There’s a cool old building in South Calgary we’ve passed a gazillion times but paid little mind, even if we did think it interesting. Then one day, after seeing some century-old homes just a block over getting demolished, comes a cold hard reminder that nothing’s forever. Procrastinating is a slippery slope and with the future always uncertain at best, maybe one day we’ll drive by and see it gone. Time to act. Now where the heck’s the camera?
Here’s a building that still used, an old electrical substation supplying the needs of this section of the city much as it has done for some ninety years. The main structure, made of cast concrete (a fire and explosion mitigation measure), dates from 1930 with an addition from 1959. There’s perhaps hints of Spanish Colonial Revival stylings in the older building, whereas the newer shouts Mid-Century. Love those multi-colour glass blocks. In spite of the architectural differences, it works with those two completely different parts, dare we say, complimenting each other.
While it seems like their future is assured – we found no evidence the city was looking to rid themselves of the pair – the rest of the neighbourhood is going through a dramatic transformation. The gentrification monster is lurking, with trendy condos replacing many find old (and serviceable) homes at an alarming rate. It’s called progress I guess.
Not far away, an old coke machine circa 1960s or thereabouts. The stuff we find in alleys! Remember these as a kid…ten cents, maybe twenty, or a quarter got you a cold one in those old-school glass tall-necks with the pop top. Malaise era car bumpers made good bottle openers.
Short Subjects: reports that for any number of reasons are brief in nature. They might be updates to older articles, previews of posts planned or not yet published, brief snippets of things that don’t fit in anywhere else or subjects that are so obscure that information on them can’t be found. Or sometimes we just ramble on about Lord knows what.
We’d be happy to hear from you! Go here: contact us!
Date of adventure: April, 2019 Location: Calgary, AB
We took a walk from our house in Bankview this evening with this building as the turnaround point. My oldest boy has become a bit of an Electrical History buff and wanted to check it out. Pretty empty inside. Snapped a few photos. Popped around the back in the alley on the north and surprise! A black and silver Boler was hiding backed up against the building. We also noticed 2 short sections of rail set into the concrete from the alley to the building. We wondered what they may have been for. Our best guess was for moving heavy equipment from the alley over to the big brown door. Interesting building for sure and nice the plaque is still on the front.
Very cool! Yes, we saw those rails and think you are right in that they supported a trolley used to move heavy things about. A Boler? No way! You know what we’ll be doing tonight!
I was in there just before Christmas. It’s a storage facility for the city now. It still has the original floors and a vault in the basement. The windows are very cool.
That could be so. Still, I suspect it was built to serve the entire neighbourhood verses for transit alone. Street cars were running in the area long before the substation came on line so seemingly they already had the power needed.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
We took a walk from our house in Bankview this evening with this building as the turnaround point. My oldest boy has become a bit of an Electrical History buff and wanted to check it out. Pretty empty inside. Snapped a few photos. Popped around the back in the alley on the north and surprise! A black and silver Boler was hiding backed up against the building. We also noticed 2 short sections of rail set into the concrete from the alley to the building. We wondered what they may have been for. Our best guess was for moving heavy equipment from the alley over to the big brown door. Interesting building for sure and nice the plaque is still on the front.
Very cool! Yes, we saw those rails and think you are right in that they supported a trolley used to move heavy things about. A Boler? No way! You know what we’ll be doing tonight!
That is a neat looking building
Sure is!
Nice. I’ve never seen this building.
It’s nice, eh?
I always drive by this building and have snapped a few shots myself and wondered what it was because it didnt look like a house like what is beside it
Both buildings are part of the substation, the brown one a latter addition.
It has a neat look to it. I like the shape of the windows and slightly fancy facade. Are those little lights on the face of the brown building?
It’s charming in its own right. Those are coloured glass blocks lit from the inside.
I was in there just before Christmas. It’s a storage facility for the city now. It still has the original floors and a vault in the basement. The windows are very cool.
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing this!
When I glanced at your post I thought the white building was a home. Nice that it is still functioning.
That would be one indestructible house!
It was built for the street car system.
That could be so. Still, I suspect it was built to serve the entire neighbourhood verses for transit alone. Street cars were running in the area long before the substation came on line so seemingly they already had the power needed.
Seems often older is better.
Not always in every case, but mostly so! Haha.
Nice Art Deco building.
It’s simple, yet elegant.