The first permanent settlement was established by the Temperance Colonization Society, a group of Toronto Methodists, under
John Neilson Lake. The group moved into the area in 1883, a year after Lake and a scouting party had looked for a suitable colony site. The site chosen by Lake was on the suggestion of
Chief Whitecap of the
Dakota tribe. The name is thought to be derived from the Cree word "missaskwatoomina", referring to the
saskatoon berry shrubs that grew along the riverbank. By 1884, ferry service across the river began, making Saskatoon the crossing point for the busy Regina – Battleford Trail. It brought more commercial traffic and business, as well as more settlers to the region. The first post office was established October 1, 1884, with J. H. C. Willoughby as the first postmaster. campus The original Victoria School was built in 1888 by stonemason Alexander (Sandy) Marr as the first school house of the temperance colony. Located at the Five Corners crossing at Broadway Avenue and 12th Street, the school yard would eventually be home to three school buildings as the population grew, the last of which being the present-day École Victoria School. The first Victoria School was dismantled and reassembled on a site at the
University of Saskatchewan campus in 1911. The building is often referred to as the Little Stone Schoolhouse.
Historic buildings • Trounce House (1883) – The oldest structure in Saskatoon and the last of the original houses from the temperance colony founded by John Lake. It was purchased by Henry and Bessie Trounce in 1883 from John J. Conn. In 1920 the house was moved to the back of the lot and converted into a garage while at the front, the Gustin Residence was built. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 10, 1989. •
Marr Residence (1884) – Built by Sandy Marr, it is the oldest building in Saskatoon on its original site. It was one of several houses requisitioned as a field hospital to treat wounded soldiers during the
North-West Rebellion. Designated a municipal heritage property on January 11, 1982. • Garrison House (1886) – Built entirely of
fieldstone by George Wesley Garrison. Between 1891 and 1894, Garrison leased rooms to the
North-West Mounted Police – presumably in this building – thus giving rise to its nickname "the jail" and to stories of cells in the basement. It was dismantled to its stone foundation in 1918 and rebuilt in concrete and brick. • Victoria School (three buildings; 1887, 1905, 1909) – The original stone one-room schoolhouse, built by Alexander Marr, was relocated to the
University of Saskatchewan campus in 1911. It was designated a municipal heritage property on May 17, 1982. A second school, now demolished, was built in 1905. The third and final school, designed by
Walter W. LaChance, was opened in 1909 and remains to the present day. • Bell House (1910) – A luxury riverbank house designed by noted
Regina architects
Edgar Storey and William Van Egmond. While the building was divided into suites in 1942, it has now been returned to single family use. • Nutana Collegiate (1910) – Originally named the Saskatoon Collegiate Institute when it opened in 1910, Nutana collegiate was the first secondary school in the city. At first, Nutana Collegiate housed university and normal school (teacher training) as well.
Storey and Van Egmond designed the building in a French Renaissance style. •
Fire Hall#3 (1911) – A two-storey structure of yellow brick banded by a heavy bracketed wooden cornice, it served as a fire hall until 1956. From 1959, at the height of the
Cold War, it was used by the Department of Civil Defence as a radiation proof communications centre. It is now a bar and restaurant featuring mementos from the now-demolished Capitol Theatre. Designated a municipal heritage property on February 25, 1991. •
Thirteenth Street Terrace (1911) – Classical in design and novel in its day, this two-storey row housing was an alternative to owning a single family home in boom-time Saskatoon. It was built in 1911–1912 by Henry A. Cook, liveryman, farmer, real estate salesman and owner of the Waldorf Café. Designated a municipal heritage property on December 12, 2000. •
Arrand Block (1912) – Neo-Classical style apartment block built by cousins Richard and Walter Arrand, noted Saskatoon contractors. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 10, 1989. Richard Arrand is credited with inventing the first power cement mixer, but failed to patent his design. • Calder House (1912) – A luxurious three-storey riverbank house built for Truman Frederick Calder, apparently to replicate a similar house in Toronto that his wife Adella liked. Unfortunately Mr. Calder was struck by lightning in 1914 and killed. The house changed ownership several times and was converted into apartments in 1942. It is now a bed & breakfast. •
Sommerville/Petitt House (1912) – It was designed by Frank P. Martin in 1912 and commissioned by Herman Pettit, about whom extremely little is known. A dentist, Dr. George Sommerville, bought the house in 1918. Designated a municipal heritage property on May 16, 1988. •
Gustin Residence (1920) – The home and studio of internationally renowned piano teacher
Lyell Gustin. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 10, 1989. •
F.P. Martin House (1926) – Two-storey Cottage Vernacular house was built by architect, Frank P. Martin, to be his private residence, with a semi-detached unit available for rental purposes. Noted for its high-pitched roof with double shed dormers, interlocking tile and stucco cladding, and Gothic doorways. Designated a municipal heritage property on March 3, 1997. • Grace-Westminster United Church –
David Webster designed this church for the congregation of Grace United, which originated from the original Methodist church of the temperance colony. • St. Joseph's School (1928) – Designed by
David Webster, this was built at the same time as the church of the same name. The high school was established in 1980 in an agreement between the provincial government, the school division and the Kitotiminawak (parent advisory) Council. The name was changed in 1989 to Joe Duquette High School, and again in 2007 to Oskayak High School. •
Main Street Electrical Substation (1929) – Built to satisfy increased demand for electricity, it was constructed of Redcliffe brick and Claybank dark brick in a mix of Modern Classical and Prairie styles. After being decommissioned in 1973, the building fell into disrepair until being rehabilitated and turned into an office building. Designated a municipal heritage property on December 4, 2000. •
Broadway Theatre (1947) – This Art Deco style movie theatre was Broadway's entertainment destination during the post-World War II years. After falling into disrepute as an "adult" movie theatre, it was restored as an arthouse cinema and live performance venue during the 1980s. Designated a municipal heritage property on April 14, 1997. ==Government and politics==