Luther Academy
920 9th Avenue W, Melville, Saskatchewan, S0A, Canada
Formally Recognized:
1981/06/29
Other Name(s)
Luther Academy
St. Paul's Lutheran Home
Luther Academy
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
1913/01/01 to 1913/12/31
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2004/08/11
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
Luther Academy is a Municipal Heritage Property which occupies 5.64 hectares of land on the outskirts of the City of Melville. The property features a three-storey brick building constructed in 1913.
Heritage Value
The heritage value of Luther Academy lies in its connection to the development of religious education in Saskatchewan. Constructed in 1913, Luther Academy was the second Lutheran College to be built in Western Canada and the first to be built in Saskatchewan. The building was designed to serve as an educational facility to prepare young men for the ministry and to teach Christian leadership by the Lutheran Church. Initially all classes were taught in German, reflecting the roots of many of the settlers in the region. By 1926, however, because of the growing demand for educational services, the school had outgrown the building and a new facility was constructed in Regina. In 1927, the structure became one of Saskatchewan's first facilities for seniors and was renamed the St. Paul's Lutheran Old Folks' and Children's Home. The building continued to act as a seniors' complex until 1973. In 1983, the building became the Melville Heritage Museum.
The heritage value of Luther Academy also resides in its architecture. Constructed in 1913, Luther Academy is characteristic of the two-to three-storey educational buildings constructed in Saskatchewan at this time. Situated on a large lot, the building, with its tan coloured brick exterior and mansard roof with projecting eaves, is an imposing structure.
Source:
City of Melville Bylaw No. 17/81.
Character-Defining Elements
The heritage value of Luther Academy resides in the following character-defining elements:
-those elements reflecting the building's function as an religious educational institute, including the signage, religious ornaments, dormitories, blackboards and shelving;
-those elements reflecting the building's architecture, including the interior pressed metal ceiling, original windows, wooden staircases, mansard roof with projecting eaves, and tan coloured exterior brick with design work; and
-the building's location on a large lot on the outskirts of Melville.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
Saskatchewan
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (SK)
Recognition Statute
Heritage Property Act, s. 11(1)(a)
Recognition Type
Municipal Heritage Property
Recognition Date
1981/06/29
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
- Building Social and Community Life
- Education and Social Well-Being
Function - Category and Type
Current
- Leisure
- Museum
Historic
- Religion, Ritual and Funeral
- Religious Facility or Place of Worship
- Health and Research
- Hospital or Other Health Care Institution
Architect / Designer
Hon. Edgar Prain
Builder
E.D. Jones
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation
Heritage Resources Branch
1919 Saskatchewan Drive Regina, SK
File: MHP 270
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
MHP 270
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a