| Architect: Holman and Gotch of Calgary
(designers of the Bowness Golf and Country Club House -
1912 and the Geddes Residence - 1911.
Contractor:
Jones and Lyttle.
Original
cost: $35,000
Original
owner: Albert
Adrian Dick
Construction materials:
Sandstone, monarch
stone, half timbering and rough cast stucco.
Architectural style: Tudor Revival
Original interior
details:
7,300 square feet (set
on a 1 acre lot), basement included a billiard room,
ground floor - maids room, breakfast room, library and
first floor a sleeping porch. Finishing featured
extensive wood trim (some rose wood) and wainscotting.
Historical highlights:
- lot was originally
purchased from the Canadian Pacific Railway by
Thomas Beveridge, a city realtor, for $5,000.
- impressive front
entrance with curving stone staircase which
sweeps around a fountain and fish pond. The
design is hauntingly reminiscent of the Titanic's
central staircase.
- original sitting
room fireplace was inlaid with tile of forest
stags
- dining room trimmed
with rose wood
- additions over the
years include a garage and large indoor pool
- original owner
Albert Adrian Dick, was born in Manitoba in 1880
and moved to Calgary with his family in 1888.
Dick opened a very successful real estate
business in 1904. He was involved with the
opening of some of Calgary's early subdivisions
(Mount Pleasant) and built the Alexander Hotel
and the Dick Block on 9th Avenue East. As a
businessman he was involved in mining, oil
exploration and logging. In 1911, he married Vera
Gillespie, a native Calgarian. In 1912 they went
on a honeymoon tour of Europe and England where
they collected rugs, fabrics and paintings for
their new home which was under construction in
the Mount Royal District. Vera and Albert set
sail from Southampton for home on the ill-fated
Titanic but were among the survivors.
- when the boom
collapsed, Dick lost a considerable fortune and
although he maintained ownership of his luxurious
home, the mansion was rented for several years.
The Dick's moved back into the house in the 1930s
and remained there for 24 years.
- in 1956 Robert A.
Brown Jr. President of Home Oil Company purchased
the house and hired architect J.A.Cawston
(architect for the Barron Building) to draft
plans for renovation.
- 1993 put on the
market for $1.1 million but over the years has
been listed as high as $2.3 million.
- this house is now
privately owned
- copy of original
plans (1912) are held by the Canadian
Architectural Archives, University of Calgary
Libraries.
|
