The Wilson’s Arch Building in Northeast Calgary is a curious structure and straight out of the quirky ’60s. Architecturally there was lots of innovative stuff going on at the time and this one example of the creative ideas being offered. With a curved roof supported by revolutionary (for the time) wood “Glulam” laminate beams, this allowed for vast open areas within a building and sans any support columns. This was advantageous in many applications and we’ll chat about that soon.
The city says the structure dates from 1965, however an aerial photo dated the following year, in municipal archives, shows it still under construction, so make of it what you will. The building sits in Franklin Industrial and noted as one of the earliest structures here. At the time this was at the far eastern edge of Calgary, and a few years earlier the land farm pasture, but today is deep within the city. Cowtown has grown a lot since then (population of 320k then vs 1.4m today).
Wilson’s Arch Building Calgary: Straight out of the ’60s. With Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
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The building is visually a stand out among it neighbours and most other structures around here are typical blocky warehouse type affairs. It’s the only character building around, but most firm aren’t concerned with the look of such utility structures and just want function. That’s understandable, but at the same time, something unique and distinct can be good for the image.
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Constructed for the manufacturer of the beams, Wilson’s Arch Buildings Ltd, it was made from and a showcase for this firm’s products. The sign support out front (now minus signage) is made of the same beams and allowed one an up close look of their construction.
There’s a spacious storage yard behind and beside the structure – those beams took a up a lot of space. Later on and after Wilson’s closed (mid-1970s) a second similar firm took over the property. After that, the building and yard were well put to use by a number of lumber wholesalers. In function and location, near a busy main road, made it perfect for such businesses.
In more recent times, the building was or is (data’s a bit sketchy) used as a studio for film work and it appears most of the yard is used to store vehicles for a nearby auto auction.
Support arches are pin connected to concrete anchor-blocks on the exterior of the building. These arches allowed for a vast open space inside with which to construct and assemble the laminate beams. Lots of buildings could benefit from such unobstructed interiors – retail stores, factories, sport venues, farm buildings – and so this was a big selling point.
The front of the structure, seen in our photos, functioned as office space and the rest devoted to manufacturing.
We’re curious what other buildings were made using Wilson’s beams and did some searching but not much came up. Safeway used a lot of these style beams in their buildings of the time (the famous Safeway “Marina” Roof), but did this firm supply some of these or was it even within their capabilities? Those beams were huge and not easy to work on we bet. Old phone book ads show they made both curved and straight beams for use by any construction firm, or complete prefab buildings made using same.
Beams were made from smaller dimensional lumber, finger joined end to end in strips, then glue together under pressure. The adhesive used is water proof and allows for outdoor use. These beams have an excellent strength to weight ratio, and are adaptable to just about any use.
A later phone book entry shows they made Quonset type structures for use at farms and by industry. By this point the firm had changed its name to Wilson Arches Ltd, but otherwise nothing else changed. Wilson, we presume, must have been the name of someone big associated with the company.
Wilson’s became Nelwood in the mid-1970s, but this new firm seems to otherwise have functioned the same and even the phone book ads were exact duplicates. Nelwood lasted until about ’83 and then those lumber firms spoken of earlier (Mc Ilveen Lumber then later Prairie Pacific Lumber) took over.
The Wilson’s Arch Building was photographed on an amazing spring evening and those skies sure were nice. We love the peace and quite that comes with twilight, and of course the nice soft light. As usual, we sneaked the BIGDoer-mobile into a photo, but it’s well in the background this time and not easy to spot. Can you see it?
If you wish more information on what’s seen here, don’t hesitate to: contact us!
Date of Adventure: April, 2022. Location(s): Calgary, AB. Article references and thanks: City of Calgary, Heritage Calgary, plus old phone books at the Calgary Public Library and the Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society.
(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.
Interesting style that’s for sure!
’60s architecture, if anything, sure can be quirky.