BY: KARIN MELBERG SCHWIER
FACELIFT ON THE ARCHIBALD BLOCK Historic Row Housing Gets an Upgrade
Photo Credit: Lillian Lane
What once was old is new again at the corner of 11th Street and Eastlake Ave. in Saskatoon’s historic Nutana neighbourhood. The distinctive terrace or row housing most likely built in 1910 across from the city’s first high school, Nutana Collegiate, is breathing a sigh after getting a good rejuvenating makeover. The prime directive was to maintain the historic integrity during the upgrade, and one of the biggest challenges was replacing 64 windows without disrupting the facade or appearance the iconic Archibald Block.
History Lesson According to a 1910 newspaper, the Block was built by Burton A. Archibald, listed as ‘Real Estate and Business Broker.’ In March, the newspaper carried an item about 'plans for the building on 11th Street to be completed by July. It’s constructed of buff brick, with a parapet roof, three decorative gablepeaks on the front facade and one on the east facade. There are seven two-storey units.' City Archives heritage files describe the Archibald Block as row housing or terrace housing. It’s a rare example of this style; only five or six
exist in Saskatoon today. The units were advertised for rent beginning that month so the project was completed on schedule. The March 23, 1910 issue gives a value to “Mr. B. A. Archibald’s terrace on 11th Street” as $13,000. In the 1911–1912 Hendersons Directory, Burton A. Archibald and Jacob Layton Archibald both lived in apartments in the Block. Jacob was Burton’s father and sat on City Council in 1908. Tenants varied over the years, but prominent Saskatonian Aden Bowman once lived here and over the years the roster included university professors, a
sheet metal worker and an office manager for a paper company. It’s been said that the Block was home to teachers at Nutana Collegiate which is just across the street, and local legend has it that it was home to nurses and served as army barracks during the Second World War. But, says City Archivist Jeff O’Brien, “there’s nothing in the files to indicate that.” Neither is there any evidence to support the other rumour that it was an artists’ residence during the ‘60s and known as a place with wild multi-unit block parties.
SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2021 |
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