Kenneth McLeod

Kenneth Archibald McLeod (September 7, 1858 – July 27, 1940), was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a municipal councillor in Edmonton. He was also the builder of the McLeod Building, Edmonton's first skyscraper. Early life and career McLeod was born September 7, 1858, in Port Elgin, Canada West. His family moved to Kansas in 1870 and homesteaded near Solomon three years before moving to Lynchburg, Virginia. McLeod worked with his father in the lumber and construction businesses. In 1879, he moved to Winnipeg, where he stayed for two years before setting out for Edmonton August 5, 1881. His journey was on foot, in the company of two other men with three oxen, three Red River carts, a buckboard, and a pony. After ninety-one days of travel, he arrived in Edmonton November 3. In Edmonton, he worked as a carpenter and builder until 1888. In 1893, he opened the first sash and door factory and planing mill in the city, which he operated for seven years before selling it in 1900. Also in 1893, he built Fire Hall No. 1, which served as home to the city's fire brigade, police department, town offices, and court house.