Humboldt's Historic Sites

Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery

Corner of Main Street and Sixth Avenue

Post Office
In August 1911, the Federal Government awarded the contract to build this structure to the Brown Construction Company. The building was designed by David Ewart, chief architect for the Department of Public Works.

The structure featured a Richardson Romanesque style of architecture which was the predominant style for federal buildings constructed between 1910 and 1914. The design was based on mass, volume and scale for its overall effect rather than enriched or decorative detail. The exterior red brick is accented with tyndall stone. The final estimate for construction was $42,275. Between 1952 and 1954, a one-storey addition was constructed on the north side of the building.

The postal services were delivered from this building until 1975 when the operation was moved to its present location. The building was purchased by the Town of Humboldt in 1977 and designated a national historic site through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery opened in this location in 1982. The building was declared a municipal heritage site in 1984.

Customs Office
The Humboldt sub-customs port was established in 1907, with J. Richardson in charge as collector. The customs office opened in this building in 1912. Humboldt was a sub-port of Prince Albert. The Humboldt sub-port closed on August 1, 1932, and the business of this office was transferred to Prince Albert.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Detachment
The first recorded barracks of the Humboldt R.C.M.P. detachment were located on the second floor of this building. The officers moved into these quarters on July 1, 1933.

The barracks consisted of offices on one side of the hallway and bedrooms on the other side. This arrangement proved to be difficult, as members who had worked the night shift would be interrupted by office noise while trying to sleep during the day.

The Humboldt detachment moved out of this building in 1964 to its present location on the corner of Tenth Street and Eleventh Avenue.

Timeline
1912 - 1975   Postal Services
1912 - 1932   Customs Office
1933 - 1964   R.C.M.P. Detachment
1982 -           Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery