Key Number:	HS 30169
Site Name:	Chapman Brothers Ltd.
Other Names:
Site Type:	0400 - Mercantile/Commercial: General and Mixed Use Commercial

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			52	24	4

Address:	10421-10423 - 82 Avenue
Number:	21-23
Street:	104
Avenue:	82
Other:
Town:	Edmonton
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Brick
Superstructure:	Nailed Frame
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Shed
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Row, Non-Related, End Wings: Rear Number of Bays - Facade: First or Ground Floor, 6 Bays Wall Design and Detail: String or Belt Course Wall Design and Detail: Entablature Wall Design and Detail: Plain Parapet Plain Eaves Roof Trim - Verges: Not Applicable Dormer Type: None Chimney Location - Side to Side: Offset Right Chimney Location - Front to Rear: Rear Chimney Stack Material: Metal Chimney Stack Massing: Single Roof Trim - Special Features: None Window - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Material: Wood Window - Sill Type: Plain Slip Sill Window - Sill Material: Wood Window - Number of Sashes: One Window - Opening Mechanism: Fixed Main Entrance - Location: 2 or More (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Wood Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Flat Transom, Single Light Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Number of Leaves: 1 Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 2 Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Glass Main Stairs - Location and Design: None Main Stairs - Direction: None Main Porch - Type: Recess Main Porch - Material: Wood Main Porch - Height: First Storey
Exterior:	Symmetrical recessed entrances. Interesting features include the large display windows and side and back imitation brick tin siding. Frame building with 'boom-town' facade, step parapet and recessed symmetrical double entrances. An excellent example of an early 1900's small town harness goods shop, almost completely original in structure and appearance. Interesting feature include the large display windows and side and back imitation brick tin siding.
Interior:	The building was originally divided into two store spaces. One of these has always contained the Chapman Bros. store - the East side. The other has had a variety of tenants.
Environment:	Neighbourhood: Queen Alexandra The store is located on Whyte Avenue in the historic Old Strathcona area. Chapman Bros. Ltd. is situated on Whyte Avenue in the heart of the Edmonton South Side Business section.
Condition:	Structure: Good. Repair: Good. 13 FEB 1978. The building is in good condition and is carefully maintained by Archibald Chapman, owner. (1975).
Alterations:	The interior and exterior of the building were renovated in 1984 and 1985. New shelving and cedar panelling were installed and the old oiled wood floor was covered with carpet.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Constructed	1907/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Harness Shop Leather Good Store: Great West Saddlery Company Ltd. East side only: Cafe: Royal Cafe (Chinese Cafe) Leather Goods Store: A.B. Chapman & Co. Leather Good Store: Chapman Bros. Ltd. East side only: Jewelry Store: J. MacDonald	1907/01/01 1907/01/01 1908/01/01 1912/01/01 1918/01/01 1949/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Original occupant - Great West Saddlery Co. Ltd. renamed - A.B. Chapman & Co., in 1912. Robert Ritchie A.B. Chapman Archibald Chapman Chapman Bros. (1956) Ltd.	1907/01/01 1912/01/01 1918/01/01 1959/08/14

