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Around Edmonton
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
_Citizen_Dane_
Active Member
So the old Ritchie School is about to be demolished. To commemorate the history of the storied building, the community league put on a BBQ and allowed tours of its decidedly 1950’s annexes. I was able to grab quite a few pictures and thought some on here might find them interesting. Be prepared for a long post.
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Ritchie School was originally built over the winter and spring of 1912-13, to meet the ever increasing demand for proper teaching facilities in the city’s recently amalgamated southeast. Edmonton was experiencing an unprecedented growth spurt, and between 1902 and 1912 the city’s population soared from only 6,000 to 60,000. To keep up the E.P.S.B. began an equally unprecedented building spree, which saw $1,000,000 (roughly $25,000,000 today if my calculations are correct) spent on constructing “six, 16-room schools [for] 1913.” The massive Collegiate Gothic styled Ritchie School was designed by Building Commissioner George E. Turner, and opened to students in November of that year.
.
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I’ve seen quite a bit of outrage over the building’s demolition online, and I hope I can clear up some misunderstandings as to why its happening. Ritchie School was built on what was ostensibly a marsh and has been sinking ever since it was built. Its basement was completely flooded the year it opened, and has repeatedly flooded since, despite its foundation having been redone three times over the course of the last century. The E.P.S.B. had wanted the original 1913 wing demolished since 1974, but a lack of proper funding, and the annexes boilers location in the old school had always prevented this from happening. That year saw the 1913 building sealed off from its additions, and it has seen very little in the way of proper care since then, as it has only been used as storage and a workshop. An estimate from the Board in 2007 came up with a $17,000,000 price tag for only basic rehabilitation. So the school was sold to the Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord, who have begun building a completely modern facility for less than that cost on the site.
.
.
Unfortunately we were not allowed in the original wing of the school, as by all accounts it is in such a state of disrepair, to be unsafe to those without proper safety equipment. A peek through one of the musty door windows into the old portion however showcased an interesting sight. It seems as though many original elements still remain, from its staircases, to wood banisters, vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors. Sadly, you can immediately tell that it hasn't seen major use in the better part of 50 years. Nevertheless, what we were able to explore was amazing.
.
.
The annexes proved to be a veritable time capsule. Many walls are clad in bright yellow tile, or massive teal coloured blocks. Others, typically sporting inset lockers, feature plaster; these ones have a pleasing colour combination of cream, with dark red trim. The floors are a mix of Terrazzo and linoleum, with the latter making use of a neat banding pattern. The washrooms are so stereotypically 1950’s, as to be laughable. They feature seafoam coloured tiling, interspersed with strips of a vibrant pink. Many still sport their original moulded porcelain sinks. Several of the classrooms and specialty areas, like the small gymnasium and woodworking shop, feature well worn, but immaculately polished, thin slatted hardwood. The woodworking shop itself is still fitted up with equipment that - while possibly not as old as the building itself - are antique. A classroom space created from part of the library proudly displays an amazingly sized three dimensional, topographical map of Alberta. So many of the fixtures appear to date to the annex’s opening, or are at least from the era. Carved wooden pamphlet holders reside near each outdoor entranceway. The ever ubiquitous hallway clocks that hang from the centre of the ceiling are encased in rounded, Moderne-esque rigs. Like the washrooms sinks, many of the drinking fountains are of the porcelain variety. Fire extinguisher signs are of cast metal, and many of the entrances still feature their original doors and hardware. It is truly hard to put into words just how much of a period piece the place is. Walking through the doors is so like stepping back into 1960 that the few pieces of modern equipment like a vending machine, or new stoves in the Home Economics room, truly feel out of place.
.
.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this brief tour! From what I understand demolition is expected to start by the end of 2019. Architectural elements like the cast stone name and dateplates are supposed to be retained for use on the Ritchie Community League's new home.
.
*Edited to be more thorough*
.
.
Ritchie School was originally built over the winter and spring of 1912-13, to meet the ever increasing demand for proper teaching facilities in the city’s recently amalgamated southeast. Edmonton was experiencing an unprecedented growth spurt, and between 1902 and 1912 the city’s population soared from only 6,000 to 60,000. To keep up the E.P.S.B. began an equally unprecedented building spree, which saw $1,000,000 (roughly $25,000,000 today if my calculations are correct) spent on constructing “six, 16-room schools [for] 1913.” The massive Collegiate Gothic styled Ritchie School was designed by Building Commissioner George E. Turner, and opened to students in November of that year.
.
.
I’ve seen quite a bit of outrage over the building’s demolition online, and I hope I can clear up some misunderstandings as to why its happening. Ritchie School was built on what was ostensibly a marsh and has been sinking ever since it was built. Its basement was completely flooded the year it opened, and has repeatedly flooded since, despite its foundation having been redone three times over the course of the last century. The E.P.S.B. had wanted the original 1913 wing demolished since 1974, but a lack of proper funding, and the annexes boilers location in the old school had always prevented this from happening. That year saw the 1913 building sealed off from its additions, and it has seen very little in the way of proper care since then, as it has only been used as storage and a workshop. An estimate from the Board in 2007 came up with a $17,000,000 price tag for only basic rehabilitation. So the school was sold to the Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord, who have begun building a completely modern facility for less than that cost on the site.
.
.
