Key Number:	HS 12409
Site Name:	Milnes Block
Other Names:
Site Type:	0402 - Mercantile/Commercial: Bank

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			12	27	4

Address:	4925-4927 - 1 Street W
Number:	25-27
Street:	1 W
Avenue:	49 W
Other:
Town:	Claresholm
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular Short Facade
Storeys:	Storeys: 2
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Flat
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Row, Non-Related, End Wings: None Number of Bays - Facade: First or Ground Floor, 2 Bays Wall Design and Detail: Plain Panel Wall Design and Detail: String or Belt Course Wall Design and Detail: Plinth Wall Design and Detail: Entablature Wall Design and Detail: Plain Parapet Wall Design and Detail: Inscription or Date Stone Plain Eaves Chimney Location - Side to Side: Offset Left Chimney Location - Front to Rear: Front Chimney Stack Material: Brick Chimney Stack Massing: Single Roof Trim - Special Features: None Window - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Continuous Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Material: Brick Window - Sill Type: Plain Lug Sill Window - Sill Material: Stone Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Flat Transom, Single Light Window - Number of Sashes: One Window - Opening Mechanism: Single or Double Hung Window - Special Types: None Main Entrance - Location: Off-Centre (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Semi-Circular Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Voussoir Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Keystone Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Quoins Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Brick Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Shaped Transom, Multiple Lights Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Side Light, One Side Only Main Entrance - Number of Leaves: 1 Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 1 Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Glass Main Stairs - Location and Design: None
Exterior:	12' brick - wood framing.
Interior:	Walls - plastered. Floors - fir. Trim - fir.
Environment:	Lot size 40 ft x 130 ft.
Condition:	Structure: Good. Repair: Good. 10 MAR 1981.
Alterations:	Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Other Site: Original Interior and outer window trim.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Constructed.	1910/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Club or Lodge Small Businesses Theatre Bank	1910/01/01 1910/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Q. E. D. Enterprises Ltd. T.C. Milnes John & Ester Ferguson	1910/01/01 1972/01/01

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	Herbert Wannamaker
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	John and Ester Ferguson Old address: 4943 - 1 Street (?) Brick building built for T.C. Milnes, area farmer originally from Indiana U.S.A. Used as a theatre (lower) that was first managed by John Edlund. Was instrumental in the building of Hossier school. Mayor of Claresholm 1911. Rancher 1919 to 1944. Alberta Legislature - 1921. Present theatre - built for T.C. Milnes 1918. Talkies came in 1929. Also commercial eg. real estate. Lower floor only. 2nd storey vacant - needs repair. * * * HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE : When the Calgary & Edmonton Railway was extended south to Fort Macleod in 1892, much of the region off the rail line was still under lease to large cattle ranches. The small communities that sprang up along the rail line were therefore used primarily to ship out cattle. This was the case with Claresholm, some 30 km north of Macleod, which became a service center primarily for the Oxley Ranch. With the election of the Liberal government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1896, however, a greater priority was placed on settling the southern prairies with small farmers. As a result, many of the grazing leases in the foothills were not renewed, the land being either subdivided for homestead or turned over to the Canadian Pacific Railway as part of the government’s commitment to provide the CPR with so many acres of Crown land in the West. Communities like Nanton, Granum and Claresholm therefore developed a new purpose, as service centers to a growing number of smaller mixed farms. When Claresholm was incorporated as a Village in 1903, it had already become the major railway center between Calgary and Fort Macleod. Two years later, it became a Town with over 1,000 people. Among the newly arrived residents determined to make their fortune in Claresholm was Thomas C. Milnes, a recent migrant from Indiana, who acquired a section of land south of Claresholm. As land sales were booming, both in the community and in the countryside, he decided to go into real estate in partnership with another recent arrival, Charles Noble, who would go on to gain fame as the developer of the Noble blade for threshing. While Noble moved on to the community which would come to bear his name (Nobleford) in 1909, Milnes remained in Claresholm and expanded his real estate business. In 1910, he built a large two story red brick business block on the corner of First Street and 50th Avenue. From here he would run his real estate office and also lease space to other commercial tenants. He would even operate a motion picture theatre in this premesis for a short while, until it proved inadequate, whereupon his built a free standing theatre building across the street in 1918. Milnes also went into other ventures, such as the Claresholm Oil Company in 1914, the SN Ranch in 1919, and several farms. The Ranch eventually came to comprise over seven sections of land. He was also a prominent public citizen, serving a term as Mayor, and running successfully as the Independent candidate for the Claresholm riding in the provincial election of 1921. He also served many years on the local Hospital Board and was instrumental in the acquisition of a new hospital for Claresholm in 1940. He passed away in 1954 in Claresholm. Over the years, the Milnes Block came to accommodate a wide variety of commercial ventures, including banks and restaurants. It has always been at the center of business activity in the community. Its historical significance lies in its structural representation of the growth of Clkaresholm during the early part of the last century, and in its association with its first, and principal owner, Charles Milnes. * * * The Milnes Block is a large two-story Edwardian Commercial style building with load bearing brick walls with sandstone trims.he ground level has rusticated brick columns. It was constructed in 1910 for T.C. Milnes, a prominent realtor, rancher, and entrepreneur. Milnes was also a prominent public citizen, serving a term as the Mayor of Claresholm and running successfully as the Independent candidate for the Claresholm riding in the Provincial election of 1921. Over the years the Milnes Block came to accommodate a wide variety of commercial ventures, including banks and restaurants. It has always been the centre of business activity in the community. It is a very good example of the Edwardian Commercial style and retains a high degree of its original integrity. It is a prominent landmark and is integral to the historical continuity of the streetscape in Claresholm. Its historical significance lies in its structural representation of the growth of Claresholm during the early part of the twentieth century, and in its association with its first and principal owner, Charles Milnes.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Provincial Historic Resource	2002/05/30

Register:	N/A

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0798