Building served a rough existence

In a bustling oil and gas community like Black Diamond, it’s no wonder one of its historic building has a rough past.

What is now part of Bluerock Gallery at 110 Centre Avenue served various purposes over the past 90 years including a café, pool hall, dress shop and general store.

Shelley Broadley, Black Diamond planning and economic development assistant, said most businesses on this busy street served the same function decade after decade.

This one is unique.

“This one has been a number of different businesses throughout its history,” she said. “It was probably just a flexible space that people had some creative ideas and made it into something that worked best for them.”

It was first Louis’ Café, which served meals to throngs of newcomers attracted by employment opportunities in the oilfields and the Black Diamond coalmine.

Historic books describe stories of a rough place that offered a little of everything to its customers.

Legend has it there was once a sign in the window advertising “bum coffee,” which consisted of half a cup of rye whiskey. This special brew was served in the six booths at the rear of the café.

According to the history book In the Light of the Flares, local police were unconcerned with this well-known practice until a new officer arrived and the café was charged with illegal selling of liquor.

Given the choice of a fine or two months in jail, the proprieter opted for the latter, stating he hadn’t had a holiday in 22 years.

Upon his release, the sign reappeared at the back of the shop and business resumed as usual. Allegedly, this tradition continued after it was converted to a pool hall.

“It was like a rough gentlemen’s club, so to speak,” said Broadley.

The pool hall was owned and operated by Ed Benoit, who is described as a colourful character. Benoit moved to Black Diamond from Quebec in 1936.

According to In the Light of the Flares, he lived in a shack north of Main Street that was known as “the bucket of blood” as it had been a gambling and bootlegging joint in the early oil boom days.

Benoit operated the pool hall during the war before selling it to Lester Cox, who moved to Black Diamond in 1941.

Cox had served in the Second World War as a stretcher bearer in the Calgary 8th Field Ambulance and was sent back to Canada due to ill health.

He boarded with Johnny and Ella Tolman for a few years, paying $25 per month. When the Tolmans moved to Turner Valley, Cox purchased a house in Black Diamond with mountain views.

Cox sold the pool house to Jack Webber, yet continued to work there for three years.

Cox remarried and moved to Calgary, but commuted to Black Diamond several days a week to work with Webber, who used the building as a dry goods store.

It was around this time, in the 1950s and ’60s, that the original boomtown storefront, sheathed with shiplap, received a stucco finish.

Bill Herman took ownership and his daughter, Aura Hollyoak, used it as a ladies wear shop.

The store then became part of Woo’s General Store after Charlie Woo
purchased it.

In 1966, Howard Harris joined the two buildings to make one large store and remodelled the back of the building to make a comfortable home.

Woo’s General Store grew and prospered into the later part of the 20th Century.

Broadley suspects the frequent changes in business is a result of changes in the town.

“It’s evolved with how the community evolved,” she said. “People moved or sold it because times were tough. Somebody who picked it up came up with something viable later.”

In 2000, 110 Centre Avenue was restored to its 1920s boomtown appearance.