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Gough's violin shop in 2013. Photo: George Webber</p></div></div></div></div><div 211class="storyDetailHero__contentWrapper contain lanes"><div 212class="lanes__gutter"></div><div 213class="lanes__content"><div 214class="storyDetailHero__content padding"><h1 class="storyDetailHero__heading" id="storyHeader">The soul of a city: Elegy for a little violin shop on 16th Avenue</h1><h2 class="storyDetailHero__subheading">Calgary is lesser without it.</h2><div 215class="storyDetailHero__border"></div><div 216class="storyDetail__info"><div 217class="storyDetail__meta"><div 218class="storyDetail__author"> 219<a 220href="https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/about-us/harry-sanders_3416">Harry Sanders</a></div><div 221class="storyDetail__categories"> 222⢠223<a 224href="https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/stories/calgary-history" class="highlight-hover">Calgary History</a></div> 225<time 226class="storyDetail__date" datetime="2026-09-08"> 227⢠September 08 2026 228</time></div></div></div></div></div></div><div 229class="storyDetail__share storyDetail__share--vertical" id="storyShare"> 230<a 231href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=The soul of a city: Elegy for a little violin shop on 16th Avenue%20(https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/gough-violin-shop-harry-sanders-elegy)" target="_blank" class="highlight-hover"> 232<img 233src="https://www.sprawlcalgary.com//assets/images/bluesky.svg" alt="BlueSky" width="24" height="24"> 234</a> 235<a 236href="mailto:?Subject="The soul of a city: Elegy for a little violin shop on 16th Avenue" | The Sprawl&Body="The soul of a city: Elegy for a little violin shop on 16th Avenue" by The Sprawl: https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/gough-violin-shop-harry-sanders-elegy" class="highlight-hover"> 237<i 238class="icon-mail"></i> 239</a></div><div 240class="storyDetail__content pageContent"><div 241class="mixedContent"><div 242class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--richText gutters-b"><div 243class="richText contain padding-h"><div 244class="lanes"><div 245class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p><strong>Calgary historian Harry Sanders wrote this story for </strong><i><strong>The Sprawl</strong></i><strong> in 2019 after W.A. Goughâs violin shop was demolished. </strong><a 246href="https://www.mhfh.com/obituaries/Harry-M-Sanders?obId=49538718&utm_source=copy+url&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=obituary-share&utm_content=copy+url" target="_blank"><strong>Sanders died</strong></a><strong> on September 6, 2026, at the age of 59. He wrote countless such pieces throughout his career, enthusiastically shedding light on the cityâs forgotten stories and places. We are republishing this story today to honour Sandersâs life and work. This was originally published on December 30, 2019.</strong></p></div><div 247class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 248class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><hr><div 249class="lanes"><div 250class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p><br>The diminutive wood-frame building, with its stuccoed false front and distinctive sign, was a landmark for thousands of daily motorists on this stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway.</p></div><div 251class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 252class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 253class="lanes"><div 254class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Few, if any, ever set foot inside the 110-year-old building at 120 16th Avenue N.W.</p></div><div 255class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 256class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 257class="lanes"><div 258class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>It didnât matter. Just the sight of it added richness to the commute and city tapestry. Few structures are as old and evocative of what the street had once been.</p></div><div 259class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 260class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 261class="lanes"><div 262class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>
262When the building was constructed in 1909 or 1910, this stretch of 16th Avenue lay in the short-lived village of Crescent Heights, which had its own council, school board, constable and volunteer fire brigade.</p></div><div 263class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 264class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 265class="lanes"><div 266class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Its demolition in September severed one of the last tangible links to that forgotten history.</p></div><div 267class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 268class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div></div></div><div 269class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--image gutters-b"><figure 270class="lanes imageBlock imageBlock--inline contain imageBlock--shadow shadow--black"><div 271class="lanes__gutter"></div><div 272class="lanes__content"><div 273class="imageBlock__wrapper" style="max-width: 80%; margin: 0 auto;"><div 274class="ratioBox" style="padding-bottom: 74.4%"> 275<img 276class="imageBlock__img lazyload blur" 277src="/imager/images/3374/gough-1_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_9efe06dabeab71b60877e5a9cf35f985.jpg" 278data-srcset="/imager/images/3374/gough-1_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_9efe06dabeab71b60877e5a9cf35f985.jpg 1100w, /imager/images/3374/gough-1_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_3a9fb348c8cb5ce9d13f5c70384d6e75.jpg 550w, /imager/images/3374/gough-1_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_d37a79a8069cfb0f0e4e36581efe4483.jpg 275w" 279data-sizes="auto"></div></div></div><div 280class="lanes__gutter"><figcaption 281class="imageBlock__caption">Al Gough's violin shop in 2014. Photo: George Webber</figcaption></div></figure></div><div 282class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--richText gutters-b"><div 283class="richText contain padding-h"><div 284class="lanes"><div 285class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Some Calgarians had more than a passing acquaintance with the building.