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At the intersection of Saskatchewan Drive and Tommy Banks Way NW stands a hulking remnant of Strathcona history. The Ritchie Mill reminds observers of the former city's industrial and agricultural development, the numerous accomplishments of its namesake, and the value of protecting heritage resources in Edmonton. Constructed in 1892, the oldest surviving flour mill in Alberta is in remarkably good condition.
With a location on the south escarpment of the North Saskatchewan River Valley, the building faces the downtown core. Its placement was one of convenience — it stood at the 'End of Steel' of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, which terminated at the river valley.
The building is comprised of multiple components, giving the complex a variegated facade and massing profile. A three-storey rectangular structure defines the central segment, a four-storey tower partially clad in brick occupies the northern part of the property, and a windowless elevator shaft is attached to the south side. A number of gable and hip roofs give the building its unique silhouette.
At the time of its completion, the building was a technological innovator. It implemented steam powered steel rollers rather than conventional stone wheels, which would become scarred when grinding hard prairie wheat. Robert Ritchie, the operator and namesake of the mill, installed elevators in 1895 and 1902. He would go on to dabble in the world of politics, becoming a school trustee and alderman before being elected the mayor of Strathcona in 1906.
The facility functioned as a flour mill until 1948. In the early 1990s, it underwent an internal conversion to house office and conference space. Though its prominence has been diminished by the soaring condominium tower to the immediate east — a level of contrast that emphasizes Strathcona's rapid growth — the building remains intrinsically tied to the area tapestry.
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