Dominion Post Office . . .

From confederation in 1867 to the early part of the twentieth century, the federal Department of Public Works employed a "Chief Dominion Architect". It was the role of this position to design all federal government buildings within the "Office of the Dominion Architect".   Several notable architects were employed in this role, including Thomas Seaton Scott (1872 – 1881), Thomas Fuller (1881 – 1896) and David Ewart. During the latter's tenure (1896-1914), a very familiar style of post office was created.

Known as "Romanesque Revival"  these buildings belong to a  large group of recognizably similar buildings across western Canada, all of which were variants on a common theme rather than identical structures shaped from a single standard plan.

All were built of limestone and brick and incorporated a clock tower.   Most were replaced by "modern" post office buildings in the 1970's and many still exist and have been re-purposed.  The only such structure on Vancouver Island is the current City Hall in Duncan, BC.

Duncan, BC City Hall
Former Dominion Post Office built in 1914

Putting wet stuff on the red stuff . . .

District of Oak Bay Fire Hall

1703 Monterey Avenue

Oak Bay (Victoria), BC

Built in 1938, the Oak Bay Fire Hall is a symmetrical, Tudor Revival style two-storey building with half timbering in the gables and a row of Tudor arched bays on the front façade. It was designed by noted local architect, Percy Leonard James (1878-1970). 

The Tudor Revival style is commonly utilized for Oak Bay residences.  The use of this architectural style is  considered harmonious with its environment and is symbolic of Oak Bay.

It is situated next to the Oak Bay Police Department headquarters.

The District of Oak Bay, located adjacent to the City of Victoria on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island was incorporated as a municipality on July 2, 1906.

Round building . . .

Province of BC

Courthouse and Government Offices

238 Government St

Duncan, BC

The latest incarnation of the Provincial Court House and Government Offices in Duncan, BC was completed in 1970.  It was built where Duncan's Chinatown once stood.  Many of the former Chinatown buildings were moved south of town and are the nucleus today of Whippletree Junction.

The building was opened by Premier W.A.C. Bennett on October 21, 1970

Another anniversary British Columbia . . .

On today's date, in 1871, BC became a full fledged province in the Dominion of Canada. No longer relegated to colonial status, the new province flourished and continues to do so today.

The Province of British Columbia Coat of Arms

In case anyone is confused, how could this be BC's 140th anniversary if we celebrated our 150th in 2008? The answer lies in history (sorry kids). In 1858, the British colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia amalgamated into the united colony of BC. Hence, 2008 was the sesquicentennial of that event. Then, in 1871, four years after Canada was founded, BC joined confederation. That was 140 years ago today.

Happy Anniversary (again)!

July 2010: antique car show on the grounds of the BC Legislature

The library wing of the BC Legislature

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor darkness . . .

I love post office buildings.  Every hamlet, village, town and city has one.  Or, should I say, had one.  With the advent of the internet and conversion of postal services into corporations, the small town post office is on the decline.  Hopefully I am able to document as many of them as I can before they are all gone the way of the dodo.

Post Office
Oak Lake, MB
Built in 1930

In the 1870's the Canadian Pacific Company began to build a railroad from coast to coast. By autumn of 1881, the crew had reached Flat Creek in western Manitoba. They spent the winter there and in the spring moved the camp two miles west where they built a station and siding.

The townsite of Oak Lake was born. The name was borrowed from the lake located six miles southwest of the town and a post office opened in the local general store in 1884. The settlement was incorporated as a town on July 15, 1907.  The orignal post office required replacement following a fire and the current brick structure was completed in 1930.

One of my fav's . . .

Parliament Buildings
Belleville Street, Victoria, BC

One of my favourite public buildings is the British Columbia Legislature. 

Known officially as BC’s “Parliament Buildings”, they were designed in 1892 by a 25-year-old English architect, Francis Mawson RATTENBURY.  Construction began in 1893 and every effort was made to use local materials and resources. The granite foundations were quarried on Nelson Island; site facades from Haddington Island stone; and local brick, lime and Douglas fir for the construction work.  The total cost was not to exceed $600,000 however, when the building was completed four years later the total cost came to $923,882.30.  

The building was formally opened by Lieutenant Governor T.R. McINNES on February 10, 1898. Between 1911 and 1915 RATTENBURY designed additions to the structure, including the magnificent library with its elegant marble-panelled rotunda.

One of a series of historial "mileposts" erected by the Province. 
This one details the history of the Parliament Buildings in Victoria.