Doors Open Lethbridge once again brings the hidden and unique structural history of Lethbridge to light as 12 buildings or locations are opened to the community on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23.
Some buildings or locations are familiar, some have rarely been opened to the public before, but all have an interesting story to tell.
Some locations, like Henderson Lake, are always 'open' but participants can learn more about this major feature of the city through a hosted walking tour.
The two-day event is a part of Doors Open Alberta [http://www.doorsopenalberta.com], a major heritage tourism initiative that celebrates the people, places and architecture of Alberta.
Between April and October, communities host one or two day Doors Open events that offer free tours of architecturally interesting buildings and places. Doors Open Alberta is part of an international and national program showcasing built heritage and the people of our communities.
The Doors Open Lethbidge events wrap up Historic Lethbridge Week. For more information on all events taking place during Historic Lethbridge Week, please visit this website:
http://www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=4&s=6290
A complete listing of all Doors Open Lethbridge locations can be found here:
Fri SEP 22 | 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
1st Choice Savings and Credit Union Ltd.
45 Fairmont Boulevard South
Full wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms available
TOURS Guided 30 minute tours available. Max 15 per tour.
Call 320-4248 to arrange to be on a tour.
Built in 2004/2005 by Group 2/Goss Architectural, this is an environmentally friendly “LEED” building. A “LEED” building, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, incorporates many initiatives to create a more sustainable building, site and community. These initiatives reduce energy and water use, generate less waste and provide healthier indoor and outdoor environments. Among the initiatives undertaken at the building is the Eco-roof, a vegetated roof system designed to capture rain water and reduce site temperatures.
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Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Acadia Block (Dove Christian Supplies)
616 – 3 Avenue South
Partially wheelchair accessible
Commercial building
Built during the financial boom period before World War I, the Acadia Block was built circa 1909 by W.R. Virtue. The building has been home to many early Lethbridge businesses, including Clarke & Company, the C.B. Bowman Agency, and Rogers-Cunningham Lumber Company. The Acadia Block was also home to the Red Cross Drug and Book Company opened by S. Thomas H. McCready in 1909. McCready sold shares in the drugstore and two of the largest shareholders were Ontario druggists John H. Jury and W.H. Gregory. On 19 March 1918, the Acadia Block suffered a fire. This was the most costly fire in Lethbridge to that time and there was concern that a strong wind might spread the fire to the adjoining P. Burns Block or Hick-Sehl building. McCready’s Drugstore moved out but came back to Acadia Block years later. Other businesses that have also been in the Acadia Block include: Walter E. Huckvale and Martin Hoyt, lawyers; the Majorette Café and Priscilla's Millinery. Today, Acadia Block is home to Dove Christian Supplies.
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Fri SEP 22 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge
622 – 6 Avenue South
Washrooms not available
Not wheelchair accessible
Originally built as a residence now used as offices for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge.
Built by Major William Bemish Burnett, this site was a private home until the 1980s. Born in 1852, Major Burnett came west in 1895 as an employee for the CPR. He stayed with the CPR until 1904 when he accepted a position with Customs. Sometime between 1909 and 1912, he built this home. Major Burnett retired from Customs in 1924. That same year, his wife passed away. Shortly after, sometime between 1925 and 1927, the house was split into two residences. Major Burnett had served 28 years in the Canadian militia, receiving permission to retain the rank of major at his retirement in 1898. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is the largest youth mentoring organization in Canada. Previously Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge was located at 207 - 13th Street North, where they had been since the 1970s. The organization took possession of the current site in 1989.
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Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Conservatory of Music/Spud Nuts
1102 — 5 Avenue South
Not wheelchair accessible
The building was originally constructed as the Lethbridge Conservatory of Music. The conservatory opened in 1906 and provided musical instruction, a practice space, and music supplies. The conservatory was originally located in the 2nd storey of Tuff’s Block (where Southminster Church is today) but as the conservatory became popular, it quickly outgrew this space and relocated to the 1st floor of the Dallas Hotel. Continued growth of the Conservatory lead to the move to this location at 11th Street and 5th Avenue in 1910. This was the conservatory’s very own building. The building was built by J.G. (George) Harper and J. Morgan, a school inspector. The conservatory maintained a steady flow of students until the 1940s. It closed its doors temporarily during World War II and during that time the building was used by the Red Cross. The building was sold in the late 1940s to a private owner who renovated the upstairs into apartments. In 1950, it became the Spudnut Shop, selling coffee and spudnuts. It was closed for several years and is soon being reopened under new ownership as Crazy Cakes.
