Calgary Heritage Initiative forums

[newsposter]

New building pays homage to Ramsay landmark

Excerpt from a Herald Story below. Full story here:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/calgarybusiness/story.html?id=c816496b-8417-4cb7-b91d-12401fab080a

David Parker
Calgary Herald

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Many of us get pretty excited at any victory achieved in saving a historic sandstone building or red brick warehouse.

But history and nostalgia aren't limited to large structures and I'm impressed with what Roger Mercier is accomplishing with his recreation of the 1957 Ramsay Dairy Bar which includes re-installing the original neon ice cream cone -- at one time a local landmark -- that has been refurbished by Calgary Neon.

(Does anyone have photos of the building or the old dairy bar? Please post or send an email to info@calgaryheritage.org - newsposter)

According to local historian Harry Sanders the building, located on a triangle of land in Ramsay at the junction of Bellevue Avenue, MacDonald Avenue and Maggie Street, was built as a residence around 1902 and converted into commercial space in 1939 when it became the home of George Mitchell and the venue of his business, Pop's Confectionary.

Over the years a number of additions have enlarged the property, but when Mercier purchased it with the idea of renovating it as an office location for his business, Street Smart Strategic Planning Inc., it was discovered that it did not have a foundation to build on.

Instead, architects at Jenkins & Associates have designed a new structure reflecting the 1957 art deco design that includes a dairy bar on the strategic front of the building where the Ogden Streetcar line used to pass.

The south part of the building will provide a two-level loft-style residence and the 2,040 square feet in the centre portion will house Street Smart and its staff of six.

[newsposter]

"Pop's Dairy Bar" ^

http://www.popsdairybar.ca/