(Peter Bouwsema)

By rdnewsNOW staff

GARLAND RESIDENCE, MCLEAR BLOCK & ANNEX

Lacombe designates two buildings as Municipal Historic Resources

Sep 26, 2024 | 1:19 PM

Lacombe City Council has officially designated the buildings known as the Garland Residence (5204 53 Street) and the McLear Block and Annex (5006-5010 50 Avenue) as Municipal Historic Resources under the Province of Alberta Historical Resources Act.

City officials note the Garland Residence is a symbol of the kinds of residences built during Lacombe’s major economic boom from 1905 to 1913. It is described as an elegant, eclectic one-half-story front gabled residence with a bell-cast roof line, various shingle types, and a full-width porch. The residence is on a corner lot on 53 Street and 52 Avenue in a residential neighbourhood west of downtown Lacombe.

“The Garland Residence is significant to our community’s history,” Mayor Grant Creasey said. “This designation ensures the building will remain protected in our community for future generations to enjoy. I want to thank the current owner of the residence and the Heritage Resources Committee (HRC) for their commitment to preserving the legacy of this building.”

After visiting the building earlier this year, the HRC supported the application for municipal historic designation. The committee voted unanimously to recommend support of the designation bylaw.

“With the designation of the Garland residence, Lacombe’s list of Municipal Historic Resources now counts 15,” HRC member Myles Chykerda said. “This is a remarkable milestone that gives us one of the highest, if not the highest, per capita counts of protected historic properties in all of Alberta. We are leaders in recognizing and remembering a rich past that is woven into not only commercial buildings but also residences, landscapes, monuments, and so much more. It is thanks to their owners, who have invested significant resources in maintenance and restoration, that they will remain a part of Lacombe’s fabric for years to come.”

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The McLear Block is a one-storey building with pressed red brick cladding and a central triangular pediment connected to buildings of similar style and age along 50 Avenue in downtown Lacombe. The building has a small one-storey annex attached to the west of the main McLear building. Both display storefronts with full-height glazing and brick corbelling. The main building has retained the prominent, pressed metal cornice.

“The McLear Block and Annex is a great addition to our City’s Heritage Preservation Program,” Creasey said. “This designation ensures the building will maintain its importance to our community’s history in the future. Thank you to the current owners of the residence and the Heritage Resources Committee for their diligent work towards preserving the legacy of this building.”

After touring the building earlier this year, the HRC supported the application for municipal historic designation. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend support of the designation Bylaw.

“The designation of the McLear Block creates a remarkable contiguous linear collection of downtown properties with full municipal designation,” HRC Myles Chykerda said. “Only a few years ago, this building and its unique side annex were looking worse for wear and clearly needed significant structural work. Fortunately, its new owner was determined to revitalize it when demolition was the easier and cheaper option. The results of their carefully planned restoration work are superb, both on the exterior and the interior.”

The following buildings/ structures have been previously designated as Municipal Historic Resources:

• St. Andrew’s United Church (2013)
• Lacombe Blacksmith Shop (2015)
• Young Residence (2016)
• Urquhart/ Kanngiesser Building (2016)
• Michener House (2016)
• Lacombe Cenotaph, Lest We Forget Park (2016)
• Fraser MacDonald Building (2017)
• Flatiron Building (2021)
• Trimble Residence (2022)
• Denike Block (2023)
• Campbell Block (2023)

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