Board of Trade Office

Description of the Historic Place

The Board of Trade Office is a small white bungalow that was constructed in 1907 and was originally designed for office use. The building, now located in the neighbourhood of Varsity View, is situated on a long lot with a shed at the rear. The Board of Trade Office was originally located in the city's downtown.

This historic place, located at 1022 Temperance Street, is listed under Bylaw No. 6770 (Holding Bylaw). This Bylaw provides short-term protection of the building from demolition by providing for a 60 day holding period in the event a demolition permit is received. Within that 60 day period heritage designation is considered by City Council.

Heritage Value

The Board of Trade was established by leading businessmen to publicize Saskatoon and encourage businesses to establish themselves within the city.  Early active members of the Saskatoon Board of Trade included James Clinkskill and J.F. Cairns.  The Board of Trade Office was originally constructed on 1st Avenue, south of the CNR depot. Designed by architect Stewart Neil, the building was moved to various locations a number of times prior to arriving at its present location on Temperance Street in 1920.

The Board of Trade Office exhibits many characteristics of pre-World War I bungalows in the city. It is small, rectangular in shape with a cottage roof and a white clapboard exterior. Unlike other bungalows however, the building exhibits Classical influences that was a mark of prestige in early Saskatoon, and was typically reserved for larger homes and buildings. The Board of Trade Office closely resembles pre-fabricated sectional bank buildings which can still be seen in smaller Saskatchewan municipalities such as Humboldt and Watson.

Since the early 1920s the building has been used as a private residence at its Temperance Street Location. The Board of Trade Office does not resemble the building as it did in 1907 when it was initially built. The roof has since been shingled, the windows closest to the front of the building were removed, a kitchen and an extra bedroom were added and a basement was dug.  Initial designs on the pediment, in addition to the canopies, have been removed. The original front door and window frames however remain in place.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Its architectural style with Classical influences, evident in: its columns and window framing;
• Its pre-World War I bungalow features, evident in: its cottage style roof and white clapboard exterior; and
• Those features that relate to its historical value such as its modest size and form.