‘Old home served us well’ A glimpse into the life of City Hall and its function in city life
Rosemary Waters; editor@wetaskiwintimes.com Monday November 26, 2007
A picture of the building which replaced City Hall in 1939.
It’s a historic week for city workers as they sentimentally pack up their office en route to grander digs.
The once judicial centre for Wetaskiwin has been restored into a grand new City Hall.
A tall shadow dwarfs the old City Hall.
"Times are changing ," admits Mayor Don Montgomery who is sentimental about the building that served decades of Wetaskiwinites.
Chairing the final council meeting in the old City Hall, he said, "We've come a long way."
He was quick to point out the old Wetaskiwin City Hall is steeped in history and yore.
The original town hall was erected in 1904 where the old City Hall still stands, at 4904 51 Street .
It was a century away from the structure seen today.
"The fire department was housed there," explains city archivist Carolyn Hill.
Fire equipment was hauled by harnessed horses so a horse stable was built in on-site.
The tin clad building didn't have a lot on insulation and the smell of the horses in the summer was uncomfortable while it was very cold come winter.
"So aldermen used to have their meeting sin various hotels within the city," Montgomery noted.
In 1939, a new City Hall was built. It replaced the stable worn town office weathered with dung and straw. Over the years the building was well-worn, home to many organizations and groups including the RCMP, library and city archives (housed in the old RCMP prisoner cells).
As Wetaskiwin grew so too did the demand on City Hall. So in 1964 and extension to the facility was completed. The community celebrated their opening ceremonies Oct. 7.
As years rolled by it continued to be a hub of municipal life. A house for government and administration.
But like any abode, it grew old and dated.
Last week, city workers packed up their boxes and a building was to fall quiet. Off to bigger and better.
The fate of the old City Hall is another tale to tell.
"But our old home has served us well," Montgomery concludes.
Publisher: Jim Clark Proprietor and published by Sun Media Corporation - A Quebecor Media Company at 5104 - 53 Avenue, Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada T9A 2G5
