Land Titles Building – Victoria Armoury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Land Titles Building – Victoria Armoury |
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| General information | |
| Type | Drill Hall / armoury |
| Location | two city lots Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Address | 10523 100 Avenue, |
| Current tenants | Edmonton chapter of the Elizabeth Fry Society, |
| Inaugurated | 1893 |
| Owner | Provincial Historic Resource since 1977 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | 1+1⁄2-storey building of brick covered in stucco |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas Fuller, Chief Architect of the Dominion |
| Awards and prizes | Canada's Register of Historic Places |
The Land Titles Building is a very old and important building in Edmonton, Alberta. It was built in 1893 by the Canadian government. At first, it was an office where people registered their land. Later, it became the Victoria Armoury, a place for soldiers. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Alberta. It's also likely the oldest Land Titles Office building left in the province.
Contents
A Historic Building in Edmonton
The Land Titles Building is located at 10523 100 Avenue in Edmonton. It was built to replace an older, smaller government office. This new building was much bigger and more modern for its time.
What Was the Land Titles Office?
The building first housed the "Crown Land, Timber and Registry Office." This office was very important for settlers. It was where they officially registered their claims to new land. This process was part of the Dominion Lands Act. This law allowed people to get free land in the North-West Territories.
Helping Settlers Claim Land
When settlers arrived, they needed to register their land title. This document proved they owned the land. The Land Titles Office made sure these records were kept safe. It was a key part of how the Canadian West was settled.
From Office to Armoury
In 1912, the Land Titles office moved to a new location. The building then got a new purpose. It became an armoury. An armoury is a place where military units train and store their equipment.
A Home for Soldiers
For almost 50 years, the building was home to several different military groups. These groups were called regiments.
- From 1915 to 1939, it housed the 19th Alberta Dragoons.
- From 1940 to 1946, it was home to the Edmonton Fusiliers.
- From 1947 to 1948, the 19th Alberta Armoured Car Regiment used the building.
After the military moved out, the building was used by the Provincial Government's Department of Health. They had offices and laboratories there.
Design and Changes Over Time
The building's design was based on a plan by Thomas Fuller. He was the Chief Architect for the Canadian government. The design is similar to old warehouses built by the Hudson's Bay Company.
The original building had a balanced design. It had windows placed evenly on both sides. The roof was a special type called a jerkinshead roof. It also had small, sloped windows called dormers. Two extra parts have been added to the building since it was first built.
A Stand-Off in History
At one point, the government tried to move its offices. They wanted to move them across the river to Strathcona. Strathcona was a rival town at the time. But people in Edmonton were very angry about this plan. An angry crowd stopped the move. There was even a stand-off with the North-West Mounted Police.
The Building Today
The Land Titles Building is a very important historical site. It has been recognized as a Provincial Historic Resource since 1977. This means it is protected because of its history.
Since 1995, the building has been home to the Edmonton chapter of the Elizabeth Fry Society. This group is a charity that helps women. They moved into the building from their old offices in the McLeod Building.
