Construction for the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford, Wards 1 to 6 and the Power
Plant began in 1911. By 1912, the Power Plan was built to cover the needs of the new
Hospital for heat and power at the time. Part of the new power plant was the smokestack; a
landmark for the area for more than 100 years.
Further development took place:
1914 Ward 8 was added at the northwest end of the Hospital
1914 Planning and construction of cottages and School began
1915 Ward 10 was added to the north end of Hospital
1919 Ward 7 – the “Isolation Unit” added
1932 An extension connected Ward 8 with an interior staircase
1937 Ward 7A – the “Isolation Unit – Addiction Ward added
1937 Veranda added to Ward 8
1955 Renovations to add elevator
1963 Plumbing/toilet renovations to Ward 10
1964 New lighting added to Wards 6, 8 and 10
1965 Door renovations throughout
1966 Cabinetry renovations
1967 New lighting and finishing for Wards 2,3, and 4
1969 New electrical switch gear installed at the lower plant
1969 A new kitchen and dining room constructed
1970 Roof and Eave repairs
1970 Window replacement for Outpatient and Lab area
1971 Fire safety renovations
1977/78 Exit doors and stairs renovated
1981 Major interior renovation
1982 Roof replacement
1993 Development of the Forensic Unit – 723.5 sq. metres of Ward 5
Over the years, Laundry, the 9 Building, the 11 Building, the apartment block, H-Hut, barns,
garage, and the upholstery shop were also added.
Gordon E. Mann was the first Chief Engineer at the Power Plant. Over the years other Chief
Engineers included A.H. Menzies/1927, G.A. Brousseau/1945, Ken Sevick, Don Neulboh, G.
Taffy Davis and Frank Gillies. The Chief Engineer was the administrator of the Power Plant
and responsible for the planning, implementation and review of all Plant operations. The
Senior Engineer supervised the maintenance of the Power Plant. Shift Engineers supervised
each shift, monitoring power generation, recording pertinent readings hourly, testing water
hardness and treating for softness as required. Together they maintained and serviced all
equipment in the Power Plant as well as steam lines, radiators, furnaces and air conditioners
throughout the Hospital and other buildings on the Grounds. The Fireman operated and
monitored the boiler, adjusting and/or changing pumps, control valves and fuels. He
monitored and controlled hot water temperatures with manual valves. Helpers had a
designated area where he was responsible for cleaning, painting and maintaining equipment.
In 1946, essential equipment at the Power Plant was still in operation but wearing out and
unreliable. The boiler and generating capacity were insufficient for the physical growth of the
Hospital’s energy needs. In 1946 changes to the Power Plant began increasing its size by 50%
by 1947. Three large oil storage tanks were installed in a concrete vault behind the Power
Plant. Two of the four boilers were equipped for oil firing. Oil pumping, equipment and a new reaching from the boilers to the smokestack was added. Also in 1948, a new foundation was prepared for the first of two new 1000-hour power wheeler boilers. Two of the four boilerswere dismantled and remove in 1948 requiring two old boilers to carry the load until February 1949 when the first new boiler was put into service in February 1949. New boiler control panels were installed, and a new generating system was installed in the Engine Room.
During the summer of 1948, the eight drums from the old boilers were converted into six heating tanks to supply hot water to the entire Hospital. One tank was used for compressed air service to the shops, garage and the Power Plant, another for auxiliary return tank for boiler feed water. Two new 720 horsepower engines, equipped with 500 kw air conditioning generators, were installed in 1947.
The use of coal was now over.
1983 Power Plant and Trades staff were integrated with Supply and Service
1986 Supply and Service became Saskatchewan Property Management
1987 4 Engineers retired, and staffing was reduced to a Shift Engineer and a Fireman
1988 Upgrades in controls, diesel replaced oil, a new 125-Kilowatt Caterpillar standby generator allowed for the reduction in staffing to one person/shift
2002 Low pressure 142 horsepower Cleaver Brooks boilers were installed, and the beloved smokestack was mothballed. The 305-kilowatt steam engine has been donated to the Western Development Museum. One diesel generator was installed and was able to automatically supply power to the whole facility. Fire panel monitoring was taken over by Hospital Security and 24/7 staffing was no longer required. The Power Plant was then staffed by one person 7:30am – 4:00pm.
2019 Once the decision to demolish the Saskatchewan Hospital was made, the Battlefords North-West Historical Society was given the opportunity to gather some of the remaining fixtures to use for fundraising or to be incorporated in the Saskatchewan Hospital Legacy Trail project. Items included the door to the original boiler, the Main door, the Auditorium door, plaques from the Main entrance, scythes, a cupola and bowling pins.
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