The Agricultural Hall and Sports Field at 1110 1st Avenue was built in 1922.
The Agricultural Hall and Sports Field at 1110 1st Avenue was added to the Ladysmith Community Heritage Register and the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 2006.
Here is a map showing the location of 1110 1st Avenue:
Here is a Google Street View image of 1110 1st Avenue:
Description of the Historic Place
The Agricultural Hall is a large, wood-frame building located on a main thoroughfare in the town centre. The historic place includes the hall, concrete sign and adjacent Sports Field.
Developed in the early 20th century, the Agricultural Hall and Sports Field have historical and continuing value as community gathering points. In addition to hosting the annual agricultural fair, one of the biggest annual events in Ladysmith, the hall was the site of dances, concerts and numerous sporting events. Major sporting events took place at the Sports Field, with some events drawing thousands of spectators. The Hall and Field’s value as public venues, in an era before in-home entertainment was widely available, was substantial. The sites continue to be used for community events.
Built in 1922, the Agricultural Hall is an excellent example of a large, utilitarian structure purpose-built for community sporting and social events. The Hall’s architecture is uncomplicated with minimal detailing. The building has not been significantly altered since it was built, except for the removal of the main entrance from the east to the north side and the application of shingle siding. The concrete Recreational Fairgrounds sign was originally placed over a gate marking the entrance to the Hall and is now located in the field above the Hall.
The Agricultural Hall is an excellent example of a long-term community preservation project. In the 1960s, the Lion’s Club laid the current hardwood floor. In 1971, the Town used provincial grant funds to re-clad the exterior.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ladysmith’s Air Cadet Squadron #257, concerned about the possible loss of the Hall, revitalized the interior of the building and gifted those renovations to the Town.
In 1999-2000, the Town, once again using provincial grant funds, significantly upgraded the exterior and adjacent grounds. These efforts underline the building’s continuing value as an important communal space.
The Agricultural Hall’s large mass and location at a prominent intersection make it a highly visible community landmark.
Character-Defining Elements
Character-defining elements of the Ladysmith Agricultural Hall and Sports Field include:
- – The spatial relationship of the Hall and Field
- – The original architectural elements of the Agricultural Hall including its general scale and massing, overall simplicity, wooden sash windows and gable brackets
- – The concrete sign
- – The location at a prominent intersection