Medicine Hat in Cypress County, Alberta — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)

Hargrave Sissons Block and Grocery Warehouse Addition

Constructed 1901 and 1910

— Municipal Historic Resource —

Hargrave Sissons Block and Grocery Warehouse Addition Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 26, 2022

1. Hargrave Sissons Block and Grocery Warehouse Addition Marker

Inscription.
The Hargrave Sissons Block is a two-storey brick structure designed in the Edwardian Commercial style. The Grocery Warehouse, a single-storey brick structure also in the same style, was added in 1910. The combined structure stands at a major downtown intersection where Main Street, now Second Street SE, formerly crossed the railway tracks.

The building was constructed for James Hargrave and Daniel Sissons, who were prominent pioneer ranchers, businessmen and brothers-in-law. Among the earliest merchants in Medicine Hat, they initially operated from a tent starting in 1883, coinciding with the arrival of the railway. In 1884 they constructed a wooden building on this site and in 1901 erected the present brick structure. The builders were Charles Purmal and Billy Tom.

The Hargrave Sissons Block and Grocery Warehouse Addition is illustrative of economic development in downtown Medicine Hat, especially since the addition of the warehouse was not typical of a Main Street frontage. Conversion of the warehouse to retail use in 1931 reflects a correction in the economic use of Main Street frontage.

Designated November 16, 2010,

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by the City of Medicine Hat as a Municipal Historic Resource.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 50° 2.47′ N, 110° 40.462′ W. Marker is in Medicine Hat, Alberta, in Cypress County. It is on 2 Street Southeast just west of South Railway Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the north facade of the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 675 2 Street Southeast, Medicine Hat AB T1A 0C8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Canadian Badlands.

It is also in the Prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony

and also Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Merchants Bank of Canada (within shouting distance of this marker); Monarch Theatre (about

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 26, 2022

2. Hargrave Sissons Block and Grocery Warehouse Addition Marker

120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Medicine Hat Sherman Tank (about 150 meters away); Dutch Canadian Society of Medicine Hat and District (about 150 meters away); Canadian Pacific Railway (about 180 meters away); Medicine Hat Flood Memorial (about 180 meters away); Historical Reflections (about 180 meters away); Medicine Hat Veterans Memorial (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Medicine Hat.

Regarding Hargrave Sissons Block and Grocery Warehouse Addition. Alberta Register of Historic Places (2010/11/16).

Also see . . . Hargrave Sissons Block.

Hargrave Sissons Block
The character-defining elements include:
• load bearing brick structure with flat roof
• sandstone detailing at windows, corner quoins and pilasters
• upper level double hung wood windows
• entablature of corbelled brick
• signband at top of former storefront
Hargrave Sissons Block Addition
The character defining elements include:
• load bearing brick structure
• sandstone detailing at plinth
• cornice detail
The addition of this warehouse in 1910 suggests increased business for the general store in the Hargrave-Sissons Block. Ordinarily, Main Street frontage should have been too valuable for warehouse purposes.

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

Hargrave Sissons Block (<i>north elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 26, 2022

3. Hargrave Sissons Block (north elevation)

(1910 grocery addition at far right)

Hargrave Sissons Block (<i>northeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 26, 2022

4. Hargrave Sissons Block (northeast 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 266 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.