Description of Historic Place

The Works Garage, a T-shaped building with storage space for five vehicles, is designed in the cottage tradition and overlooks Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park. It is constructed of peeled logs and set on a concrete foundation faced with stone. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Superintendent’s Residence and Works Garage is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Superintendent’s Residence and Works Garage illustrates two themes in the development of Riding Mountain National Park. Its construction marks the stage at which, administratively, the park began to function as a federal facility. Secondly, the building is associated with the massive Depression relief funding that was directed to Riding Mountain National Park and resulted in the building boom of 1931-1937.

Architectural Value
The Superintendent’s Residence and Works Garage is a good example of a function-oriented building with rustic character designed in the cottage tradition of the early 20th century. It is distinguished by its low eave lines, use of local materials, and the amalgamation of various shapes, textures and material in a lively composition of no formal stylistic derivation.

Environmental Value
The Superintendent’s Residence and Works Garage reinforces the picturesque character of its lakeside setting in Riding Mountain National Park. Located on the road leading from the commercial district to the marina, the residence is a familiar building in the park.

Sources:
Edward Mills, Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report, 84-031/85-054; Superintendent’s Residence and Works Garage, Wasagaming, Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Heritage Character Statement, 84-031.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Superintendent’s Residence and Works Garage should be respected.

Its function-oriented design in the cottage tradition with rustic character, quality craftsmanship and materials, for example:
-the modest massing of the T-shaped building;
-the use of local materials and the amalgamation of various shapes, textures and materials;
-the log construction;
-the concrete foundation faced with stone above the grade line.

The manner in which the Superintendent’s Residence and Works Garage reinforces the picturesque character of its lakeside setting and is a familiar building in Riding Mountain National Park as evidenced by:
-its design in the cottage tradition which harmonizes with the adjacent Superintendent’s Residence and is compatible with its picturesque location overlooking Clear Lake;
-its visible location on a frequented road leading from the commercial area to the marina.