Walter's Cycle

Description of the Historic Place

Built in 1908, Walter’s Cycle is a two storey commercial building located at 225 20th Street West in the Riversdale Commercial District. 

Heritage Value

Walter’s Cycle is valued for its association with George Norman, early newspaper publisher, Councillor, Mayor and Provincial politician; and Jack Walters, a local bicycle retailer. George Norman was born in Alliston, Ontario and came to Saskatoon to help his brother Leonard publish the first edition of the Phoenix newspaper, which rolled off the press on October, 17th 1902. The building at 225 20th Street West was used to house Norman’s printing business. Norman was elected to City Council in 1917 and served until 1927. He was elected as Mayor of Saskatoon from 1927 - 1929 before being elected to the Provincial Legislature in 1934 for a 4 year term. In 1938, he was appointed to the Old Age Pensions and Child Welfare Office in Saskatoon, a post he held until he retired in 1947.

The building housed Walter's Cycle, another long-lived Riversdale business, from 1966-1989. Jack Walters was born in Wales and came to Canada in 1903.  He had apprenticed to become a master bike man in Wales and upon arriving in Canada he joined the Bowman Bros. Co.  In time, Walters himself had his own bike and auto company.  Walters was the first in the city to have a 25-gallon glass gas pump; he was also the first to sell battery-powered home radios and motorcycles and he introduced vulcanizing (rubber melding) to Saskatoon. In 1926 his company was operating two stores and a service station. Although the business struggled through the Depression, it bounced back as a bicycle repair and sales shop.  

Today, the building features an impressive original cornice of pressed tin, as well as pressed tin siding. As one of the older buildings on 20th street, Walter Cycle is a landmark in the Riversdale area.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

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

• Those features that reflect the building’s historical and commercial history including its location along 20th Street West, its cornice and pressed tin features, and its building form, massing and scale.’