Legacy of man behind Plains Hotel weather vane will shine on Capital Pointe

As construction is set to begin on the long-anticipated Capital Pointe condo/hotel building in Regina, the family of Bert Lindenbach is thrilled with the chance to see his legacy shine again.

Lindenbach installed the weather vane on the Plains Hotel in 1962 and maintained the sign until 1990. Members of his family were on the site Tuesday where the Plains once stood as construction of the new development was officially announced.

“Our whole family is very, very pleased that (the project) is going to go forward,” Wendy Burke, Lindenbach’s daughter, said.

Burke can still remember when her father was installing the weathe rvane. He came home at lunch that day and told his children about the project.

“Telling us about it … carrying the lengths of neon tubing up to install on the weather tower. He did have to, when he installed the sign, had to do some modifications with it because the Plains wasn’t build to have something of that size on it.”

Lindenbach’s son, Lloyd, even helped his father with the maintenance of the sign from 1978 to 1990.

Burke said her family was saddened when the weather vane was taken down ahead of the demolition of the Plains Hotel. However, her father was pleased that it would have a new home on the Capital Pointe Building.

Burke admitted the whole family was shocked last week when they learned that the sign hadn’t been placed in storage, instead spending the last four years rusting away on top of a building in Regina. She was glad to learn that the sign has now been recovered, and will still have a place on the new building.

Lindenbach passed away in December 2010, but Burke said she felt as though he was with them at Tuesday’s announcement.

“He’s here! (And) he’s happy!”