Page 8 - August 19, 2019
P. 8
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 8 MONDAY AUGUST 19, 2019 MONDAY APRIL 29, 2019 PAGE 3
Mercoal home receives Municipal Historic Resource Designation
by Dana McArthur with her mother to join their father in Mercoal.
Amelia met Bob Spanach when she was not
The Yellowhead County's Heritage Advisory yet 16 and they were married shortly thereafter
Board and Administration presented an in August of 1941.
application for Municipal Historic Resource Bob expanded his lumber business to the
Designation of the Spanach residence in surrounding coal branch mines, opened the
Mercoal for review and approval during the Mercoal café, a 12 room boarding house, a
County's August 13 meeting. theatre, a gas station, and Mercoal Motors – a
Municipal Heritage Designation is the General Motors dealership.
process of protecting a historic resource by Amelia and Bob had two surviving children,
way of a Municipal Bylaw registered on the George and Diane. In 1949 an accident at the
property with Land Titles. The goal is to mill in Steeper took Bob's life. As Bob didn't
legally protect heritage places to prevent have a Will, his assets were seized by the
inappropriate actions that could damage or public trustee for his two children. Given
destroy their heritage value. Amelia was a young woman (23), she faced Spanach residence in Mercoal
"The Spanach residence is located difficulty in finding lenders or people who
approximately 16 km southwest of the Hamlet would work with her, as few believed in her The residence maintains much of its original
of Robb in the former mining town of Mercoal. ability to effectively run Bob's former interests. features and character. It also has significance
The residence is on the south side of Mercoal Undeterred, Amelia secured a loan from a as one of the few remaining structures in the
Creek, and features views to the north of the family friend and borrowed money to purchase former Town of Mercoal, as once the mine
former coal mine site," said Heritage her children's shares from the estate. Amelia, closed in 1959, many of the buildings were
Coordinator Jenny Seibel. with help from her office manager Steven, was destroyed or moved to other communities to
The heritage value of the Spanach residence able to surmount the obstacles and continue the continue their useful life.
comes from its association with the Spanach multiple businesses until the Mine closed Mayor Gerald Soroka asked, "As there have
family who built the home and were influential down in 1959. Amelia then moved to been some upgrades to the roof and changes to
in the building of the community of Mercoal. Edmonton and started a construction company, some siding, so how does that affect its
Robert (Bob) Spanach was a Yugoslavian where once again she faced obstacles given her historical significance?" Seibel responded,
who came to Canada at the age of 27 in 1928. age and gender. In 1976, Amelia removed "There is enough there that the resource
He worked in the coal mines of Mountain herself from the business. Her son George, conveys its significance. With the designation,
Park, Luscar, and Kaydee before he started his started his own business in 1977, retiring in if they what to change those elements back, the
own lumber business, in the latter. As coal 2007. provincial government would help with that."
mining in the area expanded, so did Robert's The house in Mercoal remains under the Council voted unanimously to approve the
lumber business and he moved the business to ownership of the Spanach family and is Municipal Historic Resource Designation for
Steeper, one mile south of Mercoal. currently registered to Rob Spanach (son) and the Spanach residence in Mercoal.
Spanach's future wife, Amelia Pankovich was George Spanach. It is used as a seasonal
a Yugoslavian who came to Canada in 1931 cottage for friends and family. (with files Yellowhead County)
OPEN
OPEN
HOUSE
HOUSE
Wednesday, August 21: 4:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, August 22: 4:30 - 7:30 pm
Registration
Registration
Tour our Tour our packages
packages
facilityfacility are Available
are Available
587-466-9292
4632 3 Avenue, Edson, AB 587-466-9292
4632 3 Avenue, Edson, AB
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 8 MONDAY AUGUST 19, 2019 MONDAY APRIL 29, 2019 PAGE 3
Mercoal home receives Municipal Historic Resource Designation
by Dana McArthur with her mother to join their father in Mercoal.
Amelia met Bob Spanach when she was not
The Yellowhead County's Heritage Advisory yet 16 and they were married shortly thereafter
Board and Administration presented an in August of 1941.
application for Municipal Historic Resource Bob expanded his lumber business to the
Designation of the Spanach residence in surrounding coal branch mines, opened the
Mercoal for review and approval during the Mercoal café, a 12 room boarding house, a
County's August 13 meeting. theatre, a gas station, and Mercoal Motors – a
Municipal Heritage Designation is the General Motors dealership.
process of protecting a historic resource by Amelia and Bob had two surviving children,
way of a Municipal Bylaw registered on the George and Diane. In 1949 an accident at the
property with Land Titles. The goal is to mill in Steeper took Bob's life. As Bob didn't
legally protect heritage places to prevent have a Will, his assets were seized by the
inappropriate actions that could damage or public trustee for his two children. Given
destroy their heritage value. Amelia was a young woman (23), she faced Spanach residence in Mercoal
"The Spanach residence is located difficulty in finding lenders or people who
approximately 16 km southwest of the Hamlet would work with her, as few believed in her The residence maintains much of its original
of Robb in the former mining town of Mercoal. ability to effectively run Bob's former interests. features and character. It also has significance
The residence is on the south side of Mercoal Undeterred, Amelia secured a loan from a as one of the few remaining structures in the
Creek, and features views to the north of the family friend and borrowed money to purchase former Town of Mercoal, as once the mine
former coal mine site," said Heritage her children's shares from the estate. Amelia, closed in 1959, many of the buildings were
Coordinator Jenny Seibel. with help from her office manager Steven, was destroyed or moved to other communities to
The heritage value of the Spanach residence able to surmount the obstacles and continue the continue their useful life.
comes from its association with the Spanach multiple businesses until the Mine closed Mayor Gerald Soroka asked, "As there have
family who built the home and were influential down in 1959. Amelia then moved to been some upgrades to the roof and changes to
in the building of the community of Mercoal. Edmonton and started a construction company, some siding, so how does that affect its
Robert (Bob) Spanach was a Yugoslavian where once again she faced obstacles given her historical significance?" Seibel responded,
who came to Canada at the age of 27 in 1928. age and gender. In 1976, Amelia removed "There is enough there that the resource
He worked in the coal mines of Mountain herself from the business. Her son George, conveys its significance. With the designation,
Park, Luscar, and Kaydee before he started his started his own business in 1977, retiring in if they what to change those elements back, the
own lumber business, in the latter. As coal 2007. provincial government would help with that."
mining in the area expanded, so did Robert's The house in Mercoal remains under the Council voted unanimously to approve the
lumber business and he moved the business to ownership of the Spanach family and is Municipal Historic Resource Designation for
Steeper, one mile south of Mercoal. currently registered to Rob Spanach (son) and the Spanach residence in Mercoal.
Spanach's future wife, Amelia Pankovich was George Spanach. It is used as a seasonal
a Yugoslavian who came to Canada in 1931 cottage for friends and family. (with files Yellowhead County)
OPEN
OPEN
HOUSE
HOUSE
Wednesday, August 21: 4:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, August 22: 4:30 - 7:30 pm
Registration
Registration
Tour our Tour our packages
packages
facilityfacility are Available
are Available
587-466-9292
4632 3 Avenue, Edson, AB 587-466-9292
4632 3 Avenue, Edson, AB
