Lorraine Block

Calgary

Street Address:	620 - 12 Avenue SW
Community:	Calgary
Boundaries:	Portion of Lot 32 and Lots 29 to 31, Block 71, Plan A1
Contributing Resources:	Buildings: 1

ATS Legal Description:

Mer	Rge	Twp	Sec	LSD
5	1	24	16	8 (ptn.)

PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):

Plan	Block	Lot	Parcel
A1 A1 A1 A1	71 71 71 71	32 31 30 29

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude	Longitude	CDT	Datum Type
51.042036	-114.075361	GPS	NAD 83

UTM Reference:

Northing	Easting	Zone	CDT	Datum Type

Recognition

Recognition Authority:	Province of Alberta
Designation Status:	Provincial Historic Resource
Date of Designation:	2002/05/03

Historical Information

Built:	1913 to 1913
Period of Significance:
Theme(s):	Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life : Architecture and Design
Historic Function(s):	Residence : Multiple Dwelling
Current Function(s):	Residence : Multiple Dwelling
Architect:
Builder:
Context:	HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE Shortly after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway at Fort Calgary in 1883, the frontier community surrounding the Fort began to evolve into a foothills metropolis. With a population of over 4,000, it was sufficiently large to be incorporated as a city by 1893. That same year, its boundaries were extended south and west to include what was to become the Connaught (or Beltline) district of the City. Here, such luminaries as James Lougheed, Pat Burns and William Roper Hull acquired large properties with the purpose of establishing fashionable homes away from the hectic pace of inner city life. It was also here that Calgary's first public library and first public high school were to be built. By 1912, Calgary's continued rapid growth had seen much of the Connaught district fill up with dwellings considered to be suitable for upper-middle class residents. With a population of 62,000 however, and growth expected to continue, there was a perceived need to provide for an even greater population base. Apartment blocks, which had, by now, become a common feature in the more central residential districts, began to appear in the more fashionable outlying areas of the City centre as well. Some were large, such as the Devenish and Anderson Apartments. Others were of the more modest, standard three or four storey rectangular red brick variety, designed to hold anywhere from 16 to 40 units, either for single dwellers or couples, but seldom for families. One of the smaller apartment blocks to grace the Connaught district was the Lorraine Apartments, the vision of Dr. Omer Patrick, who had migrated to Calgary in 1911 after practicing medicine for 20 years in London, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan. He had come to join his brother-in-law, Dr. John Adams, who had earlier gone into the real estate and finance businesses, and was then the president of a small oil company and an investment company. In August 1912, Patrick and Adams purchased several lots on 12th Avenue west of 5th Street from Senator James Lougheed. In October, they received a permit to construct an apartment complex estimated to cost between 60,000 and 75,000 dollars on lots 30 to 32. This was right next to the newly laid streetcar tracks. It was also conveniently close to a small commercial hub which had recently sprung up in the district. The complex was conceived to consist of two apartment blocks right next to each other. Work on the first was begun almost immediately by a new company formed by Patrick called Young Reality and Construction. The four-storey (plus basement) building was designed by James C. Teague, and eventually involved several sub-contractors. Construction continued throughout most of 1913 until, by October of that year, suites in what was called the Lorraine Block (after Patrick's son) were offered for rental by agents Cameron and Anderson. In all, there were 33 suites, both unfurnished and partially furnished. The rates were between $55 and $65 per month. The first tenants in the Lorraine Block were generally middle class professionals and businessmen, including doctors, dentists, lawyers, retired military personnel, church ministers and various civic administrators. Patrick himself occupied a suite there between 1913 and 1919. During 1920-21, Calgary's mayor, Robert C. Marshall was also a tenant. Calgary's economy experienced a downturn during World War I however, and the companion to the Lorraine Apartments (to be called Lenore Apartments, after Patrick's daughter) was never built. Patrick, however, rose to some prominence, politically, socially, and economically. During the federal election of 1926, he acted as R. B. Bennett's campaign manager, and would always be associated with Bennett's career. He also prospered from investments in ranching and coal mining, and would become the head of the Calgary Zoo. When moving out of the Lorraine Apartments in 1919, it was to nearby 1228 Prospect Avenue to raise his family. During the 1930's and 1940's, the Lorraine Apartment continued to be a fashionable residence for middle class tenants, although, during the 1950's and 1960's, an increasing proportion of the tenants were retirees. Upon Omer Patrick's death in 1947, ownership of the building passed to his son, Lorraine, who was also its namesake. Lorraine would maintain it until selling it to Mid-West Holdings in 1972. As inner-city dwelling was becoming less fashionable, tenants were becoming fewer and less wealthy. The building continued to endure however, and even survived a major fire in 1998, testimony to the solidity of its construction. In summary, the historical significance of the Lorraine Block lies in its status as one of the more fashionable apartment blocks to grace the outer boundaries of inner city Calgary during the period of rapid expansion prior to World War One. Despite the economic downturn which occurred during the war, the building managed to maintain its decorum, drawing strength, no doubt, from the proximity of the Ranchman's Club, and the residences of James Lougheed, Pat Burns, Isaac Kerr, William Roper Hull and Omer Patrick himself. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The Lorraine Block was designed by architect James Teague, who was also responsible for Calgary's Allen Theatre. It is a four-storey building with a brick shell and wood frame interior. In 1998, fire destroyed the fourth floor and damaged much of the rest of the building's interior. The brick shell of the building was largely unaffected. Terra cotta figures largely in the exterior design of the Lorraine. Of particular note is the large nameplate above the front entrance, and the cornices found at parapet level of the flanking bays. Specialty brick with a rough finish and rich, dark colour was used to face the building. It is laid in a herringbone pattern on the front of the third and fourth floor balconies on the main facade. Recessed bay windows provide added interest to the main street frontage. At the time of its construction, the Lorraine was thought to be one of Calgary's most stylish apartment blocks. Today, though much of its interior has been destroyed, the Lorraine remains a symbol of bygone elegance.

Additional Information

Object Number:	4665-0819
Designation File:	DES 2091
Related Listing(s):	4664-0492
Heritage Survey File:	HS 63259
Website Link:
Data Source:	Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8 (File: Des. 2091)