Calgary Heritage Initiative forums

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

More info and updates back on page 1 of this thread. This link goes to the beginning of the thread:
http://www.calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=778

Call to Action document:
http://www.calgaryheritage.org/documents/calltoaction.pdf

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See previous post for information on the contents of the Historic Resource Impact Assessment Order on the brewery:
http://www.calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=1743#1743
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There was an "Historical Resource Impact Assessment" on the former Calgary Brewing & Malting Company site in Inglewood done back in June 1997 by Molson, when Molson sold off the brewery site. No action was taken by the province at the time of this HRIA (additional note: we understand this document was not an official provincial HRIA, and was voluntarily undertaken).

The conclusion of that document was read aloud by U of C historian Max Foran at the Inglewood Town Hall. Here is that excerpt:

There seems to be no doubt considering the historical significance of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company to the community of Inglewood, to Calgary and to the province. The evolution of the site, up to 1961, had been concerned with improving productivity, quality and efficiency but did not compromise aesthetics or community responsibility for the sake of functionality and profit. Each significant period of building was leading edge at the time of construction and for the most part the building have withstood the test of time.

This site is a remarkable example of the evolution of industry and architectural design for industry. Buildings were modified to suit new requirements and changes in operations as the brewery strived to improve its operation. Reputable architectural firms were called upon to solve the design problems of the day.

The site could, once again, become a vital centre of numerous activities. As a plethora of ideas and proposals for new uses of the site come forward, the selection of that which is most compatible with this historically significant resource is truly the challenge.

You can view this document at the Calgary Public Library downtown, in the Local History Section:

711. 409712338 HIS
Historical resource impact assessment of the former Calgary Brewing & Malting Company site in Inglewood for Molson Breweries, June 1997
Molson's Brewery Quebec.

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Brewing+more+culture/1941592/story.html

Brewing up more culture
Heritage site deserves to be restored

By Irena Karshenbaum, For The Calgary Herald
August 29, 2009

Historically, getting a demolition permit for a heritage property has been all too easy. Owners haven't had to do much. Starve the building of investment, neglect maintenance, soon enough it will be an eyesore and a magnet for all sorts of undesirable elements. With luck it might have safety issues and then a demolition permit can easily be secured all in the name of "public good."

So much has been demolished that heritage is still an endangered species. Virtually no two heritage destinations can be connected by a pedestrian friendly continuous heritage streetscape. Sadly, you can't walk from the Reader Rock Garden to Stephen Avenue or to Inglewood along beautiful streets. This makes whatever remaining historic buildings that much more valuable. They are not only important heritage sites in and of themselves. They are critical nodes in an all too thin heritage inventory that is desperately needed for the development of the city's streetscape network.

Tragically, these are the issues facing us with the proposed demolition of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company site despite its historic significance, its heritage value and its unique features which are concealed from the public under layers of dirt, bird poop and aluminum siding.

Located in Inglewood, the brewery site contains some of the city's earliest buildings. It was founded by a historic Calgary figure, A. E. Cross, who was also one of the Big Four (along with Archie McLean, George Lane and Patrick Burns) who put up $100,000 to financially back the first Calgary Stampede in 1912.

Cross and his family contributed significantly to the city's economy by developing the brewery site while employing generations of Calgarians. The brewery kept operating during the prohibition years (1916-24) by selling soft drinks. It employed thousands during the Great Depression by building a fish hatchery, a garden and trout ponds. It even added a salt water aquarium and a Horseman's Hall of Fame Museum in the 1960s.

Calgary historian Max Foran has written, "The evolution of the site, up to 1961, had been concerned with improving productivity, quality and efficiency but did not compromise esthetics or community responsibility for the sake of functionality and profit. Each significant period of building was leading edge at the time of construction and for the most part the buildings have withstood the test of time."

Oddly it is the oldest and most precious--the 1892 Brew House and Ale Cellars, and the 1905 Brew House--built of sandstone, which can no longer be mined because all the sandstone queries have been closed and the number of skilled stonemasons working in Calgary can be counted on two hands, are proposed for demolition.

First, the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company site needs to be protected. Second, it needs to be restored and redeveloped. Unique features like the garden should be restored and the aquarium re-established. The heritage buildings can be adapted for use as stores, restaurants, cafes, theatres, pubs and creative office space.

Brewery redevelopment projects are not new. They are not ugly old sites. They are economic assets whose value is being recognized and revived around the world. Toronto restored the Distillery District, Halifax restored Keith's Brewery Building and Milwaukee is currently working on the massive Pabst Redevelopment.

