Wetaskiwin in County Of Wetaskiwin, Alberta — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)
Royal Meat Market
| — | Historic Downtown Wetaskiwin | — |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2022
1. Royal Meat Market Marker
In 1911, the Royal Meat Market was established in this new, two-story brick building, constructed after a fire destroyed the previous building. The original proprietors were Thomas Ward and C.L. Thomas. Clad in long, white aprons, they cut cheese from huge rounds and served their customers home-made sausage. Each day, they laid fresh sawdust on the floors to help maintain cleanliness. On Tuesdays, they slaughtered up to twelve hogs and nine cows for the market, and on Fridays, they brought in fresh fish. Blocks of ice provided refrigeration.
The Royal Meat Market occupied this location for almost sixty years, and during that time it had many different owners. In 1914, Thomas and Trca owned it and in 1916, Bert Parker took over. He kept it through the 1920's and installed an electric refrigerator, a new invention at that time. From 1932 until 1945, the Meat Market was owned by Hansen and Runte, and then by Runte and Schnitzler until Fred Runte became the sole owner. Percy Ball took over in 1945, John Kuresch in 1949, and Lorne Loftus in 1952.
In 1969, Al Mayer briefly moved his meat supply shop here, and the following year,
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Upstairs, above the Meat Market, was the Talbot Photo Studio. F.L. Talbot had been interested in photography since he was a child. He later became an apprentice to Wetaskiwin photographer, John Brown. He spent a year in Tacoma, Washington in 1900 studying the art of photography and returned to Wetaskiwin the following year. He bought Mr. Brown's studio and spent a great deal of money creating one of the best-equipped studios in Canada. In 1904, Mr. Talbot compiled a booklet of invaluable photos of early Wetaskiwin to be sold as a souvenir.
Mr. Talbot remained in this studio for seven years and in 1918, he sold his business to Mr. C.M. Burke and moved to Seattle. The following year, Carl Walin bought the studio and renamed it Artistone Studios. Mr. Walin's work was recognized by the Photographers Association of America in 1952 when he received an award of merit for his portrait of Mr. Harry Sommers of Alder Flats, entitled “The Patriarch”. In 1957, he sold the studio to Bert and Rita Jasperse who renamed it Jasperse Studios and
2. Marker detail: Royal Meat Market
Erected by Downtown in Motion • City of Wetaskiwin • Alberta Historical Resources Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 52° 58.18′ N, 113° 22.538′ W. Marker is in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, in County Of Wetaskiwin. It is on 50 Avenue just east of 51 Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is mounted directly on the subject building, at the west edge of the facade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5013 50 Avenue, Wetaskiwin AB T9A 1L2, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Alberta. It is also in the Prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2022
3. Royal Meat Market Marker
The marker is at the right/east edge of the facade.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Compton Block (a few steps from this marker); Montgomery's (within shouting distance of this marker); Wetaskiwin Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Imperial Bank of Canada (1909) (within shouting distance of this marker); Men's Outfitter Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Canadian Bank of Commerce (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Railway Station (about 180 meters away); George Owen’s Second-Hand Store (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wetaskiwin.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2022
4. Royal Meat Market
Today this building is home to Jasper’s Studio.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
