W.R. Orr Building - Historic Places Days

W.R. Orr Building

Maple Creek, Saskatchewan
Type
Museum/Gallery
Address
114 Jasper Street, Maple Creek, SK, Canada
Get directions
Hours
Weekdays 9:00-6:00 pm
Phone
(306) 662-4005

Visitor Centre / W.R. Orr Building (114 Jasper Street):

Built in 1910, this building was Maple Creek’s first purpose-built stand-alone bank building.  It was the second location of the Maple Creek branch of the Union Bank of Canada, which was Maple Creek’s second bank.  The first location of the Union Bank of Canada in Maple Creek was a commercial bay within the Hotel Cypress (where the Cypress Credit Union stands today).  Maple Creek branch of the Union Bank of Canada became the Royal Bank of Canada when the banks merged in 1925.  The Maple Creek branch of the Royal Bank closed during the depression in 1931, and the building was purchased by the Bank of Montreal (which had been up until then operating out of the former saloon at the Commercial Hotel).  The Bank of Montreal operated out of 114 Jasper Street until they moved to their current location in 1952.  The second floor of the building housed professional offices and accommodations for bank employees.  Circa 1949, a young lawyer by the name of W.R. Orr opened an office on the second floor.  He was partners with Arthur Burnett who had opened Maple Creek’s first law office in 1903.  Arthur Burnett’s office was across the street on the second floor of the Parsons Block (where the Bel Air Gardens building stands today).  When the Bank of Montreal vacated 114 Jasper Street in 1952, Burnett & Orr purchased the building a consolidated their law offices on the building’s main floor.  After Mr. Burnett left the practice, Mr. Orr operated the law office up until his death in 2005.  On April 1st, 2006, his family donated the building and its contents to the S.W. Sask. Oldtimers’ Museum.  Today, many of the original furnishings of both the Union Bank of Canada & the Burnett & Orr law office can still be seen within the building, including the original bank vault

Amenities

  • Family-Friendly
  • Washrooms

Location

114 Jasper Street, Maple Creek, SK, Canada
Get directions

Nearby Places

Cypress Hills Massacre National Historic Site

Maple Creek, Saskatchewan
Cypress Hills Massacre
View Place | Get Directions

Fort Walsh National Historic Site

Consul, Saskatchewan
Visit the First Nations camp
View Place | Get Directions

Medalta in the Historic Clay District

Medicine Hat, Alberta
Medalta is an industrial museum, contemporary ceramic arts facility, art gallery & mor
View Place | Get Directions

Val Marie Heritage Grain Elevator

Val Marie, Saskatchewan
1927 Historic Crib Style Grain Elevator, the Lighthouse of the Prairies
View Place | Get Directions

Register A Place

Create an account to add your historic place.

Make a VisitList

Welcome! To get started on a VisitList, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays.


Already have an account? to sign in.
We use your contact information to process your registration and correspond with you about the National Trust and its programs. You can unsubscribe at any time. We care about your privacy. Read our privacy statement.

Sign In

Sites that participate in #HistoricPlacesDays need to have an account.

Welcome! To get started on a new VisitList or to edit an existing one, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays. Sign in below!


Not registered? Click here to create an account.

Forgot Password

Enter your email address to request a password reset.


to sign in.

Get the latest scoop on everything #HistoricPlacesDays – join our e-newsletter and never miss a beat.