Letter to the Editor

Our Cranbrook ‘Group of Seven’ is beginning to paint a grim picture of the future of our Fire Hall No. 1.

In recent City of Cranbrook council meetings it would seem that some of our present council, and city staff, are firmly committed to sell this building. It appears the time is now for Cranbrook citizens to become involved in this momentous decision in determining the fate of our heritage building.

In 1929 the new council, under the leadership of Mayor Roberts, broached the subject of the need for a new fire hall. By early March Council had decided to draw up a bylaw to raise $31,000, by the sale of debentures, to build the fire hall and to submit the question to the ratepayers for their approval.

Complete details of the Bylaw No. 388 were printed in the March 14 Cranbrook Courier. Cranbrook citizens were given the opportunity to vote, by ballot, to accept this bylaw on March 25.

The vote carried with a resounding 90% in favour of borrowing the funds. Cranbrook could now have a fire hall worthy of the growing community. Council enjoyed the confidence of the ratepayers.

The design was by City Superintendent Philpot and the City Works Department, plans drawn up by Colborne, a Cranbrook businessman, and local builder Jones won the construction bid using locally processed lumber and Cranbrook bricks.

The Cranbrook Courier of November 11, 1929 proudly displayed a photo of the new fire hall labelling it “The Lasting Structure.” Since then the paper frequently reported on Cranbrook’s fire hall, the firemen, and their adjoining gardens. It became a place people were encouraged to visit.

Through the ensuing years councils had the foresight to purchase the properties belonging to MacPherson’s Funeral Home, the Baptist Church, the Knights of Pythias building, the Masonic Hall and a small home that was preventing the city owning a continuous frontage on 11th Avenue.  How fortunate our city fathers of the day had this foresight as it allowed our city hall to be expanded, a small park to be developed, parking for the firemen, the development of a community theatre, and lots on which to build our Police Station. In 1986 the fire hall gained the protection of Heritage Designation.

So now the time appears to have come for our present city council to decide what should happen to our building. I have not heard any mention of coming back to the public for our thoughts on this. The citizens of Cranbrook voted to borrow the money to build our civic building. Even if the present council does not legally have to reengage the public, and gain its input, surely our present council must morally feel that it’s the right thing to do?

So please council, don’t be too ready to break up the area of our city-owned properties or to dispose of one of our few taxpayer-owned heritage buildings.

Dave Humphrey,

Cranbrook

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