Real estate developer Joseph Zilber stepped forward to buy the Pabst Brewery when the City of Milwaukee rejected buying it. He did it despite having found it in "terrible disrepair" and managed to secure financial backing from the City of Milwaukee. Zilber sold shares of the massive brewery site to various developers so they could redevelop portions of the site and chose to develop parts himself. A developer that specializes in innovative housing and adaptive reuse projects, Gorman and Company, stepped forward to redevelop Pabst Keg house into lofts; two local private developers bought the boiler house to redevelop it for office use for an architectural firm; small business owners bought a building for their upscale flower shop at street level and lofts on the upper floors. The City of Milwaukee invested in developing park space and walkways and once the project gained momentum the State of Wisconsin kicked in funding to house an engineering campus of the University of Wisconsin. With all the economic turmoil in the U. S., the Pabst project has been a rare ray of hope with investment demand remaining steady.

The Calgary Brewing and Malting Company site should take a page out of the Pabst Redevelopment book. It would be a coup for Calgary.

Irena Karshenbaum wrItes In Calgary and Is the foundIng, volunteer president of the Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project Society. She can be reached at irenak@shaw.ca.

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/letters/story.html?id=4f959df6-4e62-4ab7-99eb-406a67efbb9e

Save the brewery from condo fate
Calgary Herald

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Re: "Brewing up more culture," Irena Karshenbaum, Opinion, Aug. 29.

Irena Karshenbaum is correct in her assessment of the brewery's potential. Many longtime Calgarians have fond memories of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Co. site. The Alberta government's master plan 2005, In Time And Place, deals with this issue. Heritage preservation is a significant aspect in society. The government should protect this historical gem for everyone's benefit. Many other cities have restored and utilized their historic sites.

In Calgary, we just tear them down and put up condos. Oh, well, we could always call them the Brewery Flats.

Beverley Mcintosh-Johnson,

Calgary

© The Calgary Herald 2009

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

Two more letters to the editor about the old Calgary Brewery inspired by Irena Karshenbaum's column (above)

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Historic+treasure/1970484/story.html

Historic treasure
Calgary Herald September 8, 2009
Re: "Brewing up more culture," Irena Karshenbaum, Opinion, Aug. 29.

The brewery was home to a company that inspires fond memories and civic pride for many Calgarians. I mostly applaud Irena Karshenbaum's ideas of stores, restaurants, cafes, theatres and pubs. Condos are OK, but not as the primary component. Debate should be welcome and more of what occurred at the Inglewood town hall meeting should continue. Few buildings inspire such passion and recollection as these.

Part of the reason Calgary is what it is today, was through the efforts of people like A. E. Cross and Patrick Burns. Contributions that were made by such early citizens should never be forgotten. See if there is an interest other than simple razing. If there is no interest, then so be it. The Calgary Brewing and Malting Company was a piece of the economic and social fabric of this city. I hope the historical impact study produces results that get everyone talking about what could be next. Let's make it something so many can be proud of once again.

Gerry Di Napoli,

Calgary

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

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http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Raise+glass/1990685/story.html

Raise a glass to old and new
Calgary HeraldSeptember 14, 2009

Re: "Brewing up more culture," Irena Karshenbaum, Opinion, Aug. 29.

As the future of the Calgary Brewing and Malting site is still in doubt, it is my wish and the wish of many Calgarians that it be preserved and developed as a historical site. Historically, A. E. Cross, an early pioneer and builder, established Calgary's first major brewery in 1892. It closed 102 years later in 1994. On November 27, 1948, the Calgary Stampeders won their first Grey Cup championship. James Cross was president of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company and was an active booster and a director of the football club.

Mr. Cross arranged for a generous donation of 500 cases of Calgary "Stampede" beer for consumption aboard the Canadian Pacific Railroad's Stampeder Express that carried Calgary football fans to Toronto for what turned out to be the most enthusiastic Grey Cup week festival of all time.

The beer ran out before the train reached the Manitoba border, forcing a foraging party, led by Gordon Clarke of H. F. Clarke Ltd., onto the prairie flatlands, to successfully appropriate emergency "suds" for the remainder of the long journey.

May I offer a suggestion? If at all possible, the present owners should consider preserving a portion of the buildings and grounds as the new site for the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. An attached restaurant, complete with a large patio, would enhance its usage.

Our great city would then have a new tourist attraction and a place for both young and old Calgarians, to enjoy some of Canada and Calgary's national sports history.

Bob Rowe,

Calgary

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

A bit about the campaign to bring "Calgary beer" back to Calgary...

October 17 2009 - Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Beer+lover+calls+Calgary+suds/2115153/story.html

October 24 2009 - Herald
http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=77560557-7700-4395-9994-f7887e1842aa

November 25 2009 - Herald editorial
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Crying+missing+Calgary+beer/2263786/story.html

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

A toast to city's beer-drinking, brewing history

November 1, 2009 Calgary Herald article by David Finch

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=39c7f552-7168-42a8-859c-e070c7931bda

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

CHI has produced brewery-themed Xmas cards, suitable for mailing to the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, the Mayor, and other decision-makers and also to friends! There is a sample image below; the actual cards also include information and a message about the brewery. They went like hotcakes at the recent Community Heritage Roundtable. If you are interested in getting cards to mail or distribute, please send an email to info@calgaryheritage.org

Mailing addresses for Minister Blackett and others are below the image...

