These then and now posts are becoming a BIGDoer.com trademark. In this one, we look at the old Dominion Bridge complex in the Calgary neighbourhood of Ramsay. The first photo is from 1950s, or perhaps the early 1960s at the latest. There are many buildings in the factory but in these photos we see only one. It has a very visible Dominion Bridge sign in on its sides. A travelling crane can be seen in the factory yard, next to a gated entrance. Two cars are parked in front. Some men, perhaps Dominion Bridge workers, are gathered around one.
Let’s revisit the site to see what’s changed. Some elements have, the crane is gone and the entrance gate has been moved for example. Other things remain as they were. The building itself is one, it looks much as it did, although the main door had been made bigger at some point. And the sign, while faded, is still there. The people seen and the cars…well, I guess we can say with reasonable certainly that they’re all no longer with us.
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This factory complex dates from 1927 and was expanded on may times over the years. The building seen here was one of the later additions, we know that much, although the exact date it was constructed is not known. The plant was originally built by the Riverside Iron Works, a long established Calgary firm, which moved here from an earlier factory elsewhere in town. The huge Dominion Bridge company, who had many plants across Canada, took over the operation in 1928.
Products built here over the years include machinery and fabrications related to the oil and gas and mining industries. Large steel assembly jobs were also taken on. Given the name of the plant, one would assume bridges were built here, but that’s not been confirmed. My understanding is those were built one of the other DB factories, and Calgary concentrated on other things.
The plant was closed in the 1980s and converted to an industrial park not long after. The building we see here currently houses a company called F&D Scene Changes. They make movie and theatre sets, display art pieces, parade floats and a whole array of interesting things. In the 1990s, as a truck driver, I used to haul wood into this company. I recall some of the sets being made at the time and just how convincing they were.
Other buildings in the factory today are being converted to trendy office space where as the ones in back, like the one seen here, are still industrial in nature.
The cars seen in front, both from Chevrolet, include a late 1940s/early 1950s model on the left and a 1957 example on the right. The latter is particularly popular with car collectors and would be quite desirable to own today.
I spoke with the owner of this picture and he was unsure if the people seen were perhaps friends of his father (who shot the image); or if he was simply photographing the factory building and they just happened to be in the picture.
Ramsay is one of Calgary’s more mature communities and is located just east of and across the Elbow River from downtown. It’s mostly residential in nature, with some industrial, and is home to many old and historic buildings, the Dominion Bridge complex being one.
This was our not our first attempt to do this series. In fact this one buffaloed us and it took three tries to get it to where we were satisfied. This is does not happen often and usually we get it right (or as right as it possible) the first pass.
The original image is courtesy James Tworow and comes from his family’s photo collection. Thank you James for allowing to use it. We had a ton of fun shooting the now version. This is not the first time we’ve used photos from him, by the way.
This Dominion Bridge bridge would have been produced between 1967 and 1988 – this is the period that Appleby-Frodingham Steel works plant made steel under “British Steel” umbrella. This was the steel used in construction of the bridge. My guess is the bridge was from the earlier part of this period.
I would have suspected that bridge was even older than that, but I guess the steel doesn’t lie. With nothing more than instinct to go on, I’d agree it’s from the earlier period.
My great grandmother Matilda Colvin was the original owner of part of this property which she obtained as a homestead. Specifically the 40 acres bisected by Spiller Rd. from the NE corner to the SW corner. I am attaching the relevant documents.
I have some photos from the early 1940s of my grandmother as part of a female work crew painting the fences in the Dominion Bridge Calgary yard, if you are interested. the caption on the back of one says “Dominion Bridge job during WWII doing guys’ job”
My Dad worked there, Jos Smulders. He transferred from Edmonton in 1963 and retired from DB in 1983. He was a draughtsman and DB had an open house annually. I remember as a youngster going and touring the shops and him saying yes this is my girl. I loved the tours. They did bridges, steel buildings and Dad worked on a giant hovercraft in Yellowknife… he hated flying. The hovercraft was to transport equipment across the tundra as it was very boggy ground.
My father, George Wastle worked here for years. He was one of the Crane operators, Yes; he worked on bridges, Husky (Calgary) Tower, stampede bleachers, and many other projects for Dominion Bridge. I can remember Mom driving down to pick him up some days with us kids in the back seat. I remember the building and the gate.
Thank you for adding to the story! Bleachers? Interesting! Dominion Bridge fabricated so many things of metal, but that’s a new one to me. What amazing memories. Drop by often and comment and share when you can – it all helps.
