Landmark Building
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY STATION
Ross Street and 51 Avenue, Red Deer
Built in 1910
'); "Canadian Pacific Railway Station")
The arrival of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway in the winter of 1890 brought a host of changes to the fledgling frontier community of Red Deer. The most obvious of these was the physical relocation of the settlement from \"the Crossing\" to the present site, five kilometres east. Lands north of Calgary were opened up for large-scale settlement. With its strategic location halfway between Calgary and Edmonton, Red Deer became the focal point for the distribution of supplies and services to new settlers. Businesses sprang up to meet the material needs of the burgeoning population. In 1907, Red Deer was designated the divisional point of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
In 1891, a small wood frame station was constructed on this site. When it became apparent that a more substantial facility was needed to accommodate the growing population, the original was moved directly south to make way for the present structure. Designed by a Winnipeg-based C.P.R. architect and erected under the watchful eye of a Winnipeg general contractor, the building was completed in 1910, at a cost of $34,050.00.
An impressive building, the Red Deer Station features a central polygonal tower with a conical roof. The projecting eaves of the long, low roofline are supported by large brackets. Sandstone lintels and sills complete the window detailing.
Adjacent to the station was a large park, laid out by the C.P.R. in 1905. A water fountain, donated by Edward Michener, formed the focal point of the landscaping. The park served as a rest place for both travellers and local residents until its removal in 1960.
The C.P.R. station has long been a dominant landmark at the west end of Ross Street.
Following completion of the Calgary-Edmonton Railway in 1891, increasing numbers of settlers, salesmen and speculators arrived in Central Alberta. In response to this surge in traffic, a number of hotels sprang up adjacent to the C.P.R. Station.
The Landmark Buildings and Places Database draws on the series of walking and/or driving tour booklets produced by Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit). The Heritage Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry through permission to reprint these materials online. Extracted from Red Deer Historical Walking Tours. Red Deer Historical Preservation Committee and Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism, n.d., with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.