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Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 11:00 am – 10:30 pm
Fire Hall No. 1/La Bella Notte
402 — 2 Avenue South
Public washrooms available
Partially wheelchair accessible
Built as a fire hall, police station and city hall. Now a business and residential space.
TOURS* Guided historical tours available at 11:00 am, and on the hour from 1:00 pm — 9:00 pm.
This is the oldest brick fire hall in Alberta. The original fire hall was constructed in 1891. The current building was constructed on the same site in 1908 and material from the older building was used in its construction. At the time of its construction, it housed the Fire Department, the Police Department, and City Hall. The building was enlarged in 1910 and was called the Municipal Public Building until 1917 when city hall moved out. The unusual features of the building when it was constructed included a bell tower, as well as prison cells in the basement and living suites above. After the fire department moved out of the building in 1975, the building stood empty for a few years. It was declared a historic site in 1979 and has been restored and renovated. The restaurant, La Bella Notte or LBN, now calls Fire Hall No. 1 home.
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Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Galt Museum & Archives
501 – 1 Street South [west end of 5 Avenue South off Scenic Drive]
Wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms available
Built as a hospital, now a cultural building
TOURS* Guided historical tours of the Galt Hospital at 5:00 | 5:30 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 pm. Max 20 people per tour. Please pick up a free tour ticket at the information desk. *May be scary for very young children.
The second Galt Hospital was built in 1910. It was linked to the 1891 Galt Hospital by an above ground hallway. This brick and limestone 1910 building was designed by Arnold W. Brunner, a well-known New York City architect who designed Mount Sinai and other hospitals. A 1930 addition was attached to the west side of the 1910 building. During the 1985 museum expansion, this 1930 addition was demolished. Closed as a hospital in 1955, the building served as a Nursing Home and then the Lethbridge Health Unit. In the 1960s, the Galt Museum moved into the top floor and basement of the building, taking over the entire building with the 1985 museum expansion. In May 2006, a new expansion to the museum was opened to the public.
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Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Lethbridge Stake House or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
2410 – 28 Street South | please use NE front door
Fully wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms available
Religious building
TOURS available. On-site person to answer questions.
Built in 1969-1970 with Norman H. Fooks as architect, the building has undergone no major exterior renovations since construction. Interior renovations have been done as use dictated. There is 25 000 square feet inside divided among chapel, cultural hall, offices, kitchen, classrooms, stage, restrooms, baptismal font, and dressing rooms.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23
Mountain View Cemetery
Scenic Drive and 11 Street South
Washrooms available
Fully wheelchair accessible
Civic building. Historic grave locations and headstone styles and meaning. Cemetery office open weekdays for more information.
TOURS A tour guide will be available in the following blocks for an hour to give a history of that block and to give biographies of some of the people buried in that block.
10:00 - 11:00 am Block 1
11:00 am - noon Block A
1:00 – 2:00 pm Block B
2:00 – 3:00 pm Block 2-4
Mountain View Cemetery is formed from several cemeteries. The earliest part of the cemetery was started by St. Augustin’s Anglican Church in 1901. In the 1920s, the city took over management of this part of the cemetery, but did not officially purchase it until the 1940s. In 1905, Undertaker B.C. Moore started a private cemetery just west of the Anglican Cemetery. The city purchased this cemetery in 1909. With land the city purchased east of the Anglican cemetery in 1908, these cemeteries were consolidated in the 1940s into what we presently know of as Mountain View Cemetery. In addition to the public cemeteries, a Hebrew Cemetery, started in 1909 just west of Moore’s cemetery, is also located at Mountain View Cemetery.
