Hart House (Calgary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hart House |
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The Hart House overlooking Calgary
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| Former names | Varsity Heights Crandell House |
| Alternative names | Hart Mansion Crandell-Hart House |
| General information | |
| Status | Protected, used as a hotel |
| Type | Mansion |
| Architectural style | Victorian and Edwardian |
| Address | 435 Patina Place SW |
| Town or city | Calgary, Alberta |
| Country | Canada |
| Completed | 1905 |
The Hart House, also known as the Hart mansion, is a famous old house in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It's located in the Patterson Heights neighborhood. This mansion was once owned by Stu Hart, a legendary figure in professional wrestling. For 52 years, from 1951 to 2003, it was home to his large wrestling family.
Even though the Hart family no longer owns it, the mansion is still called the Hart House. It's super important to wrestling history because its basement was a special training area called the Hart Dungeon. Many famous professional wrestlers learned their skills there. The WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) even said the Hart House is as important as Madison Square Garden for wrestling! In 2012, the city of Calgary officially made it a heritage site, which means it's protected because of its history.
Contents
History of the Hart House
The Mansion's Early Years
This large home, about 5600 square feet, sits on over two acres of land. It was built in 1905 by a businessman named Edward Crandell. Later, in 1920, it became a special home for children whose parents were soldiers. It was called the Soldiers' Children's Home for Orphans. After that, Judge Henry Stuart Patterson bought the house from the Crandell family.
The Hart Family Moves In
In October 1951, Stu Hart bought the mansion for $25,000. Stu, his wife Helen, and their young sons Bruce and Keith moved in. Their oldest son, Smith, joined them later. He had been living with his grandparents after Helen was in a car crash.
Stu and Helen had nine more children while living in the Hart House. These included Wayne, Dean, Ellie, Georgia, Bret, Alison, Ross, Diana, and Owen. Bret and Owen became incredibly famous professional wrestlers in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
The mansion was huge, with 22 rooms and four fireplaces. It even had five fancy chandeliers from a historic hotel in Edmonton. There were two porches and a great view of downtown Calgary. Behind the main house was a coach house, connected by a greenhouse.
What Happened After 2003
After Stu Hart passed away in October 2003, most of his children decided to sell the Hart House. Alison Hart showed the home to many people before it was finally sold for about $2 million.
In 2006, there was a discussion about protecting the mansion from being torn down. At first, it was a tie vote, but later, a plan was approved. This plan allowed 13 townhouses to be built around the mansion, and the mansion itself would be restored. In 2008, Ross Hart said he hoped the building would be fixed up but kept in its original style.
The property went up for sale again in 2010 but didn't sell. Then, in December 2012, the City of Calgary officially made it a municipal heritage site. This was part of a deal that also allowed the owner to build nine new houses on the land around the Hart House.
After being renovated in 2013, the house became available for rent. The updated building now has a modern security system, a fancy kitchen, a library, a home office, a gym, family rooms, and six bedrooms.
The Hart Dungeon
The Hart Dungeon was a very important part of the Hart House. It was the gym and training school located in the mansion's basement. Stu Hart and some of his sons used this space to train many wrestlers and other athletes. It's famous for producing some of the greatest names in professional wrestling.
Awards and Recognition
- Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame
- The Hart House is recognized in the "places" category for its importance to wrestling.
