Key Number:	HS 30538
Site Name:	Edmonton Milling Co.
Other Names:
Site Type:	0701 - Industrial/Manufacturing - Food: Grist Mill

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			52	24	4

Address:	10170 Saskatchewan Drive
Number:	70
Street:	101
Avenue:
Other:
Town:	Edmonton
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Irregular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:
Exterior:	Complex roof with hips and gables; gable monitor.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Neighbourhood: Strathcona Prominent location. The Ritchie Mill, part of the North West Feeds Complex, is located on Saskatchewan Drive overlooking the river valley. It is in a residential area, bounded on the south by the semi-industrial area around the C.P.R. tracks. It is part of the Old Strathcona area.
Condition:	Good. Recently renovated. The Ritchie Mill is one of three buildings on the North west Feeds site. It is structurally sound and well-maintained. Because of the age and dryness of the wood, and the dusty nature of the milling process, the building is a fire hazard. The mill has a storage annex, and a connection to the C.P.R. line. (1977).
Alterations:	1948 - converted to feed mill. Complete alteration of surface materials.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction began. Construction completed.	1892/01/05 1893/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Mill Feed mill	1893/01/01 1948/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
N/A

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	The Edmonton Milling Co. was incorporated in February, 1892. Land was purchased for a mill, and construction began in May, 1892, under the supervision of John Ritchie. Completed in January, 1893, the mill began operating the following month. Robert Ritchie took over supervision shortly after the opening. Ritchie's Mill flourished, and elevators were added in 1895 and 1902. It functioned as a flour mill until 1948, after which it was converted to feed milling. The Ritchie Mill is representative of the importance of agriculture to the province's early development. It is the oldest surviving flour mill in Alberta. In addition, the Ritchie Mill was one of the first mills in the west to utilize steam-powered steel rollers (the more commonly used stone rollers became pitted when grinding hard prairie wheat). Much of the original equipment is stored in the building, although not in use. The Ritchie Mill, which produced various kinds of flour for export to places as far away as Europe, flourished until after World War II when it became more economically feasible to convert into a feed mill. * * * * Robert Ritchie arrived in Strathcona from Ontario early in 1892. Within a year, he had built and began operating a flour mill on this site near the end of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway line. Business was good, and Ritchie added elevators to his mill in 1895 and 1902 to handle the increasing volume of grain being processed. In addition to his business interest, Ritchie was very active in local politics. He served as an alderman, a school trustee, a justice of the peace, and in 1906 was elected mayor of Strathcona. In 1912 Ritchie sold the mill to the Northwest Mill and Feed Company, who operated it as a flour mill until 1948. The Ritchie Mill was one of the first mills in western Canada to be equipped with steam powered steel rollers. These increased both the range of flours which could be milled, and the quantity which could be produced. Today the mill is one of a few nineteenth century industrial buildings left in Alberta, one of even fewer agricultural buildings left in an urban setting. It is also the oldest extant flour mill in Alberta and possibly the earliest such building of its kind in Canada. The Ritchie Mill has been restored by the Old Strathcona Foundation, and was designated a Provincial Historic Resource in 1979. * * * HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE: The Ritchie Mill is representative of Alberta's agricultural and industrial heritage. Completed in 1893, it is the oldest surviving flour mill in the province. It was one of the first mills in the west to be equipped with steam-powered steel rollers, a development necessitated by the fact that the conventional stone rollers in use elsewhere could not grind the hard praire wheat. It is one of a few remaining pre-1900 industrial structures in Alberta. The square of the elevator is representative of a common style of which few examples remain. ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE: This structure is one of the oldest surviving pre-1900 industrial building in Alberta. The square shape of one of the elevators which is part of the mill is an excellent example of a once common type of elevator structure. SITE IMPLICATIONS The Ritchie Mill, part of the North West Feeds Complex, is located on Saskatchewan Drive overlooking the river valley. It is in a residential area, bounded on the south by the semi-industrial area around the C.P.R. tracks. It is part of the Old Strathcona area. The Ritchie Mill is one of three buildings on the North west Feeds site. It is structurally sound and well-maintained. Because of the age and dryness of the wood, and the dusty nature of the milling process, the building is a fire hazard. The mill has a storage annex, and a connection to the C.P.R. line. * * * MILL FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE Foundation Strapped for Cash By Jac MacDonald Journal Staff Writer Much like the proverbial little red hen who proposed to bake a loaf of bread, the Ritchie Mill has garnered many vocal supporters, but few seem willing to help out. The proposed restoration of the vacant 93-year-old mill at 10171 Saskatchewan Dr. secured widespread support six years ago when it was designated a provincial historic resource. Yet today the mill's owner, the Old Strathcona Foundation, seems to be the only supporter the former grain and feed mill has left. But unlike the little red hen who could rely on her own enterpise, the foundation connot complete the reconstruction due to sever cash flow problems. Neither government not private industry seems willing or able to come up with the $250,000 needed to complete the partially rebuilt structure. It has been for sale or lease for more than a year. Torn plastic flaps in the wind on the open upper windows of the three-storey mill, now covered in imitation red brick metal sheating. Inside, several dozen unflappable pigeons perch in the cuppola, whilst their deceased relations litter the floors amidst piles of feathers, droppings, and the remnants of an ambitious restoration program cut short last year. Formerly known as North West Mill and Feed Co., the 17,000-square-foot building was located at the end of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway prior to the building of the High Level Bridge. The rail spur has since been removed. It is believed to be the oldest existing flour mill in Alberta and one of the few remaining pre-1900 industrial structures, symbolizing the importance of agriculture in Alberta's early development. It was also one of the first mills equipped with streampowered steel rollers. The aging mill was an easy mark for redevelopment in the boom of the late 1970s. Its previous owner, Menno Developments Ltd., unsuccessfully sought a demolition permit. Then, in 1979, the company donated the building to the foundation, along with $150,000 for restoration. A high-rise apartment tower, and a combined parkade-townhouse project were built on the remainder of the site. In 1983, the foundation began a $1.1 million restoration program, completely changing the interior. But the work was hastily dropped last year when the foundation found itself short of cash. Plans called for the mill to become an office building with a restaurant and lounge, said wes Candler, foundation properties director. 