By Tiffany Cassidy

Melfort’s historic post office will be preserved

Jun 6, 2012 | 6:49 AM

The City of Melfort will be embarking on a project to save their historic post office building.

“It’s one of the more iconic buildings in this entire community and certainly something that should be preserved,” said Dale Link, who’s lived in Melfort for more than 40 years.

The Romanesque style building has gone through a lot since it was built in 1913. After a new post office was created, the building was sold to a different owner twice, and it has been deteriorating. People were concerned that if repairs weren’t made quickly there could be permanent damage to the structure.

“It was a concern to the city seeing that it’s an iconic structure,” said the Mayor of Melfort, Doug Terry. He added that the building has historical, as well as architectural significance, for the whole area.

Terry said Avatex Devcorp Inc. stepped up when they recently purchased the property. They plan to sell it to the City of Melfort for $1. The city and Avatex will partner on a three year plan to make the most needed repairs to the building.

Crime

Late night stabbing in Prince Albert sends three people to hospital

4h ago

Health alerts

Sask NDP sound alarm over TB cases in northern Saskatchewan

21h ago

PYSANKY EASTER EGGS

"It's special to pass this on": Saskatchewan family celebrates Ukrainian Easter heritage

21h ago

They aren’t yet sure what will go into the building. Terry said they are open to the possibility of it being privately or publicly owned. One idea he had is to make it into the new library.

“We want a suitable long-term tenant in that building that would be conducive to downtown development,” he said.

Once the tenant is decided, Terry said more plans will be made for what renovations should happen to the building.

Link said these repairs mean a lot to him and the entire community.

“I think most of the people in Melfort would be devastated if the building was ever demolished or torn down.”

news@panow.com