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Saturday, September 18, 2010

$2,000

That's what it cost to build this house in 1903. It was designed by architects Thomas Hooper and C. Elwood Watkins. It's my favorite house of those I see on my morning walk and, despite its rather dilapidated appearance, it's a remarkable house in that it is one of the few privately owned houses in Canada to have been declared a National Historic Site. I think the main reason I always end up stopping to look at it is that I like to dream about fixing it up, though it did undergo an award-winning restoration in 1976. It also looks like a comfortable and interesting house to live in though it doesn't appear currently to be occupied. I hope it will soon be in the care of someone who can give it the attention it deserves.


Historical information about this house was drawn from "This Old House," Volume 1, a publication of the Victoria Heritage Foundation.

5 comments:

Dean Lewis said...

Very cool. Those multi-windowed rooms must be terrific.
For some reason that short street didn't make it onto Google streetview for a 'virtual drive-by'.

JoJo said...

I can dream....

Hey I'm taking the plunge and going up there for a quickie overnighter in October. I have to do it.

Bill said...

Yes I agree, it is a nice looking house and needs someone to bring it back to life.
We recently visited Victoria BC for a few days and learned a bit about its history. You experienced a heat-wave while we were there which was okay with us as we're used to it. Loved Butchard Gardens, the Fairmont Empress (our hotel) and your parliament building at night.

Anonymous said...

We have one almost identical here in Brookville, also on the historical register or whatever the name. It is called the Spitler House here. I wish I had lived in those days. What a view.

Stefan Jansson said...

It's a beautiful old house.