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10139 - 87 Avenue. Strathcona Community Hall.
Strathcona is unusual in Alberta because it has been recognized by both the provincial and municipal governments as a heritage district. These designations are centered on the community's commercial core of Whyte Avenue between 102 and 106 Streets. The surrounding residential area, however, is no less historically interesting and is a fine example of a late 19th and early 20th century urban neighbourhood.
Strathcona is a product of railway development. In 1883 the Canadian Pacific Railway reached what would become Alberta along a southern route from Medicine Hat to Calgary. The Edmonton area would not be connected to the transcontinental railway system until a CPR subsidiary, the Calgary and Edmonton Railway was completed to the south bank of the river in 1891. The costs of bridging the river were too great at the time, so a new community grew up on the south bank of the river at the "end of steel."
Initially called South Edmonton, in 1896 the community was renamed Strathcona in honour of Sir Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, a leading figure in the Hudson's Bay and Canadian Pacific Railway companies. The CPR developed the townsite on portions of River Lots 15 and 17 and centred it around the rail yards and station, grain elevators and a commercial district on Whyte Avenue. By 1911, Strathcona had a population of 5579 people and on Whyte Avenue. By 1911, Strathcona had a separate town council, school, churches, businesses and residential areas. It was also home to the University of Alberta, built on the western edge of the growing community.
By the early 1900s, Edmonton and Strathcona were connected by bridge, ferry and even after 1902 a railway. In 1912, the two were united into a single city. However, Strathcona retained its distinctive historical character and a fine collection of commercial, institutional and residential buildings that reflect the community's origins as a late 19th century town.

10139 - 87 Avenue. Strathcona Community Hall.
Strathcona is unusual in Alberta because it has been recognized by both the provincial and municipal governments as a heritage district. These designations are centered on the community's commercial core of Whyte Avenue between 102 and 106 Streets. The surrounding residential area, however, is no less historically interesting and is a fine example of a late 19th and early 20th century urban neighbourhood.
Strathcona is a product of railway development. In 1883 the Canadian Pacific Railway reached what would become Alberta along a southern route from Medicine Hat to Calgary. The Edmonton area would not be connected to the transcontinental railway system until a CPR subsidiary, the Calgary and Edmonton Railway was completed to the south bank of the river in 1891. The costs of bridging the river were too great at the time, so a new community grew up on the south bank of the river at the "end of steel."
Initially called South Edmonton, in 1896 the community was renamed Strathcona in honour of Sir Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, a leading figure in the Hudson's Bay and Canadian Pacific Railway companies. The CPR developed the townsite on portions of River Lots 15 and 17 and centred it around the rail yards and station, grain elevators and a commercial district on Whyte Avenue. By 1911, Strathcona had a population of 5579 people and on Whyte Avenue. By 1911, Strathcona had a separate town council, school, churches, businesses and residential areas. It was also home to the University of Alberta, built on the western edge of the growing community.
By the early 1900s, Edmonton and Strathcona were connected by bridge, ferry and even after 1902 a railway. In 1912, the two were united into a single city. However, Strathcona retained its distinctive historical character and a fine collection of commercial, institutional and residential buildings that reflect the community's origins as a late 19th century town.

10139 - 87 Avenue. Strathcona Community Hall.
Strathcona is unusual in Alberta because it has been recognized by both the provincial and municipal governments as a heritage district. These designations are centered on the community's commercial core of Whyte Avenue between 102 and 106 Streets. The surrounding residential area, however, is no less historically interesting and is a fine example of a late 19th and early 20th century urban neighbourhood.
Strathcona is a product of railway development. In 1883 the Canadian Pacific Railway reached what would become Alberta along a southern route from Medicine Hat to Calgary. The Edmonton area would not be connected to the transcontinental railway system until a CPR subsidiary, the Calgary and Edmonton Railway was completed to the south bank of the river in 1891. The costs of bridging the river were too great at the time, so a new community grew up on the south bank of the river at the "end of steel."
Initially called South Edmonton, in 1896 the community was renamed Strathcona in honour of Sir Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, a leading figure in the Hudson's Bay and Canadian Pacific Railway companies. The CPR developed the townsite on portions of River Lots 15 and 17 and centred it around the rail yards and station, grain elevators and a commercial district on Whyte Avenue. By 1911, Strathcona had a population of 5579 people and on Whyte Avenue. By 1911, Strathcona had a separate town council, school, churches, businesses and residential areas. It was also home to the University of Alberta, built on the western edge of the growing community.
By the early 1900s, Edmonton and Strathcona were connected by bridge, ferry and even after 1902 a railway. In 1912, the two were united into a single city. However, Strathcona retained its distinctive historical character and a fine collection of commercial, institutional and residential buildings that reflect the community's origins as a late 19th century town.

10302 - 82 Avenue.
In 1891 the Calgary and Edmonton Railway completed its line and built a station just south of the river adjacent to what is now Whyte Avenue. Travelers to the Edmonton area needed accommodation nearby, so the railway company built what was for the time a large and modern hotel of 45 rooms to meet this demand. Initially called the Edmonton Hotel, it was renamed the Strathcona Hotel in 1899 when the settlement on the south bank of the river was organized as the Town of Strathcona.
The hotel was very popular and in 1903 a two storey annex was built followed by an even larger three storey addistion to the north of the original building in 1907. Alberta's adoption of Prohibition in 1916 hit many hotels hard and the Strathcona was no exception. With no tavern revenue to help support the business, profits dropped and the hotel struggled. Somewhat surprisingly, the Presbyterian Church of Canada took over the building. It was used first for the Westminster Ladies College from 1918 to 1924 and later as the Westminster Residence for Girls.
The Presbyterian Church acquired the entire hotel through a foreclosure in 1923 before reselling it to private investors in 1928. The repeal of Prohibition in 1923 made hotels like the Strathcona profitable again and by 1928-1929 the Strathcona was back in business as a hotel.
The heritage value of the Strathcona Hotel lies in its close association with the early development of Edmonton and Strathcona. It is also the oldest surviving wood frame commercial building on Whyte Avenue and one of Edmonton's most distinctive landmarks.