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	Robert Ritchie - Founder of the Edmonton Milling Company.
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Built in 1907 by Robert Ritchie (founder of Edmonton Milling Co.) and called the Great West Saddlery Co. Ltd. until 1912 when it was renamed Chapman, A.B. Co. In 1918 renamed Chapman Bros. by A.B.'s son Archibald Chapman who completed purchase of building and lots in 1948. Chapman Bros. Ltd. has basically functioned as a leather goods store since 1907 under the management and later ownership of the Chapman family. Its architectural design as a general store type predates similar examples later built around the 1920s. Structurally sound and well-maintained, the building represents an important aspect of early Strathcona commercial history. * * * Robert Ritchie opened this Harness Shop here in 1907. Great West Saddlery Co. Ltd. operated until 1912, when it became A.B. Chapman Co. renamed Chapman Bros. in 1918. Archibald Chapman completed purchase of lots and building in 1948. The east side has sometimes been used as the Royal Café (Chinese Café) in 1908, and the J. MacDonald Jewelry Store (1949). By 1919 the lot had been split with W.J. Smith owning 31/62/RL11. * * * CHAPMAN BROTHERS LTD. (1907) Store Dates Back to 1900s Saddles and western wear can still be purchased at the Chapman Brothers turn of the century store. But the harness that were hand-made in the back room by Buster Chapman and that made up so much of the original business have long since disappeared - another casualty of the age of the automobile. Work clothes, jeans, coveralls and boots are the store's contemporary mainstays. In fact, Chapman Brothers received an award in 1984 from GWG for selling its products since 1912, one year after the clothing manufacturer began operations. Archibald Benjamin Chapman and his sons Buster and Lang are no longer alive, but the store is still owned and managed by the family. The historic building and its business are owned by Buster's children, Jack and Darlene Chapman. Their son, Matt, has managed the store since 1982. The interior and exterior of the building were renovated in 1984 and 1985 with the assistance of Alberta Culture and the Old Strathcona Foundation. The facade was restored to its original color and style after three arduous weeks in which 20 to 30 coats of paints were removed. Inside, new shelving and cedar panelling were installed and the old oiled wood floor was covered with carpet. Still, many original fixtures remain. The store was designated a Registered Historical Resource by Alberta Culture in 1967, but Matt said that Buster, who died in 1983, was not all that keen about it. 'My grandfather did not think it should be designated as a historic site because he believed in change himself. He said if he was younger he would have had it torn down and put up something bigger.' Alberta Culture designated the site as an excellent example of the 1900s harness goods shop. The building is also one of the few left which employed imitation brick tin siding - a turn of the century construction method. The building is described as a frame building with a boomtown facade, step parapet, and recessed symmetrical double entrance. Well-maintained and in good condition, the store represents an important aspect of early Strathcona commercial history. The store was built without a basement about 1907 by Robert Ritchie, a one-time mayor of Strathcona. It was home to the south side branch of the Great West Saddlery Company managed by Matt's great grandfather, A.B. Chapman, who came here with his family in 1903 from Port Elgin, Ontario. He bought the business in 1912 and started Chapman Brothers. In 1917, Buster began minding the store, along with his brother Lang. The Chapmans didn't buy the building until 1949. * * * SITE DATA FORM Building Description Condition: Frame building with 'boom-town' facade, step parapet and recessed symmetrical double entrances. Structurally in good condition and well-maintained. Site History: Built in 1907 by Robert Ritche (founder of Edmonton Milling Co.) and called the Great Saddlery Co. Ltd until 1912 when it was renamed Chapman, A.B. Co. In 1918 renamed chapman Bros. by A.B.'s son Archibald Chapman who completed purchase of building and lots in 1948. Heritage Significance: Chapman Bros. Ltd. has basically functioned as a leather goods store since 1907 under the management and later ownership of the Chapman family. Its architectural design as a general store type predates similar examples later built around the 1920s. Structurally sound and well-maintained, the building represents an important aspect of early Strathcona commercial history. Historical Importance: Originally the Strathcona Great West Saddlery Co. Ltd. this building has been used by the Chapman family since 1907 to sell leather goods. Part of the building was also used by J. MacDonald, jeweller from 1949 until 1973 with MacDonald's Jewellery business renting mainly the front window area. Architectural Importance: An excellent example of an early 1900's small town harness goods shop, almost completely original in structure and appearance. Interesting feature include the large display windows and side and back imitation brick tin siding. Chapman Bros. Ltd. is situated on Whyte Avenue in the heart of the Edmonton South Side Business section. The building is in good condition and is carefully maintained by Archibald Chapman, owner. (1975). * * * Built in 1907 as a harness shop, this building was originally owned by Robert Ritchie, founder of the Edmonton Milling Co. It operated under the name 'Great West Saddlery Co.' until 1912 when it was rented to A.B. Chapman. Renamed A.B. Chapman and Co., it continued to sell harness and leather goods. In 1918, the building was finally purchased by the Chapmans. Chapman Brothers is one of the best examples remaining in Edmonton of the early period of commercial development. This small frame structure, with its boom-town facade, has suffered few changes through the years and remains virtually unaltered from its original appearance.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Municipal B List

Register:	B159

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: