Heritage in the Hat: The Citadel of the Hat
By Medicine Hat News on November 3, 2018.
A citadel, which comes from French and means “little city,” is normally the strongest point in defence fortifications. Think Citadel Hill in Halifax or La Citadelle de Quebec. Medicine Hat had its own citadel, although it served a different purpose. The Salvation Army Citadel was prominently located on the corner of South Railway Street and Montreal (Fourth) Street S.E. in Medicine Hat’s commercial downtown core. Brigadier Southall established the Medicine Hat Corps of the Salvation Army in 1899. Early meetings were held in tents at various locations throughout the city, and on the second floor of 619 Third St. S.E., before the first barracks were constructed in 1906. Those barracks, which included a 300-person capacity auditorium, were used for six years before the Salvation Army deemed it necessary to establish a larger space. In 1906, the Salvation Army purchased land at the southwest corner of Montreal Street and South Railway Street from Charles H. Evans, the future site of the Salvation Army Citadel. Designed by architect John Attwood and built by contractor Sackrider and Turner, the building’s cornerstone was laid by Mayor Nelson Spencer on Sept. 14, 1913. A scant two months later, on Nov. 19, 1913, the Salvation Army Citadel was dedicated and opened by Captain William Oake. Dignitaries present at the event included Mayor Spencer, as well as Commissioner David Rees, leader of the Salvation Army in Canada. At the time, settlers were flooding into Medicine Hat and some had need to call on the services of the Salvation Army. The Arts and Crafts style was popular in Medicine Hat beginning in the 1910s, and the building echoes and harmonizes with the strong Arts and Crafts style of St. Barnabas Anglican Church, situated on a lot directly to the west of the Salvation Army Citadel. Built using locally manufactured red pressed brick with red mortar, the Salvation Army Citadel’s smooth brick surface with multiple windows, corbelled window lintels on the main faades, modest corbelled tin cornice, and crenellated corner parapets evoke an overall elegant form. The building has experienced only minor exterior alterations during its life. Some time after the 1920s, some of the windows were filled in and after 1970, the doors were replaced. Of note as well is the evolution of the sign from the original “The Salvation Army Citadel” to its current designation as “The Citadel,” using however the original metal letters. A passerby in the early 1920s would still recognize the building today, and perhaps not notice the changes. The Salvation Army operated at this location until 1983, when the organization relocated to its new community church in the neighbourhood of Southridge. The Citadel was sold two years later to Mario’s Holding Ltd. and then to Bill Milroy, who renamed it, restored and remodelled it using the services of one of his tenants, Larry Stoller. One of the key renovations was to level the sloping floor that existed for church services. It won the 1986 Commercial Heritage Award from the Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery. It has housed a variety of commercial tenants since it became “The Citadel,” including Westgarth Gallery and Cottonwood Gallery. The Citadel currently houses Bladezx Studio, Stantec and December 5. The Salvation Army continues to have a strong presence within the community, providing services and ministry for Medicine Hat residents. Malcolm Sissons is the chair of the City’s Heritage Resources Committee. 9-8
