Burns Manor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burns Manor |
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Burns Manor circa 1903
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| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Private Residence |
| Location | [[File:|22x20px|border |alt=|link=]] Calgary Canada |
| Coordinates | 51°02′28″N 114°04′19″W / 51.04118°N 114.07196°W |
| Construction started | 1900 |
| Completed | 1903 |
| Demolished | 1956 |
| Cost | $32,000 - 40,000 (1903) |
| Owner | Pat Burns |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Francis M. Rattenbury |
| Main contractor | Thomas Underwood |
Burns Manor was a grand home in Calgary, Alberta. It belonged to Pat Burns, a very successful businessman. He was known for starting Burns Meat, a big company. The house was located in the Beltline District of Calgary. Building the manor started in July 1900 and finished in January 1903. Sadly, the house was torn down in May 1956. This was to make space for a bigger hospital. Today, the land where Burns Manor once stood is now the site of the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre.
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Building a Grand Home
Pat Burns decided to build his dream home in 1900. He asked his good friend, Francis Rattenbury, to design it. Rattenbury was a famous architect from Victoria, British Columbia. For the actual building work, Pat Burns hired Thomas Underwood. Underwood later became the Mayor of Calgary.
The outside of the house was mostly made of sandstone. This stone came from a place called the Shaganappi Quarry. Wood for the house was cut at Colonel Walker's sawmill. The doors were made of strong oak wood. The total cost to build the house was between $32,000 and $40,000. This was a lot of money back in 1903! More money was spent on the land, gardens, and furniture.
What Did It Look Like?
Burns Manor was built in a style called Neo-Gothic. It also had touches of Arts and Crafts and French Chateau designs. People often said it looked like "a mix of a French Chateau and an Irish castle." The house was balanced on both sides. It had steep roofs and fancy stone carvings. These carvings included gargoyles and family symbols. The large gardens around the house were like a beautiful English country garden. A low stone wall surrounded the property.
Inside the Manor
The inside of Burns Manor was just as grand. It had eighteen rooms! This included ten bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a special room for plants called a conservatory. The house used a lot of expensive wood from the eastern parts of Canada. Oak wood was used for the doors, wall panels, and floors. Even the fireplace decorations were made of oak. Many of the furnishings and decorations were brought all the way from England.
A Look Back in Time
Building the house started in July 1900 on a large piece of land. By October, the stone foundation was ready. Pat Burns got married in London, England, in September 1901. When he and his wife came back to Calgary, they stayed in a hotel. They moved into Burns Manor in January 1903, a bit later than planned.
The head gardener, William Reader, lived in a small house on the property. He later became Calgary's Superintendent of Parks. Another gardener, William Mayhew, worked there from 1917 to 1937.
In 1905, when Alberta became a province, a special party was held at Burns Manor. Important guests like Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who was Canada's Prime Minister, and his wife, Lady Laurier, attended. Over the years, the Burns family welcomed many important people. This included members of the royal family, famous writers, and politicians. In 1911, the house and land were worth about $150,000. That would be worth much more today!
After Patrick Burns passed away in February 1937, the house was empty for two years. In 1939, it was rented out to house "20 bachelor boarders." During World War II, the government used the house. It became a place for soldiers to recover.
Why It Was Torn Down
In 1941, the government bought the property. They planned to build a new hospital there. Burns' large stone house was used as part of the new hospital at first.
In May 1955, some people tried to save the house. Mrs. A. H. Turney, who led a hospital support group, wanted to keep it. She thought it was an important "historical landmark." Her group wanted to use the house as a club for patients. But their efforts were not successful.
In May 1956, Burns Manor was torn down. This was to make way for a new entrance to the Colonel Belcher Hospital. People from Calgary came and took parts of the house. They took oak fireplaces, staircases, and stone. City workers even moved some of the sandstone to a park. This stone was used to build the Senator Patrick Burns Memorial Gardens.
Today, the Sheldon M. Chumir Centre stands where Burns Manor once was.
Images for kids
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Burns Manor circa 1903
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Pat Burns in driveway of his mansion ca. 1930
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Burns Manor, ca. July -September 1905
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View of Central Memorial Park in Calgary with the Colonel Belcher Hospital in the background
