He doesn't live in Moose Jaw anymore but his passion for its history remains.  Bruce Fairman has spent many, many hours researching local history - from conversations with locals to going through the archives at the Moose Jaw Public Library, Fairman has put no fewer than five history books together in recent years.

He was in to visit with CHAB's Rob Carnie recently.  Have a listen to the interview and, as a follow up to the conversation about River Street, read what Bruce sent to us in the days that followed.  (Below Bruce's photo)

From Bruce Fairman:

Many people are upset or surprised when they first see the modern version of River Street. The question most often asked is what could have happened to turn this street, with its infamous reputation into what is essentially a block of parking lots. It has become common to blame the recent city councils and / or the developer of a recent scheme to rebuilt the block. But as can be seen below, the demise of River Street actually began almost fifty years ago.

The first major buildings to come down on the street happened just before WW2; in 1939, when the original Brunswick and the Ottawa Hotel were torn down. Both buildings had been there since the early 1880s. It seems nothing else major was torn down for about 35 years.

Most people agree the most recent physical demise of the multi-storey brick buildings of River Street West started with the Cecil Hotel fire in 1975. That was the first major building on the street to disappear. The next to be torn down was the Alexandra Block, just a couple of lots west of the Cecil. It came down very shortly after the Cecil Fire – 1975 – and the destruction of that building. At some point around 1979 the Royal Block came down. That was the last building still standing between the burned Cecil Hotel and existing Nevada Nickels Hotel. That cleared the north side of River Street of all its major buildings except the Brunswick Hotel and Nevada Nickels.

 The next to go was the building referred to as the Academy Block, located on the south side of the street close to Main Street, lastly known as the home of Thatchers Moose Jaw Hardware. It came down in 1980. Next door to that building was the Lyric Theatre building, known in its last years as the home of Star Billiards. It came down about 1980 as well. In 1987 The Empress Hotel was gutted by fire and torn down shortly after. By then all that remained on River Street West were three main buildings: Nevada Nickels, the old City Hotel; The Royal, which grew from the combined McMillan building and the Dr Turnbull building; and lastly the Brunswick Hotel. And so it sat for the next 17 years. In 2004 a major New Years day fire destroyed the Moose Jaw Drug and Stationary building located on the SW corner of Main and River Streets.

These last three buidings all came down in 2009 in substantial River Street re-development program by the Little Chicago Development Company which unfortunately was never completed When a developer appeared about 2007 - 2008 who wanted to rebuild what was left of River Street the city council of the time were more than happy to approve the elaborate scheme. He was prepared financially to buy the entire street, tear down whatever was there and erect a series of building, including a brand new hotel where the Brunswick currently sat. If there was a downside it required that two historic building on the street – The Brunswick Hotel and City Hotel – would be lost in the project. But at the time it seemed a fair price to pay for redeveloping the entire block and bringing life back to the lower end of Main Street.

Financial offers were made to the owners of the buildings who were very happy to accept the sums discussed. Unfortunately the project was never completed due to being caught in the slowing economy and tougher money markets of the time, but did succeed in clearing the street of its last multi-story brick buildings.

 Numerical Order:

1939 the old Brunswick Hotel

1939 Ottawa Hotel

1978 Empress Hotel

1980 The Academy Block - the home of Thatcher’s Moose Jaw Hardware.

1980 The Lyric Theatre building - lastly the home of Star Billiards

198? The Royal Block - immediately west of the Cecil Hotel

1987 Empress Hotel Fire

2004 New Years day fire destroyed Treats R Us building.

2009 The Brunswick

2009 Nevada Nickels

2009 The Royal Hotel