Humboldt's Historic Sites

Rath's Plumbing and Heating

606 Main Street

Early Postal Services
Robert Kepkey became Humboldt's third postmaster in July 1907. The increase in postal services resulted in the need for larger premises. In February 1909, Kepkey purchased this lot from John Schaeffer, a local butcher. In 1910 he constructed a two-storey, 24 x 40 foot building finished in brick veneer. Humboldt's postal services were delivered from this building, beginning in October 1910.

In 1911, the federal government began construction of a new three-storey brick building to house the post office and customs office right next door to Kepkey's building. By 1912, the postal services had moved out of this building into the new structure (now the Museum). Kepkey became the first postmaster in the new federal building.

Billards Parlour
In the 1920s, P. Kingsley transformed the building into a billiards hall called Olympia Billiard Parlours. Kingsley sold the business to A. Jewsberry in 1935. Other owners of the billiard hall included M. Kalyn from 1945 to 1947 and the Wynn family from 1947 to 1949. During this time, renovations were completed to make it one of the finest billiard rooms in the province.

The Poker Den
In February 1949, Nick Morose purchased the billiard hall from the Wynn family. Morose operated the only poker club in Saskatchewan. The poker den was located on the second floor of the building. Membership fees were kept low to encourage membership. Players came from as far as Prince Albert, either by train or by car. During the afternoon and early evening, members would play smear or rummy at a dollar a game, until there were enough players for a game of poker.

The men sometimes played cards late into the night without distractions. There was no telephone at the poker den so wives could not call to tell their husbands to come home. Initially, women and minors could not enter the poker den, and there was no liquor served on the premises.

Nick's son, Bill joined his father in the business in 1958. The Morose family remodeled and modernized Club Billiards in 1959. They leveled the floor, put in new acoustic tiles and added a snooker table to handle the increasing business. Bill and his wife Iyla Mae fixed up the hall in the early 1960s. The local newspaper reported that the Morose family could "be justifiably proud as the hall is a far cry from that associated with the old 'pool room'. Well lit, attractively decorated and scrupulously clean, many women are finding they can spend an enjoyable hour with their escorts."

Hagerty Agencies and Graphic Ad
After the death of Nick in 1967, Bill Morose renovated the building again for his business - Humboldt Insurance Associates. In 1970 Hagerty Agencies was formed between Bill Morose and Walter Hagerty. The business shared the building with Graphic Ad. Renovations were completed on the second floor to provide the work space and darkroom needed by Graphic Ad.

Rath's Plumbing and Heating
In 1994, the building became home to Rath's Plumbing and Heating.

Business Timeline
1910 - 1912           Humboldt Post Office
1920s - 1940s        Olympia Billiard Parlours
1949 - late 1960s   Club Billiards and Poker Den
1970s                    Hagerty Agencies
1970s                    Graphic Ad
1994 -                   Rath Plumbing & Heating