My Hometown
There’s nothing better than a scoop of ice cream or a cup of coffee with a side of history in this local heritage building
If the walls could talk, they’d have more than 111 years of stories to reveal. The year was 1908 in Camrose, Alta., when the doors opened at the Canadian Club—a social gathering place for the prominent gentlemen of the day. Discussion would revolve around the topics of society, athletics, business and more.
As the years have gone by, the purpose of the building has shifted numerous times. Laws were discussed and verdicts were read after the building was sold to the government in 1918 and turned into the Provincial Courthouse. Coins and banknotes clinked and swished as they were counted during the days when it was the treasury branch. Finally, pages of books for young and old were gently turned with a soft rustling sound, when the building housed the Camrose Public Library.
These days, what can be heard within the confines of the walls are the cheerful clinks of coffee mugs, the distinctive grinding of fresh espresso beans and the delighted squeals of a child being presented with bubblegum ice cream in an old-fashioned glass dish. Because inside the doors of this building now resides Mainstreet 1908!
Named after its location in the historic downtown area of Camrose and in honour of the year the building came into being, Mainstreet 1908 is a European-style coffee shop with an old-fashioned ice cream parlour!
Their menus boast classics such as café latte and Americano, or a handmade-to-order old-fashioned milkshake or ice cream sandwich. The pièce de résistance is truly the best of both worlds in the form of the affogato—a perfect marriage of a hot shot of espresso poured over freshly scooped ice cream (vanilla is traditional but the flavour choice is yours). How does one say no to that?
I remember the first time I saw the building. I was walking down Main Street with my husband during the first week of April 2018. We had just moved to Camrose and were out exploring the town. I love old buildings and I openly admit to being a history buff. I love learning about the history and reasons behind anything and everything, so I remember thinking, “Oh, I wonder what that building is?” as we strolled by Mainstreet 1908 that day.
A few days later, I got wind of a local coffee shop looking to hire. Since we had just moved into the area, I needed a new job. I already had previous work experience at a café, so I decided to apply and lo and behold, it turned out that the very building that had caught my eye was where I was applying to work!
When I walked up the steps
and through the wooden doors, there was just something so nice and inviting about Mainstreet 1908. My first thought was, “I hope I get to work here, I would love it!” Within three days I was interviewed and hired.
The building was officially recognized as a Provincial Historic Place in 1978. Today, Mainstreet 1908 works to keep the community alive through its efforts to be a cozy and cheerful environment. People are often seen meeting with friends or family, conducting business, or, believe it or not, having a first date that more than once has resulted in a return for wedding photos!
But this wonderful little piece of Canadian history wouldn’t be what it is today without the dedicated care of the shop’s owners, Diane and Dennis Lindroth. Another reason I love the place is because of them. They are such generous and thoughtful people. They are kind and accommodating employers and they enjoy interacting openly and genuinely with all their customers. Because of their pride and love for this charming piece of Camrose’s past, they have helped continue to add chapters to the building ’s own story, as well as the stories of those who come through its doors.
Through all the years of trials and victories that passing time brings, this beautiful piece of Camrose’s cultured history still stands, and absorbs the special moments of so many, all the while keeping up standards with its classic style and home-awayfrom-home atmosphere.
I worked at Mainstreet 1908 for just a little over a year. It would have been longer if my husband and I hadn’t decided it was time to start a family. My favourite part of the place, however, remains just how cozy it is and how it’s a place where history is being kept alive. It is cherished and loved and hopefully will be around for a long time to come as part of our home here in Camrose.