The Station Building

The heritage value of the Station Building lies in its association with the town's first access to the rail system. As the Territorial capital from 1876-1883, the community initially flourished but when the railroad, and subsequently the capital, was diverted to Regina, direct access to the railway was delayed for nearly thirty years. Consequently, the arrival of a spur line and its accompanying station in 1907 provided Battleford residents with the long-awaited link to the outside world and stood as a symbol that the town of Battleford was emerging as a viable community.

Heritage value also resides in the building's architecture. Constructed according to Special Plan 100-19, the Station Building displays architectural features that were common to Canadian Northern Railway stations. The high pyramidal roof with prominent front and back gable dormers, as well as a shingled, bracket-supported awning along the trackside, were trademark features of Canadian Northern stations.

Though the structure has been relocated and significantly altered from its original form, the building continues to stand as a symbol of the historical beginnings of Battleford.

Source:

Town of Battleford Bylaw No. 12/81.