| Architect: T.W.Fuller (Department of Public Works
Architect). Project supervised locally by Calgary
architect Leo Dowler
Contractor:
A.G.Creelman Co. of
Vancouver
Original
cost: $282,051
Construction materials:
Cut stone foundation.
Structure - red brick (common bond with steel
reinforcement) and sandstone. The drill hall is
significant for the large uninterrupted span of its steel
trusses.
Architectural style:
Tudor/Gothic Revival.
Excellent example of armoury architectural design with
features which deliberately reflect the medieval fortress
or castle. Four square corner towers. Four smaller six
sided towers. Buttresses with turrets and a crenellated
roofline.
Original interior
details:
original design featured
a large central drill hall with 117 rooms (two
storeys of soldiers quarters) arranged around its
perimeter. Basement included bowling alleys and shooting
galleries. Facility also included officer's and
sergeant's billiard rooms. Barracks have been altered to
serve as offices and storage space. Catwalk around the
drill hall has been enclosed.
Two unconfirmed rumours;
that a swimming pool was filled in to accommodate a rifle
range and at the time of construction no doors were
mounted on rooms off the main hall because of the lack of
oak.
Historical highlights:
- Mewata is a Cree
word meaning "O Be Joyful"
- construction began
September 24, 1915 and according to some sources
was held up by lack of bricks. Two brick
factories, one in Redcliffe and one in Montgomery
were built for the specific purpose of providing
the bricks to complete the project.
- originally built to
house ten local militia units based in Calgary
but when the war broke out the armoury was needed
to quarter the regular force
- units based at
Mewata include Southern Alberta Light Horse, 19th
Alberta Dragoon, King's Own Calgary Regiment and
the Calgary Highlanders.
- during WWI Mewata
used served as an induction and training centre
and a demobilization depot for returning
soldiers.
- in addition to
military uses, other groups and organizations
have used the armoury including a military ball
for the Prince of Wales in 1919, the scene of a
verbal confrontation between William Aberhart and
Major Douglas founder of Social Credit. The
Calgary City Police have used it for training
purposes. In 1975 prior to the Grey Cup parade
twenty marching bands were marshalled in the
drill hall.
- declared a
Provincial Historic Resource November 11,1979.
- declared National
Historic Site May 11, 1991, only the fourth
building in Calgary to receive a national
designation.
REFERENCES
- Cunniffe, Richard.
Scarlet, Riflegreen and Khaki: the
Military in Calgary. Calgary: Century Calgary
Publications, c1975. p. 281.
- Uncatalogued
Clippings File in Local History
- Calgary-Buildings-Mewata
Armoury
|
Mewata Armoury