</p></div><div 286class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 287class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 288class="lanes"><div 289class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Al Gough, who operated his store and repair shop there for over a quarter-century, maintained instruments for most of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestraâs violinists. Loyal customers trusted him to repair their instruments or to sell them new ones. And the small scholarships he gave to young competitors in the Kiwanis Music Festival remain in their memories.</p></div><div 290class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 291class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 292class="lanes"><div 293class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Gough built his first instrument at the age of six, but he made his initial career as a mechanic. In the 1980s, he apprenticed as a luthier (a maker of stringed instruments) and established his niche business.</p></div><div 294class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 295class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div></div></div><div 296class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--quoteCallout gutters-b"><div 297class="quoteCallout"><div 298class="quoteCallout__inner contain"><div 299class="quoteCallout__icon highlight"> 300<i 301class="icon-quote-sharp"></i></div><div 302class="quoteCallout__content"> 303<quoteblock ><p 304class="quoteCallout__quote"> 305Gough maintained instruments for most of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestraâs violinists.</p><footer 306class="quoteCallout__citation"> 307<cite></cite></footer> 308</quoteblock></div></div></div></div><div 309class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--richText gutters-b"><div 310class="richText contain padding-h"><div 311class="lanes"><div 312class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>It was shuttered in 2013 when Gough died. âThe little building has sat vacant before,â observed local historian Alan Zakrison in 2019, âalways waiting for another little business to make it come alive.â</p></div><div 313class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 314class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 315class="lanes"><div 316class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Indeed, every generation had its Al Gough at 120 16th Avenue N.W.</p></div><div 317class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 318class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 319class="lanes"><div 320class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>The first might have been H. Beale, its earliest recorded owner. But little is known of him, and n
320othing is known of the buildingâs original use.</p></div><div 321class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 322class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 323class="lanes"><div 324class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Next came Milward V. Anderson, a plumber from Edinburgh who rented it for his business in 1912. Anderson lived in Crescent Heights and was financial secretary of the neighbourhoodâs Foresters lodge. He once told the <i>Calgary Herald</i> that the city should have been on the North Hill and not âin the swamps below.â</p></div><div 325class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 326class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div></div></div><div 327class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--image gutters-b"><figure 328class="lanes imageBlock imageBlock--inline contain imageBlock--shadow shadow--black"><div 329class="lanes__gutter"></div><div 330class="lanes__content"><div 331class="imageBlock__wrapper" style="max-width: 80%; margin: 0 auto;"><div 332class="ratioBox" style="padding-bottom: 70.1%"> 333<img 334class="imageBlock__img lazyload blur" 335src="/imager/images/3384/16ave1920s_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_9efe06dabeab71b60877e5a9cf35f985.jpg" 336data-srcset="/imager/images/3384/16ave1920s_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_9efe06dabeab71b60877e5a9cf35f985.jpg 1100w, /imager/images/3384/16ave1920s_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_3a9fb348c8cb5ce9d13f5c70384d6e75.jpg 550w, /imager/images/3384/16ave1920s_9930bae6f47bdb3e94be9b76edef03fc_d37a79a8069cfb0f0e4e36581efe4483.jpg 275w" 337data-sizes="auto"></div></div></div><div 338class="lanes__gutter"><figcaption 339class="imageBlock__caption">Looking west on 16th Avenue from Centre Street in 1920. The building is on the right. Photo: Glenbow Archives, University of Calgary)</figcaption></div></figure></div><div 340class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--richText gutters-b"><div 341class="richText contain padding-h"><div 342class="lanes"><div 343class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Anderson Plumbing soon moved to another 16th Avenue location, and the little building remained vacant for years. Its mostly short-term occupants in the 1920s and 1930s included Margaret Knoxâs hat shop, Gertrude Loweâs dry goods store, and Alma Campbellâs confectionery.