'We would like to sell, lease, or finish it,' he said. 'It's crazy to leave it like this - we could employ 60 men in here over the winter. 'There's no question about it. It is going to be a very useful building when it is done, and a reminder of what was here. It is a very unusual building with character - not everyone wants sterile office space. I have no concern about leasing it - it will go very quickly.' Architect Brain Woolfenden, who supervised the renovations, said the building is in good shape and could still have a long life span. 'It is a most attractive building and has tremendous commercial potential,' he said. 'You can create some really exciting spaces with the interior.' The interior was gutted, machinery and bins removed, and piles of grain dust cleaned up. Finished work includes the exterior cladding, concrete flooring, windows, insulation, an elevator, stairwells, a stabilized foundation, and weeping tile. Elsewhere, equipment still lies about in cartons, awaiting the return of tradesmen. Highlights of the building include a wood wall sculpted by decades of pouring grain, and fieldstone walls in the basement. Candler said the foundation currently has an offer to purchase the mill from a party he wouldn't name. Last year, when another deal fell through, the mill had been valued at $650,000. Twice in the last five years it has been the scene of fires, believed set by arsonists. The foundation had decided to go ahead with renovations after commissioning a report which established the mill's historic importance. In the report, Toronto architect Doug Richardson called the mill 'one of the most complicated landmarks in the Alberta capital area. The mill complex is composed of at least 16 structures of varying degrees of historic importance and architectural interest.' The earliest building - the flour mill in the centre of structure - was built in 1892, by brothers Robert and John Ritchie. Robert later served as an alderman and mayor of Strathcona. A south side school and district are named after him. The firm was first known as Edmonton Milling Co. In 1895, the grain elevator was added. The mill was sold in 1912 and had several owners before Menno purchased it for $2 million in 1978. * * * PROVINCE ISSUES NOTICE OF INTENT TO DESIGNATE THE RITHIE MILL IN EDMONTON A Notice of Intent to Designate the Ritchie Mill as a Registered Historic Resource has been issued by Horst A. Schmid, Minister of Culture. The Ritchie Mill is the oldest existing flour mill in Alberta. The Old Strathcona Foundation, which is interested in the preservation of the mill, has expresed a desire to initiate a study on its historic value. In order to ascertain if there's sufficient public support for this preservation, the Province's Intent to Designate will permit the necessary time for such public dialogue. The Intent to Designate protects the mill from a period of 120 days, during which the owner may not alter the site without giving the Minister 90 days' notice. Also known as the North West Feeds Complex, the Ritchie Mill is located within the Old Strathcona Heritage Conservation Area of Edmonton. Under the supervision of John Ritchie, construction of the mill began in May of 1892 after the Edmonton Milling Company purchased the site at the terminus of the Calgary-Edmonton Railway. The three-storey mill was completed the following January, with the four-storey elevators added in 1895 and 1902. The building continued to function as a flour mill until 1948 and was later converted for feed milling. This mill is one of the few remaing pre-1900 industrial structures in Alberta and symbolizes the importance of agriculture to the early development of the Province. It also stands as one of the first mills in the west to be equipped with steam-powered rollers. This transition to rollers was necessary because conventional millstones in general use at the time were unable to grind the hard Canadian prairie wheat. The owner of Registered Historic Resource is eligible for up to $5,000 per annum, on a matching basis from the Province, for restoration of the site. DRAFT FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE April 13, 1978, Edmonton, Alberta PROVINCE DECLARES THE RITCHIE MILL IN EDMONTON A CLASSIFIED HISTORIC SITE The oldest surviving flour mill in Alberta has been designated a Classified Historic Site, announced Horst A. Schmid, Minister of Culture. The Ritchie Mill, part of the North West Feeds Complex, is located within the Old Strathcona Preservation area of Edmonton. It is a three-storey, metal-clad, rectangular structure with 4-storey elevators. After incorporating in February of 1892, the Edmonton Milling Company purchased land for a mill in South Edmonton, at the terminus of the Calgary-Edmonton Railway. Under the supervision of John Ritchie, construction was begun in May of that year. The mill was completed the following January. The elevators were added in 1895 and 1902 and the building continued to function as a flour mill until 1948. Later was converted for feed milling. This mill is one of the few remaining pre-1900 industrial structures in Alberta and symbolizes the importance of agriculture to the early development of the Province. It was one of the first mills in the west to be equipped with steam-powered rollers. The transition to roller mills was necessary because conventional millstones, still in general use, were unable to grind the hard Canadian prairie wheat. Eighty-five years later, the mill is still operating, but it may be phased out in the coming year. The owner of a Classified Historic Site may not alter it in any way without the Minister's permission. Although the owner may sell the site, the Province must be given first option to purchase it.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Municipal B List Provincial Historic Resource	1979/03/05

Register:	B258

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0468