text: Rare construction photos of the Calgary Tower, as it turns 50 | Calgary Herald
  Rare construction photos of the Calgary Tower from 50 years ago
  The Calgary Tower, photographed while under construction in July 1967, when it truly did dominate the Calgary skyline. The Meccano-like scaffolding on the left side was a temporary structure designed to facilitate the movement of workers and materials to the top of the concrete shaft. Calgary Herald archives CALwp
  The Calgary Tower has been a defining part of the city's skyline since construction began in 1967. The tower opened in June 1968, meaning it turns 50 this month. (To read more about the tower's birthday check out Stephanie Babych's story in the Herald here and Val Fortney's column.)
  A comb through the Herald photo archives revealed memorable photos of construction of the tower — then named the Husky Tower — from five decades ago. Some of the pictures haven't seen the light of day for 50 years.
  Photo of Calgary Tower construction site taken Feb. 16, 1967. Caption reads, "Space Needle Model Rises Above Site . . . construction may begin this week." Calgary Herald archives Calgary
  Photo taken spring 1967: The Husky Tower was poised to completely change the skyline of Calgary. Calgary Herald archives Calgary
  Photo from June 8, 1967. A view from Centre Street. Around noon, workers poured the final bucket of concrete at the top of the Husky Tower's 493-foot shaft, completing the first phase of construction. This phase of construction took 24 days and occurred without serious injuries. When completed in 1968, the spire of the tower was planned to reach 600 feet with the estimated cost being $50,000 a foot. Calgary Herald archives Calgary
  Photo from summer 1967: Construction continues on the Calgary Tower; this shot also showcases the long-standing Palliser Hotel and its signage 51 years ago. Calgary
  Photo taken Aug. 8, 1967: The first steel trusses for the restaurant atop the Husky Tower were attached the previous week. Calgary Herald archives Calgary
  The Husky Tower, as it was called then, under construction in 1967. Calgary Herald archives Postmedia Archives
  Photo taken Nov. 7, 1967: The top of the Husky Tower has almost taken its full shape by fall 1967. Calgary Herald archives Calgary
  Photo taken January 17, 1968. A welder working on the top of the tower shows how dangerous the work could be. This photo's archived caption notes, "Workers are prevented from sailing down to the miniature office buildings below by a catch guard." The building to the left of the worker is the Central Library. Calgary Herald archives Calgary
  Photo taken April 24, 1968: The 50-year-old caption for this photo reads, "Four cloud-touching workmen cling to the freight elevator scaffolding on the outside of the Husky Tower as they begin to unbolt the tower's 540-foot skeleton and hoist it to the ground. The workers, who have to climb the scaffolding each morning to begin work, should have the structure down by the end of the week. The freight elevator served as the tower's umbilical cord until last week when the first of the two inside elevators went into action." Calgary Herald archives Calgary
  Calgary Tower, photographed while under construction in July 1967, when it truly did dominate the Calgary skyline. The Meccano-like scaffolding on the left side was a temporary structure designed to facilitate the movement of workers and materials to the top of the concrete shaft. Calgary Herald archives CALwp
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