Ahhhhh my father worked there when he came to Canada in the 60’s and worked there until it closed its doors in the 80’s. I remember waiting for him to come out that big gate when I was just a little girl…
This will likely change soon though, as there is supposed to be a major condo development to be built on this site, not sure what the status on the project is right now…
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
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They imported the steel I-beams from england….
Long trip to Edmonton!
They made bridges in calgary – attached is photo of a bridge in south edmonton.
Thanks for sharing!
They made bridges in calgary – attached is photo of a bridge in south edmonton
Thank you – we searched and searched yet did not find any concrete evidence that bridges were actually constructed at the plant. Now we know!
This Dominion Bridge bridge would have been produced between 1967 and 1988 – this is the period that Appleby-Frodingham Steel works plant made steel under “British Steel” umbrella. This was the steel used in construction of the bridge. My guess is the bridge was from the earlier part of this period.
I would have suspected that bridge was even older than that, but I guess the steel doesn’t lie. With nothing more than instinct to go on, I’d agree it’s from the earlier period.
My great grandmother Matilda Colvin was the original owner of part of this property which she obtained as a homestead. Specifically the 40 acres bisected by Spiller Rd. from the NE corner to the SW corner. I am attaching the relevant documents.
Wow, that would have been early in Calgary’s history. Thanks for commenting!
My Dad was Construction Superintendent at the Calgary yard. Started in the early 40’s and retired 40 years later. Tony Babiak
What a cool connection!
I have some photos from the early 1940s of my grandmother as part of a female work crew painting the fences in the Dominion Bridge Calgary yard, if you are interested. the caption on the back of one says “Dominion Bridge job during WWII doing guys’ job”
Wow, they sound cool. Yes, if there’s some way we could see them, we’d be thrilled. Just send us a private message.
My Dad worked there, Jos Smulders. He transferred from Edmonton in 1963 and retired from DB in 1983. He was a draughtsman and DB had an open house annually. I remember as a youngster going and touring the shops and him saying yes this is my girl. I loved the tours. They did bridges, steel buildings and Dad worked on a giant hovercraft in Yellowknife… he hated flying. The hovercraft was to transport equipment across the tundra as it was very boggy ground.
Wow, such interesting memories! Thanks for sharing. I can understand the hate flying thing. No fan of it here.
My father, George Wastle worked here for years. He was one of the Crane operators, Yes; he worked on bridges, Husky (Calgary) Tower, stampede bleachers, and many other projects for Dominion Bridge. I can remember Mom driving down to pick him up some days with us kids in the back seat. I remember the building and the gate.
Thank you for adding to the story! Bleachers? Interesting! Dominion Bridge fabricated so many things of metal, but that’s a new one to me. What amazing memories. Drop by often and comment and share when you can – it all helps.
I think I remember George
And Before Dominion Bridge It was the Site of RIVERSIDE IRON WORKS Owned by Fred Irving.
Yes, Riverside. We did a post about the place some time ago. Here…
https://www.bigdoer.com/12868/exploring-history/riverside-iron-works/
My cousin Dorothy Kennedy worked there for years and my aunt and uncle lived one block away on 23rd avenue.
Way back when. Love that old neighbourhood!
It hasn’t changed much. Looks the same 60 years later.
I know, time’s moved slow there. Thanks for commenting!
My dad was a welder here for years…I remember my mum and I use to sit outside and wait for my dad to finish work…great memories.
Now that’s a cool memory. Best of the day!
My brother in law worked at F & D building and sculpting sets.
When ever I was there, it seemed to be a hoping place!
Been to F&D for a tour during the Doors Open YYC event a couple Septembers ago. It’s quite the facility!
Used to deliver in there from time to time way back when. I sure is an interesting place!
I just happened to be in that same area a couple weeks ago and took some photos of the dominion building.
It’s a cool one, a real throw back to another era. Thanks for commenting!
Ahhhhh my father worked there when he came to Canada in the 60’s and worked there until it closed its doors in the 80’s. I remember waiting for him to come out that big gate when I was just a little girl…
That gate we photographed? That’d be cool!
My dad worked at Dominion Bridge back in the late ’70s and early ’80s – thanks for sharing!
We’ve heard from lots of people who had a relative work there. So cool!
You lined it up almost perfectly!
That’s what we do! Sometimes, like here, we ace it, other times not so much. We always have fun doing them though.
This will likely change soon though, as there is supposed to be a major condo development to be built on this site, not sure what the status on the project is right now…
I wonder if that means the old erecting halls will be torn down or perhaps will be incorporated into the new development?