Buckwold Building

Description of the Historic Place

The Buckwold Building (also known as Marshall-Wells Ltd.) is a rectangular two-storey building located at 75 24th Street East in Saskatoon’s downtown.  Constructed in 1928, the structure is situated in the city's Warehouse District.

Heritage Value

Designed by Scott and Bowers, the Buckwold Building features a large brick building with a grid-like organization of window and wall surfaces. Sculpted stone is present along the basement level. The building is influenced by the Chicago style of architecture, which was known for the development of modern commercial building design in the early 1900s. The building initially provided office space and sample rooms on its main floor with the basement and upper floor dedicated to warehouse space. Goods arrived by a railway spur line on the west side of the building. Later, a loading dock for trucks was constructed on its east side.

Over the years, the windows of the Buckwold Building have been replaced with units that have two small sidelights and one large center panel characteristic of the Chicago Style. The building's interior has been renovated and the structural elements of the building, such as the concrete columns and capitals, have been exposed.

In addition to its architecture, the Buckwold Building is also valued for its association with Saskatoon’s early warehousing industry and Buckwold’s Western Ltd, a company that traces its history back to 1925 when the Buckwold Family established a small dry goods business in Saskatoon.  From the mid-1950's, Buckwold's Ltd. occupied the building at 75 24th Street East. 

The Buckwold family came to be known for their extensive contribution to the social, cultural and political community of Saskatoon, and included: Alvin, a Pediatrician; Seymour, who managed the family business; and Sidney (Sid), who became Mayor of Saskatoon for several years. Sid Buckwold helped build the Mendel Art Gallery, Centennial Auditorium, and Midtown Plaza. He was instrumental in bringing the winter games to Saskatoon during his Mayoral term.  He was appointed to the Senate in 1971 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1995. 

In 2006, the Buckwold Building was the recipient of the City of Saskatoon's 2006 Heritage Award for Adaptive Reuse. The building continues to be a treasured piece of Saskatoon’s history.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

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

• Its architecture with Chicago influences, evident in: its brick façade with stone trim, building scale, form and massing, the window moldings, the cornices, and its arched stone entrance; and
• Those features that the represent its historical significance and connection to the Buckwold family, including the ‘Buckwold Bldg’ signage above the main entrance and its original location within the Warehouse District.