Calgary & Southern Alberta

The Fire of 1886 Courtesy of the Glenbow Collection Linton's bookstore, after 1891. This building was occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company from 1884 to 1891. Courtesy of the Glenbow Collection

In 1884, Calgarians, concerned about protecting the town's wooden buildings against fire, instituted some preventive measures. A house fire on Ninth Avenue on January 8, 1885 led to the establishment of a proper bucket corps and the procurement of a chemical engine. Unfortunately, because of unpaid duties, the engine was sitting unused in a customs warehouse when a second fire broke out on November 4, 1886. This fire engulfed much of Calgary's main business section, destroying sixteen of Calgary's best buildings. The damage costs came to $100,200 and less than one third was covered by insurance. Following this fire, which had threatened the entire community, the town council passed an ordinance stipulating that all large downtown buildings must be constructed of Paskapoo sandstone, a local building material in abundant supply. The council's decision benefited Calgary in several ways. It protected important buildings against fire damage and also encouraged construction. The local brick factory and quarry had a rush of orders, and new quarries were quickly opened up. The demand for tradesmen, half of whom were employed in the sandstone industry at one point, increased dramatically.

Beyond these short-term benefits, the decision to use sandstone and brick in large buildings had an important, long-term advantage. It gave the town a look of permanence not common to other prairie towns, whose buildings were constructed of wood. Calgary's new physical image impressed visitors. During the celebration of the Queen's Jubilee in 1897, for example, an English woman noted the attractive grey stone buildings with approval. William Van Horne, general manager (and then president) of the CPR, once likened the town to Denver. Some people hoped that, as the western centre of the livestock business, Calgary would become "the Chicago of Canada". However, many others came to regard Calgary as a unique "Sandstone City", where structures like the grand Palliser Hotel, City Hall (built in 1911), and the impressive Lougheed Block graced the downtown core.

A platform party at the laying of the cornerstone of City Hall, 1907. Courtesy of the Glenbow Collection

The Palliser Hotel ca. 1920 Courtesy of the Glenbow Collection