CNHS - Humboldt Post Office - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
N 52° 11.939 W 105° 07.360
13U E 491616 N 5783177
The Humboldt Post Office was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1977 because of its design, with its Romanesque windows and large clock tower in the same style, made this an important building in a newly-developing small town.
Waymark Code: WMWAVB
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 08/04/2017
Views: 4
The Humboldt Post Office was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1977 because of its design, with its Romanesque windows and large clock tower in the same style, made this an important building in a newly-developing small town.
The heritage value of the Humboldt Post Office lies in its architecture. Designed by chief architect David Ewart, it is a representative example of one of several Romanesque Revival style post offices erected by the federal government to serve medium-sized communities across the country prior to 1914. The Humboldt building displays many of the features common to post offices designed by Ewart during this period including: red brick façade, mansard roof with dormers, arched windows and doorway openings, two articulated street facades requiring a corner site, and a distinctive corner clock tower. The Humboldt Post Office is one of three surviving Saskatchewan examples of this style, the others being Melfort and Battleford both of which continue to house federal postal services.
The Humboldt Post Office is also significant for its important role in the history of community. Constructed during the golden age of pre-First World War prosperity, public buildings such as this were a visible symbol of the federal government in the newly populous regions of Canada and were an expression of optimism and the expansion of the nation. For a community such as Humboldt, the construction of a substantial and dignified public building signified an important step in the development of a new community and was a symbol of its growing status. In addition to serving Humboldt and the surrounding area as a post office for over 60 years, the building also accommodated a number of additional functions including a customs office, inland revenue offices, an examining warehouse and offices for the local RCMP detachment. Since 1982, the building has continued to serve an important function in the life of the community as a museum, art gallery, and venue for community meetings and cultural events.
The Humboldt Post Office is also significant for its contribution to the streetscape. With its four storey clock tower, the building is a prominent landmark at the corner of Main Street and Sixth Avenue in Humboldt's historic business district.
Classification: National Historic Site
Province or Territory: Saskatchewan
Location - City name/Town name: Humboldt
Link to Parks Canada entry (must be on www.pc.gc.ca): [Web Link]
Link to HistoricPlaces.ca: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|