</p></div><div 344class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 345class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 346class="lanes"><div 347class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>From about 1941 to 1955, it doubled as Natâs Barber Shop and the home of owner Ignatz (âNatâ) Marbach, his wife, Ivy, and their children.</p></div><div 348class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 349class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 350class="lanes"><div 351class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Nat and Ivy built a rear extension in the early '40s.</p></div><div 352class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 353class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div></div></div><div 354class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--image gutters-b"><figure 355class="lanes imageBlock imageBlock--inline contain imageBlock--shadow shadow--black"><div 356class="lanes__gutter"></div><div 357class="lanes__content"><div 358class="imageBlock__wrapper" style="max-width: 80%; margin: 0 auto;"><div 359class="ratioBox" style="padding-bottom: 71.2%"> 360<img 361class="imageBlock__img lazyload blur" 362src="/imager/images/3422/nats-barber-shop-colour2_281783be6dbabd86e9cee4a43d10d458_e62276a0eb4f313beb296646e0ec8e59.jpg" 363data-srcset="/imager/images/3422/nats-barber-shop-colour2_281783be6dbabd86e9cee4a43d10d458_e62276a0eb4f313beb296646e0ec8e59.jpg 1389w, /imager/images/3422/nats-barber-shop-colour2_281783be6dbabd86e9cee4a43d10d458_b5c2c0e7f76edb6182f4fc0af619be90.jpg 694w, /imager/images/3422/nats-barber-shop-colour2_281783be6dbabd86e9cee4a43d10d458_423892ac3029d4bfa7c91110844f8c83.jpg 347w" 364data-sizes="auto"></div></div></div><div 365class="lanes__gutter"><figcaption 366class="imageBlock__caption">Nat Marbach at his shop in the 1940s. Photo courtesy of Doreen Milhousen</figcaption></div></figure></div><div 367class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--richText gutters-b"><div 368class="richText contain padding-h"><div 369class="lanes"><div 370class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Nat saved customersâ hair to insulate the garage. âIt took him almost a year in his one-chair barber shop to get enough,â the <i>Herald</i> reported in 1942, âbut the job is now finished and Nat says itâs fine stuff.â</p></div><div 371class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 372class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 373class="lanes"><div 374class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Nat decorated his workplace with 200 types of fishing lures that he made from customersâ hair and bright pieces of metal supplied by friends who worked in machine shops.</p></div><div 375class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 376class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 377class="lanes"><div 378class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>
378Dutch immigrant Werner Bastiaannet, a trained beautician and an accomplished zither player, took over in 1955 and operated Wernerâs Hairstyling and Barber Shop with his wife, Paula.</p></div><div 379class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 380class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div></div></div><div 381class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--image gutters-b"><figure 382class="lanes imageBlock imageBlock--inline contain imageBlock--shadow shadow--black"><div 383class="lanes__gutter"></div><div 384class="lanes__content"><div 385class="imageBlock__wrapper" style="max-width: 547px; margin: 0 auto;"><div 386class="ratioBox" style="padding-bottom: 71.8%"> 387<img 388class="imageBlock__img lazyload blur" 389src="/imager/images/3423/werners-ad_fe182a29e8f4591d05bdb27ff7775d89_0b2e557f3c7d7b6bb5974df56e16c91d.jpg" 390data-srcset="/imager/images/3423/werners-ad_fe182a29e8f4591d05bdb27ff7775d89_0b2e557f3c7d7b6bb5974df56e16c91d.jpg 547w, /imager/images/3423/werners-ad_fe182a29e8f4591d05bdb27ff7775d89_476b39bede376f8ba70a3738c88635c7.jpg 273w, /imager/images/3423/werners-ad_fe182a29e8f4591d05bdb27ff7775d89_f9886a2ddfccb9b43b30e203eb74631b.jpg 136w" 391data-sizes="auto"></div></div></div><div 392class="lanes__gutter"><figcaption 393class="imageBlock__caption">A 1956 newspaper ad for Werner's.</figcaption></div></figure></div><div 394class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--richText gutters-b"><div 395class="richText contain padding-h"><div 396class="lanes"><div 397class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>In 1957, Werner performed with the CPO at the new Jubilee Auditorium using an electric zither that he had personally modified.</p></div><div 398class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 399class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 400class="lanes"><div 401class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Frits Bastiaannet, who lived behind the shop with his parents and siblings, remembers his father performing at the Banff Springs Hotel for Prince Rainier of Monaco. âHe asked my mother to dance,â Frits recalled.</p></div><div 402class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 403class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 404class="lanes"><div 405class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>In 1961, Arlo Musselman bought the business for $4,200 and operated it with his wife, Edith. Their son Shane was born in the family quarters behind the salon, and he had his first haircut in the shopâs barber chairâwhich now has pride of place in his Scenic Acres living room.