Saskatoon was founded as a temperance colony in 1883 by John Lake and his Methodist followers from Toronto. The first area settled was on the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River and was incorporated as the town of Nutana in 1903. Three years later it amalgamated with the town of Saskatoon and the village of Riversdale to form the city of Saskatoon.
Today's Nutana neighbourhood is the oldest area of Saskatoon and one of the most highly desirable areas. It's anchored by the commercial strip of Broadway Avenue, which was Nutana's main street in its day as a town.
Trounce House (1883) - The oldest structure in Saskatoon and the last of the original houses from the temperance colony founded by John Lake. It was purchased by Henry and Bessie Trounce in 1883 from John J. Conn. In 1920 the house was moved to the back of the lot and converted into a garage while at the front, the Gustin Residence was built. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 10, 1989.
Marr Residence (1884) - Built by stonemason Alexander (Sandy) Marr, it is the oldest building in Saskatoon on its original site. It was one of several houses requisitioned as a field hospital to treat wounded soldiers during the North-West Rebellion. Designated a municipal heritage property on January 11, 1982.
Garrison House (1886/1918) - Built entirely of fieldstone by George Wesley Garrison. Between 1891 and 1894, Garrison leased rooms to the North West Mounted Police – presumably in this building – thus giving rise to its nickname "the jail" and to stories of cells in the basement. It was dismantled to its stone foundation in 1918 and rebuilt in concrete and brick.
Nutana Collegiate (1910) - Originally named the Saskatoon Collegiate Institute when it opened in 1910, Nutana collegiate was the first secondary school in the city. At first, Nutana Collegiate housed university and normal school (teacher training) as well. Regina architects Storey & Van Egmond designed the building in a French Renaissance style.
Empyreal Building (1910) - This building was the C.H. Wentz lumberyard from the 1920s to the 1950s. It then housed a variety of businesses until it underwent a sympathetic exterior renovation in the 1990s. Today it is the home of Off-Broadway Antiques and Weczeria Food & Wine.
Fire Hall #3 (1911) - A two-storey structure of yellow brick banded by a heavy bracketed wooden cornice, it served as a fire hall until 1956. From 1959, at the height of the Cold War, it was used by the Department of Civil Defence as a radiation proof communications centre. It is now a bar and restaurant featuring mementos from the now-demolished Capitol Theatre. Designated a municipal heritage property on February 25, 1991.
Eaton Block (1911) - Constructed in 1911 by a Toronto physician, Dr. Frederick Eaton. The Bank of Commerce used the building for over 20 years until the Great Depression. More recent tenants have included the Pumpkins and Monkeys toy store, and currently, Starbucks.
Arrand Block (1912) - Neo-Classical style apartment block built by cousins Richard and Walter Arrand, noted Saskatoon contractors. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 10, 1989. Richard Arrand is credited with inventing the first power cement mixer, but failed to patent his design.
Farnam Block (1912) - Built by real estate speculator Arlington Ingalls Farnam, this building is one of Broadway Avenue's key architectural features. It is unique in having its commercial boutique area below street level.
St. James Anglican Church (1912) - It was twice damaged by fire in 1976 and 1982. Many of the church's windows are made of fused glass, made by Saskatoon artist Lee Brady. The glass mainly came from shards recovered after the 1982 fire.
Gustin Residence (1920) - The home and studio of internationally renowned piano teacher Lyell Gustin. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 10, 1989.
Grace-Westminster United Church - Storey & Van Egmond designed this church for the congregation of Grace United, which originated from the original Methodist church of the temperance colony. The tower was added in 1949, and the present name adopted as the result of a 1968 merger with the congregation of Westminster United.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church (1928) - Designed to a Romanesque style by G. Verbeke. The taller of the towers was intended for bells which were never installed.
Koimisis Tis Theotokou - Greek Orthodox church
Main Street Electrical Substation (1929) - Built to satisfy increased demand for electricity, it was constructed of Redcliffe brick and Claybank dark brick in a mix of Modern Classical and Prairie styles. After being decommissioned in 1973, the building fell into disrepair until being rehabilitated and turned into an office building. Designated a municipal heritage property on December 4, 2000.
Broadway Theatre (1947) - This Art Deco style movie theatre was Broadway's entertainment destination during the post-World War II years. After falling into disrepute as an "adult" movie theatre in the 1970s, it was restored as an arthouse cinema and live performance venue during the 1980s. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 14, 1997.
This cairn was built in 1952 as a memorial to the pioneers who settled the area beginning in 1883.
Broadway Condos (1980s) - A building with a checkered past. Construction originally started in the 1980s but stopped when the original developers went bankrupt. Several others attempted to complete the half-finished building but also ran into financial difficulty. The tower was finally finished in the mid 1990s, some ten years after construction began.
A typical Nutana street with detached houses and large mature American elm trees.
One of many small Streamline Moderne houses built during the 1940s.
Another little Streamline house.
Streamline houses dot Nutana and most appear to be in good condition.
Another Streamline house in a crisp white and blue colour scheme.
House that looks like it's made out of adobe!
Unusual cube-shaped house designed by architect Bill Edwards.
This Spanish villa-like house on University Drive is quite an oddity, with its stone-patterned stucco, flat roof and clay tile overhangs.
I call this unusual house the "Pizza Hut" house. Its roof is reminiscent of the roof of the old Pizza Hut restaurants.
A typical autumn scene on a Nutana street, with the canopy of elm trees changing colour to a brilliant gold.
Rotary Park - A popular spot for sunbathing and games of frisbee. Much of the park is landfill; originally the riverbank ran approximately where the roadway is now.
Saskatoon's annual Fringe Festival draws a big crowd to Broadway Avenue to see street performers and alternative theatre at indoor venues.
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