New Location

In April, 1905 the club purchased lot 20, block 15 (complete with building) from A. C. Hawthorne. This lot embraced part of the property now occupied by the club and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building. A loan of $3,000 at 10 per cent interest per annum was arranged with Mrs. Gertrude Noble. The building was renovated to accommodate the club.

In 1907, the club purchased another lot (the “Porter’s lot”) for the express purpose of making a deal with the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The new lot cost $ 7,000 and then part of that lot and the one purchased in 1905 were sold to the bank for $12,000. On the remaining land, the Cypress Club – as it stands today – was erected. W. J. Williams acted as architect. Building the facility were Messrs. Oakes and Everard. They had bid $13,475 for the project – the lowest tender. Another tender was let to R. Walton for $1,450 worth of “plumbing, gas fixtures, etc.” The projects were financed through a $15,000 loan (at 10 per cent yearly interest) from H. C. Yuill. But while the club and the city were building and growing, there came a threat to Medicine Hat’s good name.

A sub-contractor, A.P. Burns began the excavations and poured the concrete foundation, then Oakes and Everand commenced construction of the forty by fifty foot two-story, flat roofed structure. Cement blocks, pressed brick and Calgary sandstone were used in the building, the sandstone being used for the structure's decorative features: the massive rectangular stone pilasters and architrave framing the main entrance, the semi-circular moldings of the main floor windows, keystones, secondary cornice delineating the first and second floors, and the parapet coping.

The classical inspiration of the building is obvious in its rigorous symmetry and the rounded multi-pane transoms capping the first floor apertures. The south façade is pierced by a large stair window of stained glass.

The Cypress Club contains a lounge, billiard room, committee room and writing room, all of which are distinguished by elaborate oak woodwork, the lounge being dominated by a very large cut stone fireplace. Even today, the club still is expressive of luxury and solidity. The restrained dignity of the exterior combined with the richness of its interior fitments, mark it as typical of the private clubs of the day.