Faculty Club (Saskatoon)

 university, club, faculty

The Dean of Agriculture’s Residence, now the University Faculty Club, was among first buildings on campus. Designed by Brown & Vallance of Montreal, the original plan called for a wood-clad structure but this was abandoned when the Board of Governors decided to use local greystone in May, 1911. Unlike several of the larger buildings, the Dean’s Residence was built by university employees with the assistance of day labourers. Construction took less than a year and costs ran to nearly $25,000.

Sometimes known as “grey gables,” the building’s first resident was W.J. Rutherford. The location of the house, on the campus close to the University Farm, reflected the unique relationship of the Agricultural College with the University. In addition to a family residence, the adjourning grounds were used on occasion as the site for outdoor receptions and social gatherings. The last Dean to live in the house was V.E. Graham who moved out in 1961 so the building could be converted into a Faulty Club. The building underwent two more renovations in 1966 and 1975. The latter was the most extensive, cost $607,961, and established the footprint of the building as it exists today.

At 3:00 pm on 19 September 1972, a fire that had been smoldering in the roof insulation for hours became apparent inside the club. The building was evacuated and an alarm called into the City of Saskatoon Fire Department. Six units were eventually dispatched to battle the “stubborn” fire before a crowd of several hundred onlookers. No one was injured, the building was saved from catastrophic damage, and it was soon functioning again as a friendly oasis for the members of faculty.