PRAIRIE SUN HONOURS OLD FARNAM BLOCK
The dedication of Williams and her team to preserving the history of the Farnam Block won over some who were heartbroken by the building’s demolition. Williams said people reached out to thank her and share their stories about the building and the many businesses that called it home. Some patrons have left in tears after seeing those pieces of history first-hand.
Williams even managed to gain the respect of the Saskatoon Historical Society and its president, Peggy Sarjeant, who had staunchly opposed its demolition.
“When we approached (the Prairie Sun owners) they were very open to talking to us,” Sarjeant said. “We were really appreciative of the interest the business has of the former building and the site and how they would like to build upon that history, I think.”
The demolition was a blow to the historical society, but Sarjeant noted that if there was a silver lining, it’s the fact that the building ’s owners used a red brick similar to that used on the Farnam Block when they began to rebuild in late spring 2018.
That helped maintain the original look of Broadway as a whole.
“(The Farnam Block) had a significant effect on the streetscape because it anchored that block and made a statement about what Broadway was developing into,” Sarjeant says.
“And all the significant buildings down Broadway were red brick — so if you think of the Farnam Block, the Smith Block, the craft gallery, Buds and (Starbucks), this was a small example of the boom time of building development ... so with all the buildings going up it gave a sense of optimism down the street.”
Those new red bricks were also a hit with Williams, who decided to work with them throughout the brewery’s interior as a continued tie-in to her ode to the Farnam Block.
“They are sprinkled around the front, around the brew house, in the fireplace and then we have the original Farnam brick up around the bar upstairs,” she said.
And working alongside the heritage society was an “awesome” experience, Williams said.
Not only did she have her employees study the society’s history review on the Farnam Block so they would be able to answer questions posed by patrons, she also worked closely with the society to create a brewery tour that showcases the history of the site and the agricultural history of Nutana and Saskatoon as a whole.
“So many people actually, for how much they loved this building, don’t know much about the barbers that were here, the tattoo shop, the diner it once was or who built it, so I want to tell that story,” Williams said.
“I think people come in here wanting to relive their favourite moments again, but I think they are going to leave having that whole story laid out from beginning to end, which will hit them so much more.”