History of the Cromdale Neighbourhood

Cromdale lodged a protest with the city in 1949 over the exhibition board’s plan to use part of Borden Park for an expansion of race track facilities.  Cromdale already had plans for the area – it hoped to enlarge the existing playground.  The situation led one league member to exclaim in exasperation:  “The playground area should not be reduced for the sake of three weeks of racing a year.” (5)

It is interesting to note that Cromdale still assumes responsibility for the fate of Borden Park.  President Leah Taylor explained in 1980 that the community feared Northlands’ proposal to use part of Borden Park for an amusement park during Klondike Days was the first step of a permanent take-over.  Consequently, Cromdale works closely with the Borden Park Residents Association, which keeps an eagle-eye on Northlands’ developments.

Cromdale organized a unique walking tour of the neighbourhood in 1979.  A detailed brochure – A Walk into the History of Your Cromdale Community – gave information on the various houses, buildings and businesses the ‘tourists’ would see.

The league also petitioned the province in 1979 to declare ten local houses historic sites.  The houses were all in Viewpoint, east of 82 Street from 112 Avenue to Jasper Avenue.  They were mostly built during the first decades of the century and included the domiciles of two former mayors:  Kenneth Blatchford and Joe Clarke.  The dwelling of Gladys Reeves, western Canada’s first professional woman photographer, was included in Cromdale’s proposal too, as were the homes of Captain John Hall of the Edmonton Militia and Solon Low, a national leader of the Social Credit Party.

Cromdale felt it important to have this historic neighbourhood protected and gained the support of the Edmonton Historical Board.  The league felt it was only a matter of time before this prime territory, featuring a splendid view of the city’s river valley, would draw high-rise developers like bees to a field of clover. 

In its desire to achieve historical status for Viewpoint, Cromdale eventually got the support of the city’s public affairs committee.  Alderman Norris was an opponent of the scheme.  “Next thing you know,” he told the Edmonton Journal, “we’ll have someone get on us to declare the whole City an historical site!”

Norris thought it patently ridiculous for Edmonton – just 75 years old – to have 86 historically protected buildings.  Why was this the case, he argued, when Paris, with a history of over 2,000 years, had only 173 such structures?  He labelled the report outlining Cromdale’s proposal as “gobbledly-gook of the highest order.” (6)  Not surprisingly, he made few friends over the issue at Cromdale.  The league was eventually disappointed when the houses were not protected.

In 1980 Cromdale objected to the construction of a complex of four high-rise buildings in the area.  The league claimed these would put a strain on the community by doubling the number of residents.  Cromdale also felt it had been served a fait accompli.  Negotiations with city planners had been held for a number of years and as far as Cromdale knew, no agreement had been reached regarding such developments.

Consequently, a civil suit was launched by the league in an attempt to strike down the bylaw which gave the $75 million project the go-ahead.  The suit claimed city council had broken provisions of the Municipal Government Act and the Planning Act by passing the bylaw, but it was rejected by the Court of Queen’s Bench.

Cromdale Community League joined forces with Parkdale in 1986 to form a single league – Parkdale-Cromdale.  Cromdale residents now have the use of their neighbour’s facilities and Parkdale has an infusion of young blood.  On such complimentary needs are happy partnership’s founded.

PAST PRESIDENTS:  R.P. Wallace, M.J. Werner, E.E. Howard, C. Malmberg, C.A. Webb, G.S. Devonshire, W.G. Thomas, Mrs. A. Roberge, N.E. Bressey, Mrs. J.A. Clarke, M.L. Hayes, Dr. J.F. Ridgedale, A.H. Bulock, Hubert Orser, J. Green, Flight. Sergeant W.D. Williams, Jack Jewell, L. Ferguson, L. Smith, David Graham, Jack Allinot, Peter Beley, V.S. Hewitt, John Unger, B. Aselpine, Anna Imeson, Dorothy Hofs, Iain Taylor, Leah, Taylor, Peter Flynn, Elizabeth White.