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The resulting cost overruns totally exasperated city officials and they responded by holding back payments, causing further delays and hard feelings between all concerned. On 27 July 1868, the City Corporation appointed two independent architects (Frederick J. Rustrick and Alex. C. Hutchison) to act as commissioners, tasked “to examine and report upon the present state of the Drill Hall.” Their Report was published in detail in the August 20th edition of the Montreal Gazette. Problems included walls out of plumb, inadequate pilings and footings, as well as other flaws, all of which ensured lengthy delays and costly overruns.3 The specifications did not include adequate lighting nor did they provide for a finished level floor, a serious omission for a military drill hall.
Construction of what was then being called the notorious building went on for months and was routinely covered by local newspapers. As previously mentioned, the building had a fatal flaw: the huge roof over the drill hall, spanning 123 feet, was held together by a series of iron tie rods. As the building covered two acres of ground, covering such a building with a roof, unsupported by pillars, “seemed [to be] running great risk.” In defense of the architects and contractors, the supporting pillars were omitted in order to leave the drill hall free from any interfering obstacles. An inherent weakness in this design was that the tie rod nuts needed to be “tightened or loosened ... as the iron contracted and expanded with changes in temperature. This would prove to be the structure’s undoing.” 4
The Montreal volunteers being inspected on the Champ de Mars, 20 April 1870. The towers of the new Craig Street Drill Hall can be seen behind the row of trees to the left of the illustration (Canadian Illustrated News, 7 May 1870).
While the drill hall was essentially complete by Fall 1869, it still lacked an adequate lighting system or even a level drill floor. In protest, the Montreal volunteers continued to use the Bonsecours Market, much to the chagrin of its civilian tenants. This was too much for the City Corporation, who then refused to let the volunteers use the City Concert Hall. So, late in 1869, the volunteers reluctantly moved into the new drill hall, even though it was still under construction – and then only with the permission of the contractor, as even by that late date, the building had not been turned over to the Corporation. As a result, it does not appear there was an official opening ceremony. The closest event to an official opening was the large Garrison Artillery Concert and Ball held on 17 November 1869 under the patronage of HRH Prince Arthur, with the fine band of the Prince Consort’s Own Rifle Brigade in attendance. This event forced the speedy construction of a suitable wood dance floor, as well as completion of a gas lighting system. After so many years of frustration, the Craig Street Drill Hall was finally open for business and the 5th Royal Light Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Haviland L. Routh, had a new regimental home they could be proud of – at least when compared to their quarters in the Bonsecours Market.
Montreal Garrison Artillery Ball (Canadian Illustrated News, 27 November 1869). The image shows the decorative flags hanging from the iron tie rods.
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