Historic Eamon's gas station to be saved

A mid-century service station in northwest Calgary will be preserved, city council decided on Monday.

The remains of Eamons Bungalow Campare onCrowchild Trail just past Stoney Trail where the future Tuscany LRT station and park and ride will be constructed.

The former gas station, built around 1950 in the Art Moderne style, featured a restaurant and cabins. The remaining building and its art deco sign remained landmarks long after the business closed.

Council voted to spend about $500,000 to remove the building from the site during construction. It will then be returned and incorporated into the LRT development, possibly as a cafe. The original sign will also be salvaged.

The cost of leaving the structure and working around it was estimated to be about $1 million.

The building dates back to 1951 when it was opened as a stop for people driving along the highway between Calgary and Banff.