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Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Safety City
3417 Parkside Drive South
Partially wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms will be available
Educational facility
Safety City provides hands on practical application of safety skills. Safety City’s mini community is the site where children learn these important skills. Kindergarten and grade one children learn pedestrian safety while grades three and four students learn bike safety. Built in 1998, Safety City was designed by Architect A.R. Fritz and built by Gillette Construction. It was constructed through money matched by the Province of Alberta’s Community Facility Enhancement Program. The garage was partially funded by Meyers Norris Penny Chartered Accountants. Tim Hortons has been a long time sponsor of Safety City and the mini Tim Hortons building is part of the Safety City community. The Kiwanis provided the first three years of Safety City’s operating funds. The space is shared with Block Parents and the Alberta Motor Association uses the site for school patrol training during the summer. Painting and murals were done by Darlene Grabo Yeoman.
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Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Union Bank/Express Coffee Ltd.
5 Street and 3 Avenue South
Public washrooms not available
Not wheelchair accessible
Commercial building (tentative access to one residential apartment)
The Union Bank brand was the first chartered bank in southern Alberta and amalgamated with the Royal Bank of Canada in 1925. It is believed that the Union Bank started in Lethbridge as early as 1884 while the community was still in the river valley. After some time in a frame building, the Union Bank moved to 108—5th Street South, the first stone building in Lethbridge. In 1907, the Union Bank moved to the corner of Redpath and Round Street (3rd Avenue and 5th Street South) into a “3 storey hip roofed building.” An office building, three storeys high, was built behind the building. After being home to several different businesses, today the building houses the newly opened Express Coffee Ltd.
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Special tours
Fri SEP 22 | 1:00 pm
Henderson Lake Walking Tour
Meet at cannons at east end of lake
Free admission
Join tour guide Belinda Crowson on a historic walking tour of Henderson Lake. From zoos to dance pavilions to biting muskrats, Henderson Lake has been central to the life of Lethbridge since 1912. Come explore the stories behind this picturesque and historic park.
Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am and 2:00 pm
Downtown Lethbridge Tours
Please meet at east entrance of Galt Museum & Archives
Free admission
Join tour guide Margaret Roberts on a tour of the buildings of downtown Lethbridge. Explore China Town. Learn why the Bentley store, the first three-storey brick building in Lethbridge, represents the power of Round Street in early Lethbridge. Discover the history of Galt Gardens and much more.
---
U of L Communications and Public Relations Contact:
Bob Cooney, Communications and PR Officer (403) 382-7173
Some buildings or locations are familiar, some have rarely been opened to the public before, but all have an interesting story to tell.
Some locations, like Henderson Lake, are always 'open' but participants can learn more about this major feature of the city through a hosted walking tour.
The two-day event is a part of Doors Open Alberta [http://www.doorsopenalberta.com], a major heritage tourism initiative that celebrates the people, places and architecture of Alberta.
Between April and October, communities host one or two day Doors Open events that offer free tours of architecturally interesting buildings and places. Doors Open Alberta is part of an international and national program showcasing built heritage and the people of our communities.
The Doors Open Lethbidge events wrap up Historic Lethbridge Week. For more information on all events taking place during Historic Lethbridge Week, please visit this website:
http://www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=4&s=6290
A complete listing of all Doors Open Lethbridge locations can be found here:
Fri SEP 22 | 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
1st Choice Savings and Credit Union Ltd.
45 Fairmont Boulevard South
Full wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms available
TOURS Guided 30 minute tours available. Max 15 per tour.
Call 320-4248 to arrange to be on a tour.
Built in 2004/2005 by Group 2/Goss Architectural, this is an environmentally friendly “LEED” building. A “LEED” building, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, incorporates many initiatives to create a more sustainable building, site and community. These initiatives reduce energy and water use, generate less waste and provide healthier indoor and outdoor environments. Among the initiatives undertaken at the building is the Eco-roof, a vegetated roof system designed to capture rain water and reduce site temperatures.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Acadia Block (Dove Christian Supplies)
616 – 3 Avenue South
Partially wheelchair accessible
Commercial building
Built during the financial boom period before World War I, the Acadia Block was built circa 1909 by W.R. Virtue. The building has been home to many early Lethbridge businesses, including Clarke & Company, the C.B. Bowman Agency, and Rogers-Cunningham Lumber Company. The Acadia Block was also home to the Red Cross Drug and Book Company opened by S. Thomas H. McCready in 1909. McCready sold shares in the drugstore and two of the largest shareholders were Ontario druggists John H. Jury and W.H. Gregory. On 19 March 1918, the Acadia Block suffered a fire. This was the most costly fire in Lethbridge to that time and there was concern that a strong wind might spread the fire to the adjoining P. Burns Block or Hick-Sehl building. McCready’s Drugstore moved out but came back to Acadia Block years later. Other businesses that have also been in the Acadia Block include: Walter E. Huckvale and Martin Hoyt, lawyers; the Majorette Café and Priscilla's Millinery. Today, Acadia Block is home to Dove Christian Supplies.
