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Former Nurse’s Residence
High River, Near
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Former Nurses’ Residence is a 1909, two-and-a-half storey, Queen Anne Revival house. It features an octagon-shaped tower projecting from the decorative pink-hued, red brick-clad building, as well as an open main floor verandah covered with a second-storey open balcony. It is located on two lots, and portions of two others, on the historic Macleod Trail south of the downtown commercial area.
Heritage Value
The municipal heritage value of the Former Nurses’ Residence is directly associated with its use as a residence for Nurses’ working at the local hospital, and as a landmark in the community as a result of its architecture. There is also significance for the association of the resource with the provincial theme of Urban Development.
The Former Nurses’ Residence was built in 1909, by contractor Billy Wakefield to be the family home for John Noble, a district farmer, who inherited a considerable amount of money from his father, who made his fortune by lending mortgage money to new settlers. Most Queen Anne buildings in Alberta were constructed of wood-frame, and clad with wood siding, making the Former Nurses’ Residence a rarity in Alberta.
John Noble and his family lived in the house until he died in 1927. However, it is for its use as a nurse’s residence from 1934 to 1955 that the building is the most significant. When a hospital was built in 1921, there were accommodations for Nurses’ within the facility. By the early 1930s, the residency space was needed for patient rooms to serve a growing population in the town and district, at which point the Nurses’ and nursing students were relocated to another building before some were moved into the former Noble Residence in 1934. The nursing staff occupied the residence until a new three-storey building was constructed in 1955. The building was then converted back to a family residence.
There is also heritage value in the Former Nurses’ Residence for its architecture and construction. The most notable features of the Queen Anne Revival style home are the octagonal tower with a bellcast roof projecting from the southwest corner of the building and the large verandah and balcony. The entire building is clad in a pink-hued, red brick, with the second and third levels of the building delineated by rows of bricks, set sideways with the corners pointing outwards to create a textured detail. The brick corners of the of the turret overlap in a manner that mimics the same texture achieved in the angled brick, thus creating visual symmetry and delineation.
The Former Nurses’ Residence is a landmark in High River because of its location on the historic Macleod Trail through the community, and because of the architectural style.
Character-Defining Elements
- Mass, form, scale, and style of the Queen Anne revival building high–pitched gable roof;
- return eaves on gable ends pink-red brick cladding octagonal tower;
- bellcast roof decorative brick detailing on tower marking second and third floor levels;
- decorative brick at octagonal tower corners;
- sandstone foundation;
- open verandah with fluted columns, and dentils above second floor balcony with open wood railing scalloped and standard cedar shingle clad closed verandah railing dormer on south façade;
- original window and door fenestrations single-hung windows, with sandstone and brick lug sills, and brick voissoirs above original radiant heaters (interior feature);
- original light fixtures; and,
- location within the residential area and its proximity to the commercial area.
Location
| Street Address: |
440 - Macleod Trail |
| Community: |
High River, Near |
| Boundaries: |
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| Contributing Resources: |
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ATS Legal Description:
PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):
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Plan |
Block |
Lot |
Parcel |
50950
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B
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Lot 7/8+
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Latitude/Longitude:
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Latitude |
Longitude |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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50.6156975 |
-113.8124066 |
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NAD83 |
UTM Reference:
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Northing |
Easting |
Zone |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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Recognition
| Recognition Authority: |
Local Governments (AB) |
| Designation Status: |
Municipal Historic Resource |
| Date of Designation: |
2013/09/09 |
Historical Information
| Built: |
1909 to 1909 |
| Period of Significance: |
1909 to 2019 |
| Theme(s): |
Building Social and Community Life : Community Organizations
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| Historic Function(s): |
Residence : Group Residence
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| Current Function(s): |
Residence : Group Residence
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| Architect: |
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| Builder: |
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| Context: |
The resource was built in 1909 for the wealthy Noble family, however the significance of the structure is associated with the buildings use as a residence for nurses working at the local hospital. The residence was purchased after demand for patient space in the hospital grew to the point where the nurses living quarters in the facility were needed for patients. |
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Additional Information
| Object Number: |
4664-0516 |
| Designation File: |
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| Related Listing(s): |
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| Heritage Survey File: |
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| Website Link: |
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| Data Source: |
Town of High River
309B Macleod Trail SW
High River Alberta |
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