Based on original research, this exhaustive volume provides a rich background to Alberta's historic courthouses. Covering in detail all of Alberta's historic courthouses built between 1874 and 1950, this book considers many facets of these unique and significant structures. Using the backdrop of the major political periods in Alberta history, this study considers the influence of local and provincial politics on courthouse construction in addition to the cultural and economic milieu of the time. As part of the overall historical context, the book also presents some of the more colourful aspects of Alberta's little- known legal history, as well as an account of the evolution of the court system. Most courthouses have a rich and detailed history, and as landmarks they are important not only for their functional requirements but as symbols of the cultural ideals that they reflect in our society.
David Middelstadt is a writer and historian currently working as a heritage consultant on numerous projects. He lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Foreword Preface and Acknowledgements Legal Archies Society of Alberta Introduction: The Courthouse-General Themes and History Part One: The Territorial Courthouses The North--West Territories to 1905 The Territorial Courts The Territorial Supreme Court Courthouse Policy-The Conservatives Courthouse Policy-The Liberals Architecture and Design Calgary Calgary-The Early Days The Courts in Calgary A Temporary Solution The Courthouse of 1890 The First Decade-Some Modification Epilogue Lethbridge Lethbridge-The Early Days The Courts-And Courtrooms-of Early Lethbridge Courthouses or Public Buildings? Epilogue Medicine Hat Medicine Hat-The Early Days A Temporary Courthouse The Territorial Courthouse Epilogue Fort Macleod Macleod-The Early Days Macleod and the Courts The First Courthouse An Unwanted Courthouse The Dream Becomes Reality Epilogue Edmonton: The Courthouse that Never Was Edmonton-The Early Years Edmontonas First Courtrooms Distractions Robertson Hall The Resident Judge A New Home-The Sandison Block The Chourthouse that Never Was The Resident Judge-Again Red Deer Red Deer-The Early Years The Courts in Red Deer A Liberalas Courthouse Epilogue Conclusion Part Two: The First Provincial Couthouses-The Liberals Reign 1905 to 1921 The Provincial Courts Courthouse Policy, Part One: Rutherford Courthouse Policy, Part Two: The Sifton Years Patronage and Politicking Architecture and Design Cardston Cardson-The Early Years Cardston and the Courts The Courthouse Courthouse or Community Hall? Conclusion Wetaskiwin Wetaskiwin-The Early Years Courts and Courthouses Design and Construction Epilogue Edmonton A New Era and a Temple of Justice Fort Saskatchewan Construction An Anticlimax An Inadequate Design Epilogue Lethbridge Lethbridge in the New Era Finding the Perfect Spot A Less than Successful Design Epilogue The Taber Courthouse Calgary Calgary in a New Era A Long Wait Jeffersa Last Hurrah Not Without Incident The Long--Awaited Hall of Justice Epilogue Medicine Hat Medicine Hat in the New Era The First Attempt The Second Attempt The Third Attempt Construction Epilogue Conclusion Pat Three: A New Regime: The UFA Years The Courts Courthouse Policy Architecture and Design Blairmore Blairmore-The Early Days The Chourts in Blairmore The Courthouse Epilogue Grande Prairie Grande Prairie-The Early Days Grande Prairie and the Courts Campaigning for a Courthouse The 1929 Courthouse Epilogue Hanna Hanna-The Early Days The Courts in Hanna The Courthouse Epilogue Drumheller Red Deer The Promised Courthouse The Jeans Factor Stettleras Schoolhouse The Depression Courthouse Epilogue Vegreville Vegreville-The Early Days The Law Comes to Vegreville Design Opening Day Epilogue Conclusion Epilogue: The Alberta Courthouse Since World War II Notes Bibliography Index
