Landmark Building
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, 1910
202 24th Street, Fort Macleod
Built in 1910
'); "Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce")
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has played an important role in Fort Macleod both historically and financially. It is the oldest remaining bank in Fort Macleod and occupies the original building where it has served the town for 75 years. It is a substantial building which occupies a prime corner of Fort Macleod's Main Street.
The exterior has changed very little since its grand opening on Monday, March 14, 1910. The north and west elevations, which are visible to the pedestrian, are constructed of a better quality brick than the other two elevations. A unique feature for Fort Macleod is the use of tyndall limestone instead of sandstone to embellish the building. This has been used to accent the window sills on the second storey, the horizontal band around the base of the north and west facades, and the decorative sculptured window and door surrounds on the main level. If you look closely, you can find fossils in the limestone band and the step at the main entrance.
The only major alterations to the building include an addition built to the south in 1951, the replacement of the original wood doors to the main entry with a modern door, and the addition of contemporary bank signage. This landmark in Fort Macleod is further distinguished by an entablature with metal cornice and frieze above the second-storey windows, classical characteristics common to the bank buildings of the period. On the south elevation can be found typical brick radiating voussoirs over the windows.
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 A Walking/Driving Tour of Fort Macleod’s Historic Downtown & Residential Area. Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism and Fort Macleod Provincial Historic Area Society, n.d., with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.