+++
Fri SEP 22 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge
622 – 6 Avenue South
Washrooms not available
Not wheelchair accessible
Originally built as a residence now used as offices for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge.
Built by Major William Bemish Burnett, this site was a private home until the 1980s. Born in 1852, Major Burnett came west in 1895 as an employee for the CPR. He stayed with the CPR until 1904 when he accepted a position with Customs. Sometime between 1909 and 1912, he built this home. Major Burnett retired from Customs in 1924. That same year, his wife passed away. Shortly after, sometime between 1925 and 1927, the house was split into two residences. Major Burnett had served 28 years in the Canadian militia, receiving permission to retain the rank of major at his retirement in 1898. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is the largest youth mentoring organization in Canada. Previously Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge was located at 207 - 13th Street North, where they had been since the 1970s. The organization took possession of the current site in 1989.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Conservatory of Music/Spud Nuts
1102 — 5 Avenue South
Not wheelchair accessible
The building was originally constructed as the Lethbridge Conservatory of Music. The conservatory opened in 1906 and provided musical instruction, a practice space, and music supplies. The conservatory was originally located in the 2nd storey of Tuff’s Block (where Southminster Church is today) but as the conservatory became popular, it quickly outgrew this space and relocated to the 1st floor of the Dallas Hotel. Continued growth of the Conservatory lead to the move to this location at 11th Street and 5th Avenue in 1910. This was the conservatory’s very own building. The building was built by J.G. (George) Harper and J. Morgan, a school inspector. The conservatory maintained a steady flow of students until the 1940s. It closed its doors temporarily during World War II and during that time the building was used by the Red Cross. The building was sold in the late 1940s to a private owner who renovated the upstairs into apartments. In 1950, it became the Spudnut Shop, selling coffee and spudnuts. It was closed for several years and is soon being reopened under new ownership as Crazy Cakes.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 11:00 am – 10:30 pm
Fire Hall No. 1/La Bella Notte
402 — 2 Avenue South
Public washrooms available
Partially wheelchair accessible
Built as a fire hall, police station and city hall. Now a business and residential space.
TOURS* Guided historical tours available at 11:00 am, and on the hour from 1:00 pm — 9:00 pm.
This is the oldest brick fire hall in Alberta. The original fire hall was constructed in 1891. The current building was constructed on the same site in 1908 and material from the older building was used in its construction. At the time of its construction, it housed the Fire Department, the Police Department, and City Hall. The building was enlarged in 1910 and was called the Municipal Public Building until 1917 when city hall moved out. The unusual features of the building when it was constructed included a bell tower, as well as prison cells in the basement and living suites above. After the fire department moved out of the building in 1975, the building stood empty for a few years. It was declared a historic site in 1979 and has been restored and renovated. The restaurant, La Bella Notte or LBN, now calls Fire Hall No. 1 home.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Galt Museum & Archives
501 – 1 Street South [west end of 5 Avenue South off Scenic Drive]
Wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms available
Built as a hospital, now a cultural building
TOURS* Guided historical tours of the Galt Hospital at 5:00 | 5:30 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 pm. Max 20 people per tour. Please pick up a free tour ticket at the information desk. *May be scary for very young children.
The second Galt Hospital was built in 1910. It was linked to the 1891 Galt Hospital by an above ground hallway. This brick and limestone 1910 building was designed by Arnold W. Brunner, a well-known New York City architect who designed Mount Sinai and other hospitals. A 1930 addition was attached to the west side of the 1910 building. During the 1985 museum expansion, this 1930 addition was demolished. Closed as a hospital in 1955, the building served as a Nursing Home and then the Lethbridge Health Unit. In the 1960s, the Galt Museum moved into the top floor and basement of the building, taking over the entire building with the 1985 museum expansion. In May 2006, a new expansion to the museum was opened to the public.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Lethbridge Stake House or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
2410 – 28 Street South | please use NE front door
Fully wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms available
Religious building
TOURS available. On-site person to answer questions.
