Landmark Building
ALBERTA PROVINCIAL POLICE BARRACKS
7809-18 Avenue, Coleman
Built in 1904
','Alberta Provincial Police Barracks', 'Source: Coleman, Crowsnest Pas Historical Driving Tour <br />(© Alberta Culture and Community Spirit)'); "Alberta Provincial Police Barracks")
These barracks were built for the Royal North West Mounted Police in 1904. In 1917, when responsibility for policing the rural districts of the Province of Alberta was withdrawn from the RNWMP, the barracks were taken over by the newly-formed Alberta Provincial Police.
Attempts to enforce Alberta's anti-drinking laws, ushered in with prohibition in 1916, became the major concern of the police. This was especially the case in the Pass which had voted wet when the prohibition referendum had been held in 1916. The trade in illegal liquor was lucrative. It was well known that Emilio Picariello, the popular businessman and proprietor of the Alberta Hotel in Blairmore, led a bootlegging operation through the Pass and into Montana. On September 21, 1922, the APP in Blairmore and Coleman received a tip that "Emperor Pic," and his son Steve, were running a large supply of whiskey into Blairmore.
When he was discovered the next day, Steve Picariello attempted to escape into British Columbia driving one of his father's MacLaughlin Buicks. As he raced down Coleman's main street, Constable Lawson's attempts to stop him were to no avail. The constable fired twice and then gave chase. A third shot wounded the fugitive in the hand. Emperor Pic, under the mistaken impression that his son had been seriously wounded, drove in a rage to Coleman, with his housekeeper Florence Lassandra, to confront Lawson. In the scuffle that ensued in front of his office, the Constable was killed. Emilio Picariello and Florence Lassandra were hanged in 1923 for the murder of the provincial policeman.
The APP Barracks is a one storey wood frame structure which, from the exterior, resembles the homes of many of the miners in the area, rather than a military building. It has a hipped roof, two corbelled brick chimneys and a shed extension at the rear.
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 Crowsnest Pass Historical Driving Tour: Coleman. Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism, The Crowsnest Pass Ecomuseum Trust, and the Coal Association of Canada, 1990, with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.