Distributed weekly to Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass and surrounding communities
January 14, 2015
Shootin’ the Breeze
Page 5
Photos by Brad Quarin
At left, the former Bank of Commerce, known as the Turcott building, makes its way to Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village last month. Above, CIBC presents $3,000 toward the cost of the move. From left are Pincher Creek CIBC branch manager Carol Wescott, historical society president Colleen Casey-Cyr, CIBC district vice-president for Alberta South Ray Lang and CIBC financial advisor Chuck Nelson. Below, the Turcott building travels down Main Street in 1989. Photo snap taken from video provided by Joan Turcott.
Historical building has new home at museum By Brad Quarin The Turcott building, once the Bank of Commerce, finally hit the road in December to go to its new home at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village. Two people glad to see the move happen are Garth and Joan Turcott. Garth, a lawyer and former MLA for Pincher Creek–Crowsnest, owned the building 25 years ago. “It’s a very early relic of the town of Pincher Creek,” he says. The building was constructed in 1906 and was transported to Pincher Creek by train. He feels too many old buildings are demolished, contrasting this to Europe, where many buildings can be found older than 100 years. The building is worth saving, and the museum is the right place for it to end up, he says. Joan was thrilled to see the move, and the fact that Garth worked there makes it more special for her. She’s happy the museum raised the necessary funds to make it happen, and the Turcotts made their own contribution. This was their second time to see the building moved, the first move being from Main Street to Hewetson Avenue some 25 years ago. The building looked the same both times, with the structure and decorations on the side that make it unique, Garth says. Wade’s House Moving carried out the move, and he says this is the same company that last moved it.
It was a pleasant building to work in. Aside from problems with the heating, it was comfortable and spacious, with good lighting. Their office was upstairs and Pincher Creek’s winds would rock the chairs up there. Changes to the building during Garth’s ownership consisted of adding new wallboards and straightening the walls. The recent move was filmed by the Canadian TV show Cabin Truckers, which will be aired on March 6, says Kootenai Brown curator Farley Wuth. The move came just as Pincher Creek’s historical society received a $3,000 donation from CIBC. Ray Lang, the bank’s district vice-president for southern Alberta, says the contribution was made to help preserve Pincher Creek history. He notes that CIBC has been part of the community for 100 years. With this donation and others from the town, the municipal district and numerous individuals, the project is fully paid for, says Colleen Casey-Cyr, president of the historical society. The basement is ready and the building already has a functional electrical system. Steps and wheelchair ramps will be built over the winter, and the building should be open to the public in the spring or summer. It is the first big business building to be added to the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village collection.