Lougheed House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lougheed House |
|
|---|---|
| Beaulieu National Historic Site of Canada | |
Lougheed House Calgary
|
|
| Type | Mansion |
| Location | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Built | 1891 |
| Built for | Senator James Alexander Lougheed |
| Architect | James R. Bowes |
| Architectural style(s) | Queen Anne |
| Governing body | Lougheed House Conservation Society |
| Website | Lougheed House |
| Official name: Beaulieu National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated | June 10, 1992 |
| Official name: Senator Lougheed Residence | |
| Designated | November 29, 1977 |
Lougheed House, also known as Beaulieu (which means "beautiful place" in French), is a special historic site in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was built in 1891 for Senator James Alexander Lougheed and his wife, Isabella Clarke Hardisty. This grand building has become a very important part of Calgary's history.
Today, the Lougheed House is managed by the Lougheed House Conservation Society. This is a group that works to protect and share the historic house and its beautiful gardens with everyone.
Over the years, Lougheed House has been used for many different things. It was a family home, a training center for young women, and even a place for women in the military during wartime. It also served as a Red Cross blood donation clinic. After many years of being empty, the house was carefully restored starting in 2000.
Contents
What is Lougheed House Like?
Lougheed House is a huge mansion that is about 1,300 square meters (14,000 square feet) in size. It was designed by an architect named James C. Bowes. The house has a unique look with its rough sandstone outside walls and different shaped sections. It also has cool corner towers.
The house was built with "modern luxuries" for its time, like running hot water and electricity. Inside, the 48-room house is decorated with fancy materials. You can see Spanish mahogany wood, Italian marble, colorful stained glass windows, and even hand-painted pictures of Alberta's plants and animals.
The mansion was built using sandstone because of a city rule made after the Calgary Fire of 1886. This rule said that buildings had to be made of stone to prevent future fires. When the house was finished, it had a billiards room, a smoking room, and a drawing room. There were four big bedrooms on the second floor and six more large rooms on the third floor. The Calgary Herald newspaper said the house was perfect in every way.
Beaulieu Gardens: A Beautiful Park
The Beaulieu Gardens are the lovely gardens that surround Lougheed House. They were once part of the mansion's original formal garden. Now, the City of Calgary Parks Department takes care of them as a public park for everyone to enjoy.
Why Lougheed House is a Historic Site
Lougheed House is recognized as a very important historical place. On November 29, 1977, it was named the "Senator Lougheed Residence" by the Province of Alberta. This was because of its connection to James Lougheed and because it's a great example of a fancy sandstone house from that time.
Later, on June 10, 1992, Lougheed House was named a "Beaulieu National Historic Site of Canada." This means it's important to the whole country! It's special because it's a rare example of a large, unique mansion built on the Canadian Prairies by a wealthy family.
The Story of Lougheed House
James Lougheed became a Senator in 1889. He decided to build a new, large mansion for his wife, Isabella, and their two sons, Clarence and Norman. This new home was on the edge of Calgary. After they moved in, the Lougheeds had four more children: Edgar, Dorothy, Douglas, and Marjorie. The house was made even bigger in 1907 to fit the growing family and all the parties they hosted.
The mansion quickly became the most popular place for social events in Calgary. The Lougheeds welcomed many important guests, including the Governor General, Prince Arthur, and his family. In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales (who later became king) was also a special guest at a garden party held at the mansion.
What Happened After the Lougheeds Left?
The Lougheed family owned the house until 1934. At that time, they couldn't pay the city taxes, so the City of Calgary took ownership. However, the City allowed James Lougheed's wife and children to stay in the house until Isabella passed away in 1936. Her son, Norman A. Lougheed, and his family finally moved out in 1938.
During the Second World War, Lougheed House was used to help with the war effort. The top floors became a place for women in the Canadian Women's Army Corps to live. The basement was used by the Canadian Red Cross as a clinic where people could donate blood. After the war, the house was used by the YMCA.
In 1978, the Province of Alberta bought the house and started to restore it. This happened when Peter Lougheed, James Lougheed's grandson, was the Premier of Alberta. Even though it was his family's house, Peter Lougheed was careful about spending public money on its restoration while he was in charge.
The Lougheed House Conservation Society was formed in 1995. This group worked hard to get the mansion and its grounds restored to their original beauty. The City of Calgary bought the land around the house in the early 1990s to create a public space. Work began in 1997 to rebuild the Beaulieu Gardens and restore the mansion itself.
Images for kids
-
Lougheed House Calgary
-
Detail of the east wall of Lougheed House.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Lougheed para niños