Addresses for Xmas cards:

Lindsay Blackett, Minister of Culture and Community Spirit
Calgary North-West Constituency Office
#29, 735 Ranchlands Blvd. NW, Calgary, AB T3G 3A9

Mayor Dave Bronconnier
The City of Calgary, P.O. Box 2100, Station M, Calgary AB T2P 2M5
(Aldermen can be reached at the same address)

For contact info for other MLAs, click here:
http://calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=1713#1713

For City Council:
http://www.calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=1472#1472

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

Herald story, December 16, 2009
Christmas card calls for salvation of 1892 brewery

The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society is featuring the Inglewood landmark on its annual seasons-greeting card, to raise awareness about a financier's plans to tear down many of the 117-year-old brewery's oldest structures...

Full story: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=10faafb9-1e31-445b-85dd-81362dde08b1

Note: Almost 500 Christmas cards were distributed by CHI in the run-up to the holiday, and another 200 by the Inglewood Community Association. Thanks to everybody who made this a success.

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

Check out this excellent posting from the Calgary Public Library local history section with photos and information about the Brewery Gardens.

http://blog.calgarypubliclibrary.com/blogs/local_history_and_genealogy/archive/2010/01/12/the-brewery-gardens.aspx

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

Over 75 people signed the big Valentine cards to the brewery or provided their stories and thoughts for the record. Below are some images.
More on the Valentine's day campaign for the brewery at this link: http://www.calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=1947#1947

Signing the card at Inglewood winter carnival

Signers at the Heritage Roundtable at Memorial Park Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calgaryheritage/4532224208/

CHI president Cynthia Klaassen - slideshow in the background shows the pub still extant in the section of the brewery proposed for demolition
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calgaryheritage/4532227230/

Art and Adele from Ramsay. The message taped to the bottle: "We (heart) Historic Breweries - Happy Valentine's"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calgaryheritage/4532230272/

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

Kevin Brooker wrote a column in the Herald recently (April 12, 2010 - linked below) about a brewery strike in Denmark. While discussing ways breweries keep their workers happy he noted in passing that his "grandfather worked at the old Calgary Brewery, where beer was freely dispensed and every worker got a couple complimentary cases each week in the belief that it would encourage them to steal less..." A few brews were also hoisted by workers in the pub that was built on site in the brewery - it still exists and is in the part of the area proposed for demolition. The Calgary Brewery was well-known for its good labour relations. According to the Atlantic Avenue-Inglewood walking tour:

(The Brewery) was one of Alberta's first industrial plants to introduce pensio plans, and sickness and accident insurance for its employees. Records show that during the first 50 years of operation, fewer than 20 people left the company for reasons outside of military service or retirement. When workers did enlist for military service, they were put on temporary leave, paid the difference between their military pay and theire regular brewery pay by the company for the duration, and guaranteed jobs when they returned. In times of recession or depression, employees were given projects such as constructing fences and landscaping elaborate gardens to keep them working..."

Link to the tour document:
http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/bu/planning/pdf/heritage/5846_atlantic%20ave_ingle_sc.pdf

Link to the Brooker column:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/story_print.html?id=2791480&sponsor=

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

June 8 was the anniversary of the HRIA order that (for now) stayed the demolition. Here is a link to a related Herald column:
http://www.calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=2126#2126

And a Sun column - also about the archaeology of Calgary beer. An event about this drew 80 people on the anniversary:
http://www.calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=2131#2131

New: U of C Gauntlet Story, June 17
http://thegauntlet.ca/story/14568

We'll be posting some photos soon...

cjane · Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 105

On August 11, 2010, the Heritage Canada Foundation released its sixth annual list of the top ten endangered and lost architectural and heritage sites across the country. This annual list brings attention to the ongoing fight to maintain Canada's built heritage.

The Calgary Brewing and Malting Co. was chosen for this list since the demolition threat is still outstanding, and the property continues to deteriorate. http://www.heritagecanada.org/eng/featured/HCFEPL2010.pdf

More information about the Heritage Canada Foundation can be found from their website: http://www.heritagecanada.org/eng/main.html

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

A bit of housekeeping. Here is the thread related to the Top 10 announcement, including media stories from August 2010:

http://www.calgaryheritage.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=2212#2212

newsposter · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1812

In October a class of University of Calgary architecture students on a block-week course undertook an "archeological" discovery of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Site under the guidance of guest instructor Angela Piccini from University of Bristol in the UK and the U of C's Dr. David Monetyne. Some of their photos and videos are posted at the links below:

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1528657@N23/pool/
Videos: http://www.vimeo.com/groups/inglewood

Note in particular the video posted by Michelle Smith for her group, which has some comments by Inglewood residents.

Thanks to the property owner and his representatives for allowing the students access to much of the site. Project Brewey guides Gian-Carlo Carra (then Inglewood president, now Ward 9 Alderman), LJ Robertson, and CHI's Bob van Wegen assisted with local information.