The Land Titles Building was constructed in 1910 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to serve as the land titles registry due to rapid population growth. It was designed in the Classical Revival style with fireproof brick and stone construction. In 1922, the building was expanded to replicate the original structure. In 1999, the building underwent restoration to become the Yvette Moore Gallery, carefully restoring original features like copper doors and plasterwork while incorporating period-appropriate decor. The Land Titles Building was designated a Heritage Property in 1997 in recognition of its historical and architectural significance.

1. HISTORY OF THE LAND TITLES BUILDING
The Land Titles Building was constructed in 1910 and until 1998,held the distinction of being the only one of
eleven survivingLand Registry facilities in theprovinceto maintain its original function. This buildingreplaced a
temporary Land Titles facility established here around 1907, a time when Moose Jaw and area were experiencing
accelerated population and development growth. The buildingof a new Land Titles Registry was prompted by the
rapid population growth that Moose Jaw experienced in the early partof the century. Moose Jaw’s reported
population increased from1,558 in 1901 and 6,249 in 1906, to 13,823 in 1911. This growth, together with its
evolution into an important regional commercial and administrativecentrejustified and necessitated the
establishmentof this substantial Land Titles Building.
The contractfor the construction of the new Land Titles Officewas awarded to the Navin Bros. of Moose Jaw in
July, 1910 at a priceof $35,920.00,and the buildingwas completed and fit for useby the end of the year. The
building’s design was the work of the Regina architectural firm,Storey and Van Egmond. Although this building
featured the highly contrastingbrick and Tyndall stoneas facingmaterials and theround-arched window forms of
the earlier provincial Land Titles Buildings,its overall design was more Classical Revival in inspiration. Beingthat
the buildingwas used for holdingand protection of importantdocuments, the total construction was of fireproof
materials. The concrete construction,with brick and stone exterior, was extended into the building’s interior with
plaster mouldings,keystones, beams, and wall finish. The interior doors and windows were faced with copper —
one of the most unique and intriguinginterior features. The height of the ceilings stand ateighteen feet, addingto
the elegant atmosphere and breathtakinggrandeur of the building. In 1922,the buildingwas expanded alongthe
street façadein a manner that replicated the form and decoration detailingthe original structure. The brick on the
east wall was carefully removed and reused on the front and the new east and north walls were assembled using
Tee Pee Moka brick from Claybank’s brick plant.
The restoration of the Land Titles buildingand the change to its currentuse as The Yvette Moore Gallery began in
January of 1999,when Yvette Moore, alongwith an army of friends and family began the work with a scheduled
completion of March 26, 1999. The task at hand was great, but the dedication and hard work was even greater.
The project consisted of plaster repair usingover 2,500 lbs.of plaster;removing the original flooring;and
refinishingas much of the original furnishingsto be used as partof the décor. The hard work was not without its
fascinatingsurprises. Thirty gallonsof paintstripper uncovered the copper doors and window frames that have
been a staplein the Gallery’s uniquedécor and allure. The colour scheme was derived from the original plaster on
the ceilings,which dated back to 1922,but had been hidden beneath suspended ceilings for the lastfifty years.
The chandeliers in the main Gallery arenot originalsbutarereproductions of the copper fixtures that closely
match the original décor. All elements of décor were chosen carefully to mimic the origina l look and feel of the era
in which the buildingwas born. The School House lightfixtures in the building’s addition areclosereplicas of the
original fixtures thatwere common to the era. The furnishings includesomeof the original steel cabinets,da ting
back to the early 1900’s. Interestingly,the countertops still havethe genuine fireproof battleship linoleumthatis
part of the original construction of the building,almosta century ago.
The Land Titles Buildingwas designated a Heritage Property in 1997, celebratingits historical mark in MooseJaw’s
history and legacy. The focus of the restoration and usageof such a beautiful and grand architecture is to bring
back the attention to the material and workmanship evident in the early years of a century passed. We hope you
enjoy this gem of architecture as much as we enjoyed bringingitback.