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BOWMAN ARTS CENTRE

811 - 5 Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1982/03/19

Lethbridge Manual Training School (circa 1914); City of Lethbridge Archives, date unknown
Front elevation
The Bowman Arts Centre Provincial Historic Resource (April 2004); Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, 2004
Front elevation
No Image

Other Name(s)

Bowman School
BOWMAN ARTS CENTRE
Lethbridge High School
Old Lethbridge Manual Training School

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1912/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2005/05/12

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

Located on 5th Avenue South in Lethbridge, Alberta, the Bowman Arts Centre is a two-storey, stone and wood frame building occupying nine city lots next to the original commercial core of the city.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Bowman Arts Centre lies in its representation of institutional architecture from the pre-World War One era, and the important role it has played in the history of education in the province.

The Bowman Arts Centre is built in a distinctive style that combines the classical detailing popular in Alberta with a style known as "Collegiate Gothic," popular for educational institutions in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This school, however, was built on a reduced scale (only two stories rather than three) perhaps because as a technical school it had a limited enrollment and fewer space requirements than the regular environment of public schools.

The building is also significant for its role in the province's educational history. It was built in 1912 as the Lethbridge Manual Training School, the first school in Alberta to be built for vocational training (teaching such subjects as woodwork, metalwork, and machine shop to boys, household science to girls). Funds and staff were drained by the contingencies of World War One, however, and the vocational school operated only until 1915. Subsequently it was used as a high school, an elementary school, and a community arts center.

Source: Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch (File: Des. 1083)

Character-Defining Elements

Character-defining elements of the Bowman Arts Centre include elements of the Collegiate Gothic style and classical detailing such as:

Exterior
- the rectangular form, scale and massing;
- slightly bell cast hipped roof with cedar shingle and ridge trim;
- the use of locally manufactured bricks and quarried sandstone;
- contrasting colours of red brick facade and sandstone detailing (including partial base of rock faced sandstone, continuous linking stone sills, and stone banding at corners);
- symmetrical fenestration pattern;
- a projecting entrance portico with parapet extension;
- sandstone Ionic columns supporting an entablature with modillioned cornice;
- the unobstructed view of all four building elevations;
- sandstone retaining wall details.

Interior
Original remaining elements and fittings of the interior of the Bowman Arts Centre such as:
- the main staircase and entrance foyer wall, floor and ceiling details;
- wood doors and frames;
- existing floorplan of rooms off central corridor;
- extant hardwood flooring, baseboard and trim.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Alberta

Recognition Authority

Province of Alberta

Recognition Statute

Historical Resources Act

Recognition Type

Provincial Historic Resource

Recognition Date

1982/03/19

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

1912/01/01 to 1915/01/01

Theme - Category and Type

Building Social and Community Life
Education and Social Well-Being

Function - Category and Type

Current

Commerce / Commercial Services
Studio

Historic

Education
Special or Training School

Architect / Designer

H.M. and W.A. Whiddington

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8 (File: Des. 256)

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

4665-0485

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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