I think in this day and age we take our mail for granted. A hot take, I know.
Every time we get physical mail now it’s more of a formality than something that would liven up our day. I get plenty of flyers and what is referred to as “junk mail.”
Read more: Column: Evolving past the Barr
One thing I’ve held into my adult years is the excitement of getting physical mail. That feeling of tearing open that envelope and finding whatever is inside.
That got me thinking, in Lloydminster where did mail come from. I don’t mean in 2025 I mean back in, oh let’s say 1903. We were right next to a big railway, maybe trains filled with magic wonder brought them through town.
While the city may have had a booming post office, it wouldn’t be until 1905 when train service graced the soon-to-be Border City.
Mail would pass through Battleford before arriving in Lloydminster making the journey to get mail from Saskatoon to Lloydminster quite lengthy. One of my favourite facts was Rev. George Exton Lloyd’s wife, Marion Lloyd, took it upon herself to ensure mail was properly delivered to the residents of the new settlement.
Colonists were upset about not getting their mail and the first lady of Lloyd took the mail from the postmaster who she described as lazy and distributed it herself.
Back on course, the original post office was north of the medical hall. Eventually an F.E. Healy and J.M. Pigott got a contract for a new hotel. IT was to be where a hotel was currently and to my amazement, they just moved the hotel.
I didn’t know you could just move a building; I can barely move myself. The 300-tonne hotel was undermined, put on rollers, and moved 40 yards east. Mail was pretty steadily coming into Lloydminster and the railway had the contract to haul it all into the city.
The great fire in 1929 had a devasting impact on Lloydminster, not even the post office made it through. So, the post office was actually equipped to help handle large fires, but it seemed to have slipped through the cracks when fire actually broke out.
Reportedly, there was a big steel trap door in the basement that was filled with water, in case a fire broke out.
What was saved during the fire was a Chicago Oats trophy. I have absolutely no idea what this trophy is, but it was sure valuable to someone.
If people remembered the water was there, it’s possible they could have used it to fight the fire.
Following the burning of the post office, it bounced around for a little having a temporary home for short periods of time before it finally returned to its old location.
This time the building was different and by that I mean huge. The building had rooms for the soldiers settlement board, land office, office and living quarters of the RCMP, janitor and the well in the basement supplied water for the heating and the washrooms.
The clocktower in the building was expected to run for a very long time. There are portions of this story that amaze me, but one thing that makes me sad is the underutilization of the building.
I should say, the last I checked it was for sale by the city. I don’t know if that’s changed but I sure would like it to. It’s an amazing building with a rich history; it’s something that Lloyd should look to protect and revitalize. Downtown Lloyd could use a win and I think the clocktower could be a good start.
Read more: Column: A Border City Hallmark
