Lougheed House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lougheed House |
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| Beaulieu National Historic Site of Canada | |
Lougheed House Calgary
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| 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. It was built in 1891 for Senator James Alexander Lougheed and his wife, Isabella Clarke Hardisty. This large building has become a very important part of Calgary's history.
Today, the Lougheed House Conservation Society takes care of the house and its gardens. This non-profit group works to restore and share this historic place with everyone. Over the years, Lougheed House has been many things. It was a family home, a training center for young women, and even a military barracks during a war. It also served as a Red Cross blood donor clinic. After being empty for many years, its restoration began in 2000.
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What Does Lougheed House Look Like?
Lougheed House is a huge building, about 1,300 square meters (14,000 square feet) in size. Architect James C. Bowes designed it with a fancy, old-fashioned style. You can see this in its rough sandstone walls and its uneven shape. It also has cool corner towers.
The house has a steep roof and cone-shaped towers, making it look a bit like a French castle. When it was built, it had "modern luxuries" like running hot water and electricity. Inside, the 48-room house is decorated with dark Spanish wood, shiny Italian marble, and colorful stained glass windows. You can also see hand-painted pictures of Alberta's plants and animals.
The house was built with sandstone because of a rule made after the Calgary Fire of 1886. This rule said that new buildings had to be made of stone to prevent 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 rooms on the third floor. The Calgary Herald newspaper said the house was perfect in every way.
The Beaulieu Gardens
The beautiful Beaulieu Gardens surround Lougheed House. These gardens were once part of the mansion's original design. Now, the City of Calgary Parks Department manages them as a public park for everyone to enjoy.
Why is Lougheed House a Historic Site?
Lougheed House is recognized as an important historic place for a few reasons. On November 29, 1977, it became an Alberta Provincial Historic Resource. This was because of its connection to James Lougheed and because it shows the fancy sandstone architecture of that time.
Later, on June 10, 1992, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This is because it's a rare example of a large, unique mansion on the Canadian Prairies. It shows how wealthy families lived back then.
History of Lougheed House
James Lougheed became a Senator in Canada in 1889. A Senator is like a representative who helps make laws for the country. He was chosen by Sir John A. Macdonald, who was the Prime Minister at the time. Senator Lougheed decided to build a new, grand house for his wife, Isabella, and their two sons, Clarence and Norman. They built it on the edge of Calgary.
After moving in, the Lougheeds had four more children: Edgar, Dorothy, Douglas, and Marjorie. In 1907, the house was made even bigger to fit the growing family and their many social events. Lougheed House quickly became the most popular place for parties and gatherings in Calgary. They hosted important guests like the Governor General, Prince Arthur, and his family. In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales (who later became king) was also a guest at a garden party there.
After the Lougheed Family 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 over the property. The city allowed Isabella, James's widow, and her children to stay in the house until she passed away in 1936. Finally, Norman A. Lougheed and his family moved out in 1938.
During the Second World War, Lougheed House was used to help the war effort. The upper floors became a barracks for the Canadian Women's Army Corps, where women soldiers lived. The basement was used by the Canadian Red Cross as a clinic for people to 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 office.
In 1995, local people started a group called the Lougheed House Conservation Society. They wanted to see the house and its grounds fully restored. 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 to its former glory.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Lougheed para niños
