Medicine Hat is named for the Blackfoot word “saamis” meaning “the eagle tail feather headdress worm by medicine men”.
Location: Medicine Hat is located in the southeast part of the Province along the South Saskatchewan River.
Judicial District: Medicine Hat Judicial District
Courthouse – Medicine Hat
Location: 460 First Street SE / 5th Avenue
Built: 1919 – 1920
Style: Beaux Arts
Architect: Richard Palin Blakey
Contractor: Bennett and White of Calgary
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red coloured brick and limestone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the centre of Medicine Hat. The south front has a projecting central entrance with curved pediment enclosing the shield of the arms of Alberta. There are brick and stone pilasters with double columns rising on the second story to a wide stone parapet at the roof line. The windows are trimmed with stone and the second story windows are arched. The courtroom is located on the second story on the east side. The hipped roof is red coloured. In 1986 an addition was constructed on the north side. There is a basement level which connects to the Provincial Court courthouse along the east side. There are Queen’s Bench courtrooms in the new addition..
See: The architect, Richard Palin Blakey designed courthouses in Blairmore, Taber and Vegreville.
Note: The first courthouse was a two story structure designed by D Ewart and built by Charles Purmal in 1899 at a cost of $8,297. The building was demolished in 1969.
See: On the east side is the Medicine Hat Provincial Court Courthouse.
Courthouse
Photos taken 2013 and 2015