Rutherford House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rutherford House |
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Rutherford House in 2012
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| Alternative names | Achnacarry |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Museum |
| Architectural style | Georgian & Jacobethan Revival |
| Address | 11153 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Coordinates | 53°31′39″N 113°31′13″W / 53.52750°N 113.52028°W |
| Named for | Alexander Cameron Rutherford |
| Construction started | October 1909 |
| Completed | February 1911 |
| Cost | $25,000 (1911) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Brick, Sandstone |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | A.G. Wilson & D. Easton Herrald |
| Main contractor | James Smith & J.T. Radford |
| Type: | Provincial Historic Site |
| Designated: | 28 June 1979 |
Rutherford House is a special old house and museum in the Strathcona area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was the home of Alexander Cameron Rutherford, who was the very first Premier of Alberta (like a province's leader). The Rutherford family lived here from 1911 to 1940. Today, it is recognized as an important Alberta provincial historic site.
What is Rutherford House?
Rutherford House was built for Alexander Cameron Rutherford in 1911. It cost $25,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The house is located in what used to be the City of Strathcona, very close to the University of Alberta. The Rutherford family originally called their new home "Achnacarry." This name came from an old family castle in Scotland.
In 1966, there were plans to tear down the house because the University of Alberta wanted to expand. But many people thought the house was too important to lose. The University Women's Club worked hard to save it. In 1970, the Alberta government decided to protect the house. Now, Rutherford House is managed by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women. It helps people learn about Alberta's history.
How the House Looks
Rutherford House is a two-storey building. It has a classic, old-fashioned style with red brick walls and sandstone details. You can see tall chimneys, fancy porches with columns, and big two-storey bay windows.
Inside, the house was designed for both living and hosting guests. It has very tall ceilings, about 11 feet high! There's a grand staircase in the middle of the house made of oak wood. Above the staircase, there's a beautiful stained glass skylight. The dining room is the biggest room, about 350 square feet. It has a wide bay window and decorative wooden beams on the ceiling.
The Story of Rutherford House
Alexander Cameron Rutherford bought the land for the house on May 29, 1909. He bought it from Laurent Garneau, a well-known Métis businessman. By late 1909, architects Arthur G. Wilson and David E. Herrald drew up the plans for the house. The digging for the foundation was done by James Smith and J.T. Radford.
In the spring of 1910, Thomas Richards, a master bricklayer, prepared the foundation. The double brick walls were built during the summer of 1910. The beautiful hardwood interior was finished over the winter. By February 1911, the house was ready for the family to move in. Rutherford House was very modern for its time. It had hot running water, electric lights, flush toilets, and even telephones!
The Rutherford family moved into their new home by the end of March 1911. The family included Alexander Cameron Rutherford, his wife Mattie Birkett Rutherford, and their children Cecil Alexander Rutherford and Hazel Elizabeth Rutherford. They lived in the house until September 1940, when Mattie Birkett Rutherford passed away.
In June 1941, Alexander Rutherford sold the house to the University of Alberta's Delta Upsilon fraternity. They bought it for $9,500, which was about what it cost to build. Members of the fraternity lived in the house from 1941 to 1969. Many students lived there over the years, including Peter Lougheed, who later became another Premier of Alberta.
The University of Alberta took over the house in 1968. In 1970, the University agreed to let the Alberta government use the house for forty years. This happened after many groups, like the University of Alberta Women's Club, worked hard to save it as a historic site.
Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site opened to the public on May 11, 1974. This was after three years of careful restoration work. Many of the old items you see in the house today are original. They were donated by Hazel Elizabeth Rutherford and Helen Reid Rutherford (Cecil's wife). The house was officially named a Provincial Historic Resource on June 28, 1979.
See also
- Achnacarry
- North American fraternity and sorority housing
