The Citadel of the Hat
call on the services of the Salvation Army.
The Arts and Crafts style was popular in Medicine Hat beginning in the 1910s, and the building echoes and harmonizes with the strong Arts and Crafts style of St. Barnabas Anglican Church, situated on a lot directly to the west of the Salvation Army Citadel. Built using locally manufactured red pressed brick with red mortar, the Salvation Army Citadel’s smooth brick surface with multiple windows, corbelled window lintels on the main façades, modest corbelled tin cornice, and crenellated corner parapets evoke an overall elegant form.
The building has experienced only minor exterior alterations during its life. Some time after the 1920s, some of the windows were filled in and after 1970, the doors were replaced. Of note as well is the evolution of the sign from the original “The Salvation Army Citadel” to its current designation as “The Citadel,” using however the original metal letters. A passerby in the early 1920s would still recognize the building today, and perhaps not notice the changes.
The Salvation Army operated at this location until 1983, when the organization relocated to its new community church in the neighbourhood of Southridge. The Citadel was sold two years later to Mario’s Holding Ltd. and then to Bill Milroy, who renamed it, restored and remodelled it using the services of one of his tenants, Larry Stoller. One of the key renovations was to level the sloping floor that existed for church services. It won the 1986 Commercial Heritage Award from the Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery.
It has housed a variety of commercial tenants since it became “The Citadel,” including Westgarth Gallery and Cottonwood Gallery. The Citadel currently houses Bladezx Studio, Stantec and December 5. The Salvation Army continues to have a strong presence within the community, providing services and ministry for Medicine Hat residents.
Malcolm Sissons is the chair of the City’s Heritage Resources Committee.