Former Fire Station #2 in Medicine Hat, Alberta

Earlier this year the former Fire Station #2 located on Dunmore Road in Medicine Hat, Alberta was up for sale. With a new fire station opened on Trans Canada Way, the future of this distinct structure seemed uncertain. Flash forward to this past week and renovations to transform the former fire hall into a unique commercial space have begun.

The local couple who purchased the fire station sent me a message last week asking if I'd like to come and explore the building. As it turned it out they were just beginning to remove some of the drop ceilings so the space otherwise looked pretty much unchanged from when the firefighters had vacated it. While it's certainly not the most conventional renovation, the two expressed how they plan to maintain some of the unique characteristics of the fire hall. This should definitely be an interesting transformation to keep an eye on, not unlike some of the other unique spaces (like the Beveridge Block or Earl Kitchener) that I've documented in Medicine Hat.

Inside the hose tower of the former fire station.

Kinsol Trestle on Vancouver Island

Completed in 1920, the Kinsol Trestle is a former railway bridge on Vancouver Island that was restored and converted for use by pedestrians and cyclists in 2011. The bridge spans the Koksilah River and forms part of the Trans Canada Trail network. As one of the largest wooden trestle bridges in the world, crossing the Kinsol Trestle is a memorable experience, heightened by the incredible views of the surrounding Cowichan Valley.  

Archival image of a train crossing the former railway trestle.

World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia

Located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, the World of Coca-Cola is an interactive museum dedicated to everything Coke. From memorabilia spanning decades to a tasting room featuring Coca-Cola from around the world to a fully functioning bottling line producing souvenir bottles of Coke, the World of Coca-Cola is a fascinating place, not least of which, because it's an almost endless celebration of one of the biggest brands on the planet.

With Coca-Cola HQ located in Atlanta it's really no surprise to see the brand showcased like this here. In 2011, as part of Coca-Cola's 125th anniversary, the legendary secret formula was transferred from a vault at SunTrust Bank in downtown Atlanta to the World of Coca-Cola. Visitors can now view The Vault of the Secret Formula as a permanent exhibit, but you'll just have to take their word for it that it's actually in there. 

I genuinely enjoyed exploring the World of Coca-Cola. They do a good job of representing some of the history and quirks of their brand (New Coke, anyone?) while also playing into the novelty of having people essentially walk through a giant advertisement for a soft drink. A few highlights not to be missed are the Best Picture Academy Award for Gandhi (1982) on display (Coca-Cola owned Columbia Pictures at the time) as well as a variety of unique Coca-Cola memorabilia surrounding the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. 

Vault of the Secret Formula.

Bottling line at World of Coca-Cola.

Entrance to the Secret Formula Exhibit.

Best Picture Oscar for Gandhi.