Edmonton soldiers gather bricks to save piece of city's history
A piece of the city's past was rescued Saturday by a group of citizen soldiers who want to help preserve Edmonton's history.
Several reserve members from the South Alberta Light Horse regiment stacked up and hauled away bricks from the Leamington Mansions, which was destroyed by fire earlier this year.
The plan is to store the bricks at Jefferson Armouries, then use them next year to help build monuments in Light Horse Park in Old Strathcona.
Stephen "Sticks" Gallard, chairman of Old Strathcona Remembers, said the ultimate plan is to move the existing cenotaph in the park, at 86th Avenue and 104th Street, and surround it with pillars that will hold placards outlining the area's history.
"What we're trying to do is build a more historical, interactive park that links together all the history of that area, including the park, the Connaught Armouries, the railhead and Trinity Anglican Church."
The Leamington Mansions, on Jasper Avenue and 114th Street, was built in 1914, one of the original luxury-style apartment houses in the city's downtown. It burned down in a massive fire in October.
Gallard said the company that owns the property donated the bricks to be used in the monument project across the river.
"That way the history of this building that is now gone will still live on in the community," he said.
The plan is for work in the park to begin next spring and finish by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
