Former Canadian Northern Railway Station

The Former Canadian National Railway Station, dating from 1912, is of heritage value for its role as the town’s railway station for more than 60 years. During the building’s early history it was of central importance to the community, providing passenger service, mail and freight handling, ticketing and telegram services. Additionally, it was the shipping point for cream, eggs and other farm produce. The station was built by the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) and became a station of the Canadian National Railway in 1920 when the CNoR was subsumed by this new company. The building remained in use by the railway until about 1976.

The heritage value of the property also resides in its architecture, which exemplifies a CNoR station from the early twentieth century. The building follows the C.No.R’s standard plan #100-29 for Third Class stations. This design was commonly used for the company’s stations in the small towns of Western Canada. About 80 stations were constructed in Saskatchewan between 1907 and 1917 following this plan, though few exist today. Characteristic of the plan were the combined station functions and living quarters for the agent. The ground floor was divided into public and private areas. The part of the ground floor facing the track included a waiting room and ticket office, with the other part comprising a living room and kitchen; the second storey consisted of bedrooms. The one-storey section of the building constituted the freight shed. Dominating the exterior are the broad overhanging eaves, which are braced by large triangular brackets. The building was re-clad with stucco in the late 1930s as part of a company programme to update its facilities.

Source:

Corporation of the Town of Waldheim Bylaw No. 2-83.