The Canadian Oil Co. Ltd. Warehouse
11130 105th Avenue
Architect: Engineering Department, Canadian Oil Co. Ltd.
Constructed: 1950
Edmonton reaped the rewards of the Leduc oil boom. For decades it had been one of the Dominion’s poorest and most stagnant cities — no longer. Within three years the average citizens’ mean personal income had doubled and private automobile ownership rose tenfold. By 1950 Edmonton led Canada in its demand for new and used cars.
That environment prompted Canadian Oil Co. Ltd. to open this architectural sleeper of a building on November 30th, 1950. To C.D. Ciley, Alberta branch manager, the need for it was clear. When they first opened back in 1908, “there were only 45 cars registered in the whole of Alberta. In 1950 car registration reached 150,000 with 50,000 trucks also being registered.” For a major oil and gas distributor like them, they needed more space and quick.
“The main building, of steel and brick construction, has a floor area of 15,000 sq.ft. and houses offices, rest rooms and showers for the local staff, as well as providing space for oils and greases in drums and cases,” the Edmonton Journal described. Just how much oil could they store? Some 180,000 gallons. Delivery was easy — located on a Canadian National rail spur, “gasoline, fuel oils and motor oils are received at the plant in tank cars from the refinery.” From there they went out by truck.
The warehouse is an excellent interpretation of the Streamline style leading into Early Modernism. The fantastic book Depression Modern describes the form as:
“An expression of a desire for honesty of materials, an escape from some of the imitative and over-decorated periods of the past. [...] Modernism is the style of reason, of square, of circle and horizontal proportions. Good forms and decoration together with good construction will always appeal. [...] Modernism is recognized by: Simplicity. Unbroken lines. Use of pure colors. Contrasts in light and shadow. Honesty in materials: steel is steel, copper is copper and paint is recognized as paint and not made to resemble marble.”
It’s a fitting choice. Streamline Moderne was a celebration of technology, machining, and Man’s rationality. Where better to apply it than on a building symbolizing the machine-driven auto-age built during an era of post-war clarity?
Image Gallery:
Sources:
“Canadian Oil Companies Limited, Is Veteran Alberta Supplier,” Edmonton Journal, November 30, 1950.
“Canadian Oil Cos. Open New Plant,” Edmonton Bulletin, December 1, 1950.
“Growth of Canadian Oil Companies Is Outlined,” Edmonton Bulletin, December 1, 1950.
Martin Greif, Depression Modern: The Thirties Style In America (Universe Books: New York, 1981), 32.
