University of Calgary then and now
Flashback some thirty five, maybe even forty years. We’re at the University of Calgary witness to a couple of “interesting” fellows hamming it up for the camera somewhere on the sprawling campus. Jumping in the time machine, it’s 2016 and C&C are on the scene, hoping to duplicate that photo in both angle and composition as closely as possible, and also in a whimsical type way much as the original. Those 70s Stoners meet the Dollar Store Ninjas.
The original photo comes from the James Tworow collection (thanks a million for allowing us use of it). If you have an old image, at least a few decades or more old,. one that shows a scene like this, that you think would make a good starting point for one of our trademark then and now posts please message us. We’d love to hear from you. We then revisit the location, try and shoot an image like it and talk about what’s seen here on this website.
The date of the then image is not known, but given the style of dress, the late 1970s/early 1980s period might be a good guess. Who are the people? No one knows. They’re story? A mystery. If you recognize them, by all means chime in. They sure look like every Stoner/Hoser type fellow I went to high-school with. Who shot the photo? Another unknown. I guess it was found in a mixed box of photos purchased at some estate sale.
The U of C Campus is almost a city in itself. It’s massive, a metropolis, and a map is needed just to get around. Founded in the 1960s and expanded many times over the years, the faculty is well recognized and respected. At any one time, some thirty thousand students are enrolled here. The location is Northwest Calgary, when built in the suburbs near the edge of town, but today deep inside it.
The tower seen in back of both photos if the Social Sciences Building. It dates form the University’s early days, so the 1960s and is one of the older buildings on campus. That era, (author’s opinion) sure had uninspired architecture. It’s a plain box.
Seen in our now photo, foreground, but seemingly not in the old one is the Science A Building. In fact one of the original structures on Campus, we’re terribly confused why it does not seem to appear in the then photo. What the? It was around when that image was captured.
Are we in the wrong spot? We immediately thought that and walked around the entire campus, but this is the only angle that worked.
Was or is there another similar building like the Social Sciences? We looked hard and found none, although there were a few that are close in design but differing enough that we could eliminate them. We also looked into the possibility there another in the past that looked like it that perhaps was torn down at some point. Came up empty there. We even asked the University itself and they identified our building as the same Social Sciences tower seen in the old photo. All if this points to us being in the right spot – it all lines ups. But, that Science A Building? Scratching our heads!
An optical illusion maybe? Your guess is as good as ours. This one bothers us a great deal. It’s right, yet it’s wrong. Strange indeed.
The University is celebrating it’s fiftieth anniversary in 2016. Interestingly our Dollar Store Ninja matched the colours of the anniversary flags seen posted about the campus, almost perfectly. What a strange coincidence!
Love these then and now posts?
Calgary then and now – Civil Defence.
Calgary then and now – Miles for Millions.
Blairmore then and now – Sleepee Teepee Motel.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: August, 2016.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Article references and thanks: University of Calgary.
On Bermuda Sorts Day (official end of classes for the year) 1985, my graduation year, 2 guys climbed up the Science Tower with mountaineering gear. It was fun to watch and the police were waiting for them at the top.
You crazy University kids!
That definitely is Science A in both photos. The older one was taken from further west and slightly higher, likely where MacEwan Hall is now. If you look at Social Sciences you can only see the top 7 floors in the newer one but 9 in the older.
You can see the peak of the greenhouse roof in it, which is still there although has a small square structure blocking it from that angle now I believe. There have also been several renovations to the building’s exterior over the decades which explains why the side of the building looks different.
Source: I’ve worked at the university for the past 13 years
Ahhh, that explains it! Thanks a million. I was hoping one day someone would chime in on it. What a silly little post this one…
Is it the Arts Building taken from the Crowchild side?
In the photo we’re looking east-ish and Crowchild would be behind the building.
(via Facebook)
Just talked with the guy who took the photo, it was probably taken in 1975.
Wow, you know who shot them? Cool! I’ll message you.