10302 - 82 Avenue.
In 1891 the Calgary and Edmonton Railway completed its line and built a station just south of the river adjacent to what is now Whyte Avenue. Travelers to the Edmonton area needed accommodation nearby, so the railway company built what was for the time a large and modern hotel of 45 rooms to meet this demand. Initially called the Edmonton Hotel, it was renamed the Strathcona Hotel in 1899 when the settlement on the south bank of the river was organized as the Town of Strathcona.
The hotel was very popular and in 1903 a two storey annex was built followed by an even larger three storey addistion to the north of the original building in 1907. Alberta's adoption of Prohibition in 1916 hit many hotels hard and the Strathcona was no exception. With no tavern revenue to help support the business, profits dropped and the hotel struggled. Somewhat surprisingly, the Presbyterian Church of Canada took over the building. It was used first for the Westminster Ladies College from 1918 to 1924 and later as the Westminster Residence for Girls.
The Presbyterian Church acquired the entire hotel through a foreclosure in 1923 before reselling it to private investors in 1928. The repeal of Prohibition in 1923 made hotels like the Strathcona profitable again and by 1928-1929 the Strathcona was back in business as a hotel.
The heritage value of the Strathcona Hotel lies in its close association with the early development of Edmonton and Strathcona. It is also the oldest surviving wood frame commercial building on Whyte Avenue and one of Edmonton's most distinctive landmarks.

8331 - 104 Street.
"A fine new south side library" proclaimed the Daily Capital in June 1912, as construction began on what is now Edmonton's oldest library building. Designed by the architectural firm of Arthur G. Wilson and David E. Herrald, the Strathcona Public Library is a solidly built edifice of press brick trimmed with Roman stone. It opened to the public on March 14, 1913.
This landmark building, built in the English Renaissance Revival Style, is finished in weathered orange brick with limestone embellishments. It is believed that the brick was manufactured at one of several brickyards that flourished in Edmonton's river valley at the turn of the 20th century. Interior features include arched entryways and wood carved banisters. When built, books were stored only on the main floor. The basement was devoted to a men's reading room, while the second floor auditorium was a community focal point where meetings of the Edmonton Medical Association and the Ladies Hospital League were held. It was also the site of local community theatre productions and college graduation exercises.

10030 - 102A Avenue.
The cornerstone of Edmonton's original YMCA was laid on July 1, 1907 by Mrs. G.H.V. Bulyea, the wife of Alberta's first Lieutenant Governor. The completed building, which was officially opened on February 6, 1908, saw Edmonton's YMCA become another valuable link in the growth of the worldwide Young Men's Christian Association. In 1951, a new YMCA building was erected on an adjacent lot and was expanded in 1961.
Throughout this century the YMCA of Edmonton has consistently served the citizens of Edmonton and district with high quality physical, spiritual and social programs. The "Y" also provides shelter and friendship to the traveling public.

9955 - 114 Street.
The Westminster Apartments building was erected during the pre-World War I population and building boom. Constructed in 1912 by Western Canada Properties Ltd. at a cost of $65,000, the building was considered very elegant and counted the Honorable G.H.V. Bulyea among its tenants. Bulyea was Chairman of the Board of Public Works for the provincial government and later became Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
The building has an historical association with C.A. Brine, building and property manager (1912-1948) for Westminster Apartments Ltd. His fortune allowed his wife, Margaret Hazelwood Gold Brine, to be a generous benefactor of the arts in Edmonton after his death in 1963.
The Westminster Apartments also had a long association with the Spillios family beginning in 1948 when George Spillios, a leader in Edmonton's Greek community and proprietor of the city's well known American Dairy Lunch, purchased the building.

9955 - 114 Street.
The Westminster Apartments building was erected during the pre-World War I population and building boom. Constructed in 1912 by Western Canada Properties Ltd. at a cost of $65,000, the building was considered very elegant and counted the Honorable G.H.V. Bulyea among its tenants. Bulyea was Chairman of the Board of Public Works for the provincial government and later became Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
The building has an historical association with C.A. Brine, building and property manager (1912-1948) for Westminster Apartments Ltd. His fortune allowed his wife, Margaret Hazelwood Gold Brine, to be a generous benefactor of the arts in Edmonton after his death in 1963.
The Westminster Apartments also had a long association with the Spillios family beginning in 1948 when George Spillios, a leader in Edmonton's Greek community and proprietor of the city's well known American Dairy Lunch, purchased the building.

10950 - 81 Street.
Battle-weary soldiers returned home from the First World War to face an economic slump and widespread unemployment. Reunited families desperately sought the social stability and comfort that comes from simple family living. Defying the elaborate Victorian styles of the turn of the 20th century, the Craftsman-style homes that emerged in Edmonton's neighbourhoods in the 1910s and 1920s emphasized a longing for hominess and family virtues.
Built in 1923 and named after one of its earliest occupants, the Richard Wallace Residence exemplifies Craftsman qualities with its simple, meaningful design. The interior emphasizes form and function, with space conservatively and creatively fashioned for everyday living.
Richard Wallace, a registrar, sheriff, and clerk of the Supreme Court of Alberta resided here from 1925 until 1943.