Unfortunately we were not allowed in the original wing of the school, as by all accounts it is in such a state of disrepair, to be unsafe to those without proper safety equipment. A peek through one of the musty door windows into the old portion however showcased an interesting sight. It seems as though many original elements still remain, from its staircases, to wood banisters, vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors. Sadly, you can immediately tell that it hasn't seen major use in the better part of 50 years. Nevertheless, what we were able to explore was amazing.
.
.
The annexes proved to be a veritable time capsule. Many walls are clad in bright yellow tile, or massive teal coloured blocks. Others, typically sporting inset lockers, feature plaster; these ones have a pleasing colour combination of cream, with dark red trim. The floors are a mix of Terrazzo and linoleum, with the latter making use of a neat banding pattern. The washrooms are so stereotypically 1950’s, as to be laughable. They feature seafoam coloured tiling, interspersed with strips of a vibrant pink. Many still sport their original moulded porcelain sinks. Several of the classrooms and specialty areas, like the small gymnasium and woodworking shop, feature well worn, but immaculately polished, thin slatted hardwood. The woodworking shop itself is still fitted up with equipment that - while possibly not as old as the building itself - are antique. A classroom space created from part of the library proudly displays an amazingly sized three dimensional, topographical map of Alberta. So many of the fixtures appear to date to the annex’s opening, or are at least from the era. Carved wooden pamphlet holders reside near each outdoor entranceway. The ever ubiquitous hallway clocks that hang from the centre of the ceiling are encased in rounded, Moderne-esque rigs. Like the washrooms sinks, many of the drinking fountains are of the porcelain variety. Fire extinguisher signs are of cast metal, and many of the entrances still feature their original doors and hardware. It is truly hard to put into words just how much of a period piece the place is. Walking through the doors is so like stepping back into 1960 that the few pieces of modern equipment like a vending machine, or new stoves in the Home Economics room, truly feel out of place.
.
.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this brief tour! From what I understand demolition is expected to start by the end of 2019. Architectural elements like the cast stone name and dateplates are supposed to be retained for use on the Ritchie Community League's new home.
.
*Edited to be more thorough*
Last edited:
Kaizen
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Kaizen
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Kaizen
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"Tangible" by José Luis Torres. Part of The Works festival at the Legislature. It's interactive, but I didn't go inside.
archited
Senior Member
Too many doors; not enough windows 
Kaizen
Senior Member
Kaizen
Senior Member
_Citizen_Dane_
Active Member
Over the last six days the Edmonton & District Historical Society has been putting on their yearly event, Doors Open Edmonton, where you can go around and explore a plethora of cool historic buildings across the city. On Thursday I was able to check out the John C. McDougall Mansion, one of downtown's true hidden gems.
This magnificent home was built for John Charles McDougall, the son of a prominent Edmonton pioneer and store runner. Constructed between 1911 and 1913, it was designed by well known early architect David Hardie, and was estimated to have cost the family $16,000 to construct. The McDougall's would live here until 1953, when the sold the property to the Province for conversion into a drug treatment centre. It is located atop a steep bank at 9910 103 Street.
The home contains a bunch of really cool period features, such as this engraved stone bearing its former address, 424 3rd Street; the marker was rendered obsolete the year after the home was completed, when the City overhauled the street numbering system to its current form.
Likewise, its interior has somehow survived the march of time, despite not being a personal residence for the better part of 70 years. This is its living room.
The dinning room.
...and the parlour room. John was apparently well know for hosting a "Keg of the Month" event here, which featured taste testings of beers from far off and exotic places like British Columbia and Manitoba.
The property was purchased from the Province in 2005 by the Edmonton Community Foundation, which now uses its upper floors for office space. Once one of a dozen or more similar homes, it is now only one of two historic mansions left downtown
This magnificent home was built for John Charles McDougall, the son of a prominent Edmonton pioneer and store runner. Constructed between 1911 and 1913, it was designed by well known early architect David Hardie, and was estimated to have cost the family $16,000 to construct. The McDougall's would live here until 1953, when the sold the property to the Province for conversion into a drug treatment centre. It is located atop a steep bank at 9910 103 Street.
The home contains a bunch of really cool period features, such as this engraved stone bearing its former address, 424 3rd Street; the marker was rendered obsolete the year after the home was completed, when the City overhauled the street numbering system to its current form.
Likewise, its interior has somehow survived the march of time, despite not being a personal residence for the better part of 70 years. This is its living room.
The dinning room.
...and the parlour room. John was apparently well know for hosting a "Keg of the Month" event here, which featured taste testings of beers from far off and exotic places like British Columbia and Manitoba.
The property was purchased from the Province in 2005 by the Edmonton Community Foundation, which now uses its upper floors for office space. Once one of a dozen or more similar homes, it is now only one of two historic mansions left downtown
Kaizen
Senior Member
Around Whyte this sunny afternoon ( ;
_Citizen_Dane_
Active Member
Wow, looks like quite the turn out despite the kinda crummy weather!
Kaizen
Senior Member
@_Citizen_Dane_ , Luckily the weather cooperated for the large part, and Old Strathcona was packed! The 4 km long Art Walk ends today and i highly recommend it rain or shine. Patios very busy and the Street Performs Festival runs until the 14th.
_Citizen_Dane_
Active Member
Kaizen
Senior Member
Wow ! Thanks