Key Number:	HS 21067
Site Name:	F. E. Algar General Store
Other Names:
Site Type:	0409 - Mercantile/Commercial: Specialty Store or Shop

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			43	25	4

Address:	5020 - 50 Street
Number:	20
Street:	50
Avenue:	50
Other:
Town:	Ponoka
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:	Stone
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Flat
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:
Exterior:	N/A
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	N/A
Condition:	Structure: Poor. 17 AUG 1981.
Alterations:	N/A

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Constructed Burnt and Construction Started Constructed Ended	1902/01/01 1914/01/01 1915/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Store	1902/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Algar Jack's Mens Wear

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Fred E. Algar was born in 19876. In 1895 he passed through Ponoka and set up Ponoka's first business in an unused station house. Mr. Algar was in business in Ponoka for 49 years. 1902 - F.E. Algar built a new store on the present site. It burned down, [when? T.G.] but a new one was erected the same years. 1945 - Aboussfy rented the building from Algar and then from the Jack's Men’s Wear Company. 1960 - Rahal ran a clothing store and also rented the building front the Jacks Men’s Wear Company. 1954 - the year that Algar sold the business to the Jack's Men’s Wear Company. 1965 - the building was vacant for two years after Rahal closed down. 1967 - then the building was leased to Elmer Prediger who presently runs the Ponoka Bike and Swap Shop in the building. * * * RESOURCE F. E. Algar General Store ADDRESS 5020 - 50 Street, Ponoka BUILT 1914 to 1915 DESIGNATION STATUS Registered Historic Resource HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE Despite being located along the Calgary & Edmonton Railway, Ponoka did not initially enjoy the same vigorous growth as the neighbouring communities of Lacombe, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin, Olds and Innisfail. Around the turn of the century, Ponoka evolved into an agricultural service centre and was later chosen by the provincial government as the site of the Alberta Hospital. Fredrick Edgar Algar was en route to Edmonton when he decided to settle in the area and began construction of a log cabin in 1895-96 that he uses as a trade post, general store, post office and residence. The first building was destroyed by fire in 1902. Algar replaced it with a wood frame store where he operated his general merchandising business until a major fire in 1913-14 destroyed the building and several others in town. The present Algar Building was constructed in 1914-15. Located on Main Street, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the community. It boasts a brick exterior (materials made in Red Deer), a metal ceiling and a presses tin façade and has been used for commercial purposes since its construction. Algar continued to operate his business with the help of his son until 1944. By then Algar lived in Edmonton, and with his son serving in Europe, he opted to sell the business. The Algar family has long been prominent in the Ponoka area. Frederick’s father, Charles, built the first house in town and Frederick was a leading businessman in the area. Frederick was elected to the town’s first council in 1904, and the family was involved in many community projects.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:

Register:	N/A

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0442