of t he
insulation and upgrading of the existing steam exterior wood siding and trim. The residence was
heating system. This is a welUcrafted example of a country estate for William George Allen, who
apartment architecture from Calgary's historic came to Red Deer from England in 1901 and
era and one of three distinguished apartment played a prominent role in the early economic
complexes in Lower Mount Royal, an area with and civic life of the community . (Registered
few protected historic resources. (Municipally Historic Resource , 1 985)
Designated Resource)
Photo Credits: Historic Sites and Archives Branch, Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism
The Cornerstone, Page 9
Approved Grant A
Emmanuel Anglican Church (1906) Sproule Farm (1920 - H ouse, 1916 - B arn)
Qihhons: $5,000 towards the reshingling of the Strathmore: $5,000 towards foundation
roof with No. I grade cedar shingles. The improvement. Harry and Mary Scheer and
church's original site was at the northernmost family first settled here in 1909 and built this
elbow of the Sturgeon River, at Battenburg, an home, an early local landmark, after years of
integral part of the Athabasca Landing Trail bountiful harvests. In 1985, the Sproule family
from 1874-1920. (Potential Registered Historic bought the farm and began restorations. In
Resource) 1987, the house was chosen by Hallmark for its
Site)
Christmas commercial. (Potential Designated
Hiebert Residence (ca 1907) Bellevue Restaurant (1917)
Didshury: $9,000 towards the reshingling of t he Bellevue: $5,000 for half the costs of the
roof and repairs to the eavestroughs . T he house restoration of the roof using No. 1 grade cedar
was built by Cornelius Hiebert, a prominent shingles and upgrading of the electrical system.
Didsbury pioneer, businessman and MLA,
Known as the Bellevue Cafe, fim's Cafe, and
elected in 1905 to Alberta's first Legislative Wong's Restaurant , the main floor has
Assembly. (Provincial Historic Resource , 1 983) functioned as a restaurant since 1917.
(Registered Historic Resource, 1989)
Photo Credits: Historic Sites and Archives Branch, Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism
The Cornerstone, Page 10