City Market

"During most of the period between 1900 and 1964, the area bordered by 101A Avenue, 102 Avenue, 99 Street and 100 Street was the site of the City Market. The area was also known as the Rice Street Market. Today that block is occupied by the Stanley A. Milner Library, located southwest of the Civic Centre Heritage Gallery.

"The market, organized and administered by the city, opened in December of 1900, right at the centre of town. By 1913, it had two important and imposing public buildings on its borders - the Civic Block (panel 4) to the northeast and the post office (panel 7) to the south.

"In 1914, the market was briefly moved to a site at 101 Street and 107 Avenue in anticipation of continuing population growth. This growth did not occur, and vendors soon returned to the previous and far more popular site. An all-weather structure was built on the square in 1916 and remained until 1964.

"Originally discussed in 1898 as an attraction that would draw farmers to Edmonton, the role of the market as a "meeting place for city and country" remained important to Edmontonians well into the twentieth century. A letter to the Edmonton Journal in 1962 described it as a place that brought "country freshness to the arid centre of the concrete jungle."

"Market business were often family-owned and operated, and included market gardeners, farmers, and a handful of retailers.

"The City Market was always much more than a commercial space. It was also a place to socialize with vendors from out of town and with other Edmontonians. It was also a rallying point for events like the annual Remembrance Day parades, and labour demonstrations in the 1930s.

"In April of 1965, the market was moved to 97 Street and 102 Avenue to make way for the library built to commemorate Canada's Centennial."