City takes first step toward historic status for Oliver Block

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on September 14, 2022.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Council gave first reading to a bylaw that will designate the Oliver Block in the downtown core as a municipal historic resource.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge city council on Tuesday gave first reading to a bylaw that will designate the Oliver Block in the downtown core as a municipal historic resource. The owner of the block at 316 5 St. S. has applied for that designation and the Historic Places Advisory Committee has evaluated the property, subsequently passing a motion to recommend council proceed with the designation.

The bylaw states the preservation of the Oliver Block “appears to be in the public interest.”

The block has significance to the city for its association with early commercial development in Lethbridge as well as for its association with William Oliver and for its design.

Oliver was a prominent citizen in the early days of Lethbridge who moved here in 1884 to work for the Alberta Railway and Coal Company. In 1887, he started a brickyard and by 1890, Oliver had gotten into the general building and construction business and opened the city’s first sash and door factory.

Oliver was elected mayor four times and also served as an alderman multiple times.

Built around 1900, the two-storey building replaced a wood-framed structure that had been used as a theatre and was built in two phases so its owner could continue operating his business during construction.

The Oliver Block was rented to businesses including a billiards hall in its basement in 1914, the Bank of Toronto on the ground floor from 1913-15, and the White Lunch and Stokes Drug Store, says a statement of significance.

The brick flat-roofed Oliver Block’s design is significant because fire bylaws passed in 1891 limited the type of construction materials used in the business district.

The statement of significance adds “the odd rhythm of the bays and upper floor windows reveals that the Oliver building is actually composed of two distinct original buildings, one with a later addition, all of which were combined as one, with a uniform brick facade. Readily available brick from local brickyards meant that decorative details such as the pilasters and corralled brick entablature were much easier to incorporate into the building’s design.”

The block was first identified as having potential merit for designation in 2009 as part of the city’s second heritage inventory project.

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