The former Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford demolition is underway. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Artifacts preserved

Former Saskatchewan Hospital main building, chimney demolition underway

Mar 31, 2021 | 6:10 PM

The province is advising the public is not permitted on the site of the former Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford while the demolition continues.

“It’s a safety concern. You have big hoes and big trucks moving all around the site. We don’t want anyone to be injured, neither does the contractor,” said building manager Dan Sankey, with the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement.

The work is now beginning on the main building and the smoke stack of the facility, which will take several days.

The decorative brick portion at the top of the smoke stack is currently being removed for preservation. The hospital cornerstone and a number of other artifacts were previously salvaged as well.

Sankey has been closely involved in the planning and preparation of the demolition work of the former Saskatchewan Hospital.

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Silverado Demolition, of Saskatoon and Regina, was hired for the work.

For the main hospital building, Sankey said last year workers removed a number of artifacts for preservations – the cornerstone, both the main doors, a cupola from the roof, the front logo and coat of arms, stone from the front entrance, and different styles of brickwork both from the central building as well as from several other buildings on the grounds.

The Battlefords North-West Historical Society will use all the preserved items for future use for a commemorative project.

Sankey said a photographer is taking some pictures of the over 150 ft. high chimney demolition work only, which involves some intricate work to remove the decorative elements first. The chimney will be dismantled in pieces in the process.

A drone has also taken pictures of the full hospital facility prior to the demolition for the public to view at a later date.

Sankey said people will have an opportunity to experience a 360-degree virtual reality tour of the former century-old hospital in the simulation online when it is available.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW