Editing Luke

Apr 9, 2017

Sweet Caporal Building in Medicine Hat, Alberta

The 'Sweet Caporal Building' in Medicine Hat, Alberta became a focal point (and gained its new nickname) after the Central Block burned down in 2007. When the ruins of the Central Block were cleared an original painted ad for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, along with the name of the original vendor, Pingle's Drug and Book Store were revealed. As a result, this otherwise plain and vacant structure on 2nd Street suddenly became a local landmark.

Sweet Caporal Downtown Medicine Hat Alberta

Pingle's was likely constructed around 1907-1910, obviously a few years before the Central Block went up in 1911. Over the years the building housed several different drug stores, and the Medicine Hat Credit Union in the 1960s. When I first photographed this building in early 2013 it had been abandoned for years. A few historic elements remained, like the ghost mural outside and hints of a hidden tin ceiling, but mostly the structure was an uninspired jumble of decades past. There was no indication that things were about to change.

Then upgrades along 2nd Street began in mid-2013 and many of the surrounding buildings began to change. I documented some of the evolution of the street in 2014. Soon the 'Sweet Caporal Building' was being renovated as well, and another set of images I shot for my Around the Hat series became archival practically overnight. This building is now in use today, completely renovated, and the Sweet Caporal sign still remains.