</p></div><div 406class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 407class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div></div></div><div 408class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--image gutters-b"><figure 409class="lanes imageBlock imageBlock--inline contain imageBlock--shadow shadow--black"><div 410class="lanes__gutter"></div><div 411class="lanes__content"><div 412class="imageBlock__wrapper" style="max-width: 40%; margin: 0 auto;"><div 413class="ratioBox" style="padding-bottom: 133.3%"> 414<img 415class="imageBlock__img lazyload blur" 416src="/imager/images/3387/barberchair_bce8eb447cb35c69a33a250b79987b1e_895166982f267bedb8b12ac2fff67c52.JPG" 417data-srcset="/imager/images/3387/barberchair_bce8eb447cb35c69a33a250b79987b1e_895166982f267bedb8b12ac2fff67c52.JPG 480w, /imager/images/3387/barberchair_bce8eb447cb35c69a33a250b79987b1e_1471f319cff449d6c8d162bc13e5cb9c.JPG 240w, /imager/images/3387/barberchair_bce8eb447cb35c69a33a250b79987b1e_9595100fe6801bfe141a7afb1b7387a5.JPG 120w" 418data-sizes="auto"></div></div></div><div 419class="lanes__gutter"><figcaption 420class="imageBlock__caption">The chair from Arlo Musselman's barber shop. Photo courtesy of Shane Musselman</figcaption></div></figure></div><div 421class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--richText gutters-b"><div 422class="richText contain padding-h"><div 423class="lanes"><div 424class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Arloâs Hairstyling & Barber Shop moved in the mid-1970s, and the building became the home of Henry T. Kwong, a Hong Kong immigrant who co-founded the nearby Gold Horse Restaurant in 1976.</p></div><div 425class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 426class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 427class="lanes"><div 428class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Finally, in 1986, Al Gough hung his shingle.</p></div><div 429class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 430class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 431class="lanes"><div 432class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Two decades later, a street-widening project threatened his tenancy. Alone on the block, Goughâs shop occupied its entire lot, and public consultations identified this spot as a âpinch pointâ that made pedestrians feel unsafe, even without a wider 16th Avenue. The city bought the building to demolish it.</p></div><div 433class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 434class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 435class="lanes"><div 436class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>But ultimately, the city left Gough alone. âHe has put up with enough,â said a transportation spokesperson in 2010.</p></div><div 437class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 438class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 439class="lanes"><div 440class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>The city subdivided the property, kept the part it needed for the sidew
440alk and sold the remaining portion of the lot. Goughâs empty shop outlived him.</p></div><div 441class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 442class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 443class="lanes"><div 444class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>While it was under threat, customer Mary Graham vented her frustration in a letter to the <i>Herald</i>.</p></div><div 445class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 446class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 447class="lanes"><div 448class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>âWhat is the city going to do,â she asked, âwhen someone in a public consultation points out that weâve lost our soul by eliminating places like this violin shop that give us significance?â</p></div><div 449class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 450class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 451class="lanes"><div 452class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>Graham answered her own question: âRemove the sterile concrete pedestrian corridor and try to get it back.â</p></div><div 453class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 454class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 455class="lanes"><div 456class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p>If only we could.</p></div><div 457class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 458class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div><div 459class="lanes"><div 460class="lanes__content--p order-1 lanes__content"><p><i>Harry Sanders is a Calgary historian and freelance writer.</i></p></div><div 461class="lanes__gutter order-0"></div><div 462class="lanes__gutter order-2"></div></div></div></div><div 463class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--supportCallout gutters-b"><div 464class="supportCallout supportCallout--normal supportCallout--white"><div 465class="contain padding-h"><div 466class="supportCallout__content"><h3>Support independent journalismâhelp us get 90 new members!</h3><a 467href="https://sprawlcalgary.fundjournalism.org/donate/" target="_blank" class="btn md:hover:bg-white" style="border-color: #000000; background: #00f586;"> 468Sign Me Up! 469</a><div 470class="supportCallout__body"><p> 471To celebrate The Sprawlâs 9th anniversary, weâre aiming to get 90 new members by the end of September. If you value in-depth, curiosity-driven journalism, support our work so we can keep digging into municipal issues in Calgary!</p></div></div></div></div></div><div 472class="mixedContent__block mixedContent__block--storyTiles gutters-b"><div 473class="contain padding-h"><ul
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