Armouries
As the Dragoons were located in so many different towns and cities across Alberta, it is has been very difficult to identify the exact locations ie armouries in which they paraded. If you have further information, please let us know and send a pic of the old armoury if you can!
Strathcona (South Edmonton) - Connaught Armoury - 10310-85 ave
1911-1964
The Armoury was built in 1911-12 at a cost of $35,000.00. The land was purchased from Angus McLeod for $3,000.00. The contractor was Brown Construction Co. of Winnipeg. It was named in honour of the Duke of Connaught who was Governor-General of Canada from 1911 to 1916. Renovations to refurbish the building to its present state cost $700,000.00. It was purpose built as a military armoury to house the 19th Alberta Dragoons who were quartered here for most of its history.
After the First World War, the Regiment returned to Militia status and Connaught was once again their Home. It housed the Mess, Drill Hall, Rifle Range and Regimental Offices. The social evenings sponsored by the Regiment are remembered with fondness by longtime residents of Strathcona. The Armoury was a beehive of activity in the Spring of 1939 as the 19th Alberta Dragoons were selected by Ottawa to provide a mounted escort for the Royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Edmonton.
After WW2, the Regiment was re-formed, this time in the Spring of 1946 as the 19th Alberta Armored Car Regiment (Edmonton Fusiliers) and Connaught Armoury was again home. The Regiment was renamed the 19th Alberta Dragoons in 1954. They continued to use Connaught Armoury until the Regiment was put on the Supplementary Order of Battle in December 1964. The Armoury closed on the 2nd day of January 1965. LCol Harry Quarton, ex of the 19th offers
"An interesting note on close out. I was to meet a Major or a Capt. at the Armories to turn over the Armories to the Base Engineers. Our Steward, Sgt. Cecil McLelland had left a heel of a bottle of Scotch and two glasses on the bar for us. So, after all the signing of papers, etc., we had a drink, walked out and locked the door. It stayed closed for nearly 10 years, the roof leaked and tremendous damage was done. Public Works put it up for sale and that is how it was sold to Henry and his partner and it became a restaurant. "
Some years later, in 1978, Connaught Armouries was sold on the open market. It was purchased and refurbished inside to its original state for a restaurant. The building being an Historic Site, and the owners not able to change the look of the building, sought out Lt Col Quarton for consultation. It was decided to name it the "Armoury". The logo was the horse of the 19 D's and the menu carried the history of the Regiment on the back cover. Lt Col. Quarton approached The Hon. Mary LeMessier, Minister of Culture, and received permission to withdraw from the Provincial Museum all the Regimental silver, lances and saddles which had been placed for safe keeping. Old pictures dating back to the early 1900's were found, enlarged and framed. Over 85 pictures decorated the walls of the restaurant Jack Fuller, one of the owners, built glass cabinets around the fireplace to house the silver, complete with a security system. The windows on the main staircase were plain when the drapes were removed. Mr. Fuller asked Lt. Col. Quarton to design and commission stain glass windows to make a feature waIl when ascending the stairs. He chose the badges of the 19th Dragoons, South Alberta Regiment and the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps and were soon the feature of the staircase. So on 21 December 1979, with Dragoons in fun dress acting as doormen, senior officers and wives coming from all services and other dignitaries were greeted by The Hon. Mary LeMessier and Lt. Col. Quarton, who acted as hosts for the opening ceremonies and dinner. The following evening, all ranks and wives were hosted to a second evening of festivities by the owners, Jack Fuller and Henry Backman. The Armoury was popular especially with all Military types. Unfortunately, not being on a main traffic area, it could not make it without the crowds. Four or five years later, the restaurant closed its doors. All the Dragoon artifacts were removed and returned to the Provincial Museum where they remain to this day.
The Connaught Armouries was eventually re-sold and regrettably converted into a dance club following a short period where it was a restaurant-lounge known as Garfield's. In 2006, the City of Edmonton did not renew the Armoury Dance Lounge lease and the building remained vacant until 2009 pending city plans. In 2008, the City of Edmonton solicited proposals for the use of Connaught Armoury from Not-for-Profit and Charitable agencies. Despite a compelling proposal put forth by the local Legion to house the Legion and various military support groups, the City awarded the lease to the Edmonton Youth Emergency Shelter. The facility is set to open in September 2009.
Edmonton - Victoria Armoury - 10523-100 ave
Not much is known about the history of the Victoria Armoury in Edmonton vis-a-vis its use by the Dragoons. Originally the Land Titles Building, the Victoria Armoury was in use by the Dragoons by the outbreak of WW1 and continued to serve in this capacity after the war. The Armouries now serve as home for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Alberta. LCol Harry Quarton, late of the 19th offered the following information...
"When we came on the scene 1 April 1946 as the 19th Alberta Armd. Car Regt.(Edm. Fusiliers), we took over the Vic Armories, but we also took over the U.S. Railhead at 142 Street which was the former base of the U.S. Army for the Alaska Highway. This is where we had our Stags and other vehicles, wireless wing, gunnery wing and Tech Stores. We only stayed in Victoria Armoury for a short period, waiting for a regular force RCEME unit to move out of Connaught. I don't have exact dates, probably late summer of 1946."
Morinville - D Sqn Armoury - 100 Street
While the exact location of the Morinville Armoury is not a certainty, it was reportedly built on the land which is now occupied by the Sturgeon County Administrative building located on 100th Street in Morinville. The following newspaper clipping refers to the building of the Morinville Armoury.