Built in 1969-1970 with Norman H. Fooks as architect, the building has undergone no major exterior renovations since construction. Interior renovations have been done as use dictated. There is 25 000 square feet inside divided among chapel, cultural hall, offices, kitchen, classrooms, stage, restrooms, baptismal font, and dressing rooms.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23
Mountain View Cemetery
Scenic Drive and 11 Street South
Washrooms available
Fully wheelchair accessible
Civic building. Historic grave locations and headstone styles and meaning. Cemetery office open weekdays for more information.
TOURS A tour guide will be available in the following blocks for an hour to give a history of that block and to give biographies of some of the people buried in that block.
10:00 - 11:00 am Block 1
11:00 am - noon Block A
1:00 – 2:00 pm Block B
2:00 – 3:00 pm Block 2-4
Mountain View Cemetery is formed from several cemeteries. The earliest part of the cemetery was started by St. Augustin’s Anglican Church in 1901. In the 1920s, the city took over management of this part of the cemetery, but did not officially purchase it until the 1940s. In 1905, Undertaker B.C. Moore started a private cemetery just west of the Anglican Cemetery. The city purchased this cemetery in 1909. With land the city purchased east of the Anglican cemetery in 1908, these cemeteries were consolidated in the 1940s into what we presently know of as Mountain View Cemetery. In addition to the public cemeteries, a Hebrew Cemetery, started in 1909 just west of Moore’s cemetery, is also located at Mountain View Cemetery.
+++
Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Safety City
3417 Parkside Drive South
Partially wheelchair accessible
Public washrooms will be available
Educational facility
Safety City provides hands on practical application of safety skills. Safety City’s mini community is the site where children learn these important skills. Kindergarten and grade one children learn pedestrian safety while grades three and four students learn bike safety. Built in 1998, Safety City was designed by Architect A.R. Fritz and built by Gillette Construction. It was constructed through money matched by the Province of Alberta’s Community Facility Enhancement Program. The garage was partially funded by Meyers Norris Penny Chartered Accountants. Tim Hortons has been a long time sponsor of Safety City and the mini Tim Hortons building is part of the Safety City community. The Kiwanis provided the first three years of Safety City’s operating funds. The space is shared with Block Parents and the Alberta Motor Association uses the site for school patrol training during the summer. Painting and murals were done by Darlene Grabo Yeoman.
+++
Fri SEP 22 + Sat SEP 23 | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Union Bank/Express Coffee Ltd.
5 Street and 3 Avenue South
Public washrooms not available
Not wheelchair accessible
Commercial building (tentative access to one residential apartment)
The Union Bank brand was the first chartered bank in southern Alberta and amalgamated with the Royal Bank of Canada in 1925. It is believed that the Union Bank started in Lethbridge as early as 1884 while the community was still in the river valley. After some time in a frame building, the Union Bank moved to 108—5th Street South, the first stone building in Lethbridge. In 1907, the Union Bank moved to the corner of Redpath and Round Street (3rd Avenue and 5th Street South) into a “3 storey hip roofed building.” An office building, three storeys high, was built behind the building. After being home to several different businesses, today the building houses the newly opened Express Coffee Ltd.
+++
Special tours
Fri SEP 22 | 1:00 pm
Henderson Lake Walking Tour
Meet at cannons at east end of lake
Free admission
Join tour guide Belinda Crowson on a historic walking tour of Henderson Lake. From zoos to dance pavilions to biting muskrats, Henderson Lake has been central to the life of Lethbridge since 1912. Come explore the stories behind this picturesque and historic park.
Sat SEP 23 | 10:00 am and 2:00 pm
Downtown Lethbridge Tours
Please meet at east entrance of Galt Museum & Archives
Free admission
Join tour guide Margaret Roberts on a tour of the buildings of downtown Lethbridge. Explore China Town. Learn why the Bentley store, the first three-storey brick building in Lethbridge, represents the power of Round Street in early Lethbridge. Discover the history of Galt Gardens and much more.
---
U of L Communications and Public Relations Contact:
Bob Cooney, Communications and PR Officer (403) 382-7173