Barron Family
Jacob B. & Amelia Barron
Jacob Bell Barron was born on January 1, 1888 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Joseph and Elizabeth (Bell) Barron, both of whom immigrated from Russia to Winnipeg around 1882. Both Jacob and his brother, Abraham Lee Barron (1889-1966), attended and sequentially graduated as the first graduates of Dawson City High School. Jacob subsequently attended The University of Chicago Law School and graduated in 1911, in the 4th graduating class of that prestigious school. Jacob then moved to Calgary in 1911, and he was admitted to the Law Society of Alberta in 1912.
On July 8, 1914, Jacob married Amelia Helman, who was born to John and Esther (Finklestein) Helman on September 24, 1888, after their immigration from Russia in 1882. Amelia had two siblings, Miriam Leith (1889-1986) and Samuel Joseph Helman, Q.C. (1893-1981). Amelia moved to Calgary from Winnipeg to live with Jacob, where they raised their three children, William J. Barron (1915-1991), Robert H. Barron, Q.C. (1916-2008), and Richard H. Barron (1921-2016). In addition to being both a school teacher and a piano teacher, Amelia was very active with Hadassah from its inception in Calgary.Amelia became President of the Calgary Chapter and held that office for many years, until her death on May 3, 1959. As Hadassah’s president, Amelia brought many outstanding women speakers to Calgary, including Goldie Myerson (later, Meir) and Eleanor Roosevelt.
In 1923, Jacob acquired the Palace Theatre in Calgary, where he brought many great concert artists, amongst whom were Rachmaninoff, Heifitz, and the London String Quartet. Jacob operated the Palace Theatre until 1936, when he resumed the active practice of law. Also in 1936, Jacob acquired the Grand Theatre. Jacob operated the Grand Theatre, as well as The Uptown, the Odeon and the 17th Avenue Drive-In, until his death on September 27,1965.
In 1951, Jacob completed construction of the Barron Building, the first office building built in Calgary since the 1920’s and Calgary’s first skyscraper. The Barron Building, was conceived of by Jacob and became a hub for oil companies, and was thus responsible for anchoring the headquarters of the oil industry in Calgary, rather than in Edmonton. Furthermore, the Barron Building, one of Canada’s most respected examples of Art Moderne architecture, is recognized and protected as a heritage site in Calgary, with the result that its distinctive façade, canopy and lobby terrazzo flooring are protected, despite the building’s proposed conversion into residential use.
In 1959, Jacob laid the cornerstone of Calgary’s Shaarey Tzedec Synagogue. A photo of this occasion, including the shovel that Jacob used for this event, are commemorated in the museum inside the Shaarey Tzedec.
In 1964, to honour Jacob as an important Calgary pioneer, two Calgary streets, Barron Drive and Barron Crescent, were named after him.
