Red Deer in Red Deer County, Alberta — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)

Farthing Block

— Main Street Project 2002 —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2022

1. Farthing Block Marker

Inscription.
Hugh Farthing built this Prairie Vernacular style building in 1939. The main floor was used as his photography studio. The second floor had a six-roomed suite used as his residence. The signage was simply “Farthing’s.” Today the signage font and lower case “n” are consistent with the style of the original sign. After selling his photography business, Mr. Farthing continued to live upstairs and sold life insurance. Some of the building’s many occupants on the main floor included Innes Men’s Wear, Better Housekeeping, and Rob Rae Clothiers. The second floor was primarily used as a residence although Julius’ Tailor Shop occupied part of it for several years.

Erected 2002 by Alberta Historical Resources Foundation; and Alberta Main Street Programme.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 52° 16.15′ N, 113° 48.794′ W. Marker is in Red Deer, Alberta, in Red Deer County. Marker is on 50 Street, 0.1 kilometers west of 49 Avenue (Provincial Highway 2A), on the right when traveling west. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, near the left/west corner of the front façade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4930 50 Street, Red Deer AB T4N 1X7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Home Grill (within shouting distance of this marker); Maurice Shoe Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Horsley Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Rollis Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Red Deer Cenotaph (within shouting distance of this marker); Reverend Dr. Leonard Gaetz (within shouting distance of this marker); Greene Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Brumpton Store (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Red Deer.

Also see . . .
1. Farthing Block.

The Farthing Block, built at a cost of $5000, was a small part of the $300,000 worth of new construction in Red Deer in 1939 – a record at the time and a signal that the Depression had finally ended. The two-storey Farthing Block has a flat roof, a smooth stucco finish, a recessed storefront entrance and two sets of triple, three-over-one, double-hung windows on the second storey. It is significant for its simple modern commercial design and its association with World-War Two-era commercial development in downtown Red Deer.

(Submitted on September 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Farthing Block Statement of Significance.

The Farthing Block is significant for its simple modern commercial design. With a flat roof and very few embellishments, this building typifies the modernist idea of form following
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2022

2. Farthing Block Marker
(marker is mounted near the left/west corner of the front façade)
function. Characteristic of many commercial buildings of this period, the Farthing Block had a functional plan that included commercial space on the main floor and residential space on the second storey. The modern movement began in the United States in the 1920s and by 1939, when the Farthing Block was built, the movement had begun to gain prominence on the Canadian prairies.

(Submitted on September 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Farthing Block (<i>south/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2022

3. Farthing Block (south/front elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.