|
Hillhurst Cottage School
Calgary
Other Names:
|
Hillhurst Cottage High School
Hillhurst Public School
|
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Hillhurst Cottage School is an early twentieth century, two-storey, wood frame building located on one city lot, fully integrated into the residential streetscape of the Hillhurst district of Calgary.
Heritage Value
The heritage value of the Hillhurst Cottage School lies chiefly in its association with early efforts in public education in Calgary, as one of the first "cottage schools" built by the Calgary Public School Board during the boom years of 1910 to 1912.
During the early years of the twentieth century, emerging urban centres across Alberta sought out efficient ways of educating children while acting as good stewards of their resources for school construction. Booming young cities like Calgary initiated the building of modest two room "cottage" schools or four room "bungalow" schools as temporary measures while larger, more commodious brick or sandstone buildings were being planned and built. Between 1910 and 1912, the Calgary Public School Board built approximately seventeen such cottage schools using two primary designs. Two of these buildings remain. The Hillhurst Cottage School now stands as the extant example of the standard plan, while the Capital Hill Cottage School represents the alternate design. Intentionally designed to resemble the middle class houses it is situated among, so that it could be easily converted to residential use, the Hillhurst Cottage School remained in operation as a two-room school house - due to financial constraints - until 1965. Situated in a residential streetscape that remains virtually unchanged in character since the time of its construction, the Hillhurst Cottage School remains a very good example of this early era of education in the province, and of this style of school building in Calgary.
Source: Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch (File: Des. 1398)
Character-Defining Elements
The character defining elements of the Hillhurst Cottage School include such features as:
- size, form, and massing;
- the siting of the building within its residential streetscape;
- fenestration pattern and double hung windows;
- the configuration of the original two classroom spaces within the interior layout;
- original oak flooring, fir door and window trim, baseboards;
- original light fixtures on the first and second floors;
- wood picture rail;
- floor plan and side stairwell.
Location
| Street Address: |
455 - 12 Street NW |
| Community: |
Calgary |
| Boundaries: |
Lots 22 and 23, Block 1, Plan 5179O |
| Contributing Resources: |
Building: 1
|
ATS Legal Description:
|
Mer |
Rge |
Twp |
Sec |
LSD |
5
|
1
|
24
|
21
|
5 (ptn.)
|
PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):
|
Plan |
Block |
Lot |
Parcel |
5179 O
5179 O
|
1
1
|
23
22
|
|
Latitude/Longitude:
|
Latitude |
Longitude |
CDT |
Datum Type |
|
51.056166 |
-114.092129 |
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: |
1986/11/07 |
Historical Information
| Built: |
1910 to 1912 |
| Period of Significance: |
1910 to 1965 |
| Theme(s): |
Building Social and Community Life : Education and Social Well-Being
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life : Architecture and Design
|
| Historic Function(s): |
Education : Primary or Secondary School
|
| Current Function(s): |
Residence : Single Dwelling
|
| Architect: |
|
| Builder: |
|
| Context: |
HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE
The Hillhurst Cottage School was constructed in 1910 by local contractor Saul Spafford. It was one of the first cottage schools to be commissioned by the Calgary Public School Board during the boom years of 1910-1912. It was intended that the cottage schools would be temporary facilities. They were therefore designed for easy conversion to working-class boarding houses - the purpose they were anticipated to serve once their brief classroom function had been fulfilled. A combination of worsening economic times and higher than anticipated enrolment disrupted the plans to close cottage schools and build replacements. Hillhurst Cottage School was kept open, with some brief closures, from 1910 to 1955.
The historical significance of the Hillhurst Cottage School lies in its association with the expanding metropolis of Calgary during the period of frantic growth proceeding World War One. Such facilities were intended to be short term, offsetting the current demands of the burgeoning population. The structure represents a style of scholastic architecture intended to accommodate the basic needs of children, usually working class, until more elaborate facilities could be constructed. The recession, which came with the war, however, obviated the need for more schools, and Hillhurst remained in operation as a school, with intermittent gaps, for 45 years.
|
|
|
Additional Information
| Object Number: |
4665-0564 |
| Designation File: |
DES 1398 |
| Related Listing(s): |
4664-0352
|
| Heritage Survey File: |
HS 67965
|
| 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. 1398) |
|