William Roper Hull Ranche House

Calgary

Street Address:	15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE
Community:	Calgary
Boundaries:	Portion of SW 36-22-1-W5
Contributing Resources:	Buildings: 1

ATS Legal Description:

Mer	Rge	Twp	Sec	LSD
5	1	22	36	4 (ptn.)

PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):

Plan	Block	Lot	Parcel
731552		N/A

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude	Longitude	CDT	Datum Type
50.910253	-114.021422	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:	2001/04/03

Historical Information

Built:	1896 to 1896
Period of Significance:	1896 to 1973
Theme(s):	Developing Economies : Extraction and Production
Historic Function(s):	Food Supply : Farm or Ranch Residence : Single Dwelling
Current Function(s):	Commerce / Commercial Services : Eating or Drinking Establishment
Architect:	James Llewellyn Wilson
Builder:	Jean Watson
Context:	HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Hull House Estate, located on the Bow Valley Ranch site in Fish Creek Provincial Park, is situated southwest of Calgary at the confluence of the Bow River and Fish Creek. This Tudor style home is unique among early Alberta ranch houses, which tended to be two storey, four square homes or sprawling, one story wooden structures. This very opulent house and estate reflect both Hull's wealth and architectural tastes. In 1874-75, John Glenn, one of the first settlers in the region, acquired land on Fish Creek. The property changed hands and use (farm, ranch, Government Indian Supply Farm and training centre) several times between 1874 and 1892 at which time William Roper Hull, a British Columbia entrepreneur with interests in the meat processing and ranching industries, purchased it from a Quebec based land speculator. During his tenure as owner he expanded the size of the ranching operation and established an efficient irrigation system that was widely touted by the Dominion government. Following a fire in 1896 that destroyed the first residence Hull commissioned pre-eminent Calgary architect, James Llewellyn Wilson, to design and build the existing Tudor style manor. Hull sold the property to Pat Burns in 1902. The character of the ranch changed almost immediately as Burns implemented modifications to increase and improve beef production to supply his processing and packing plants. Social functions were largely restricted to those involving family members and employees of Bow Valley Farm. Also Burns paid little attention to Hull's extensive and innovative irrigation system and it was soon rendered useless. The ranch remained in the Burns family for several decades and underwent several major modifications during the forties and fifties, including the addition of a large family room, an in-ground swimming pool, tennis courts and significant changes to the grounds. The estate was acquired by the Alberta government in 1973 as part of the Fish Creek Provincial Park. The Hull Estate House was designed by Calgary architect James Llewellyn Wilson, described as the most prominent architect in Calgary between 1888 and 1900. It was built in 1896 by contractor Jean Watson. Built of brick with wood detailing in the gables, this was one of the largest and most imposing houses in the Calgary area. Stylistically, the Hull Estate House shows the influence of the Queen Anne style, which was very popular at the time. Its varied roofline, large chimneys, fish-scale shingles, and bow windows are all features of this style. Originally, the proportions of the house appeared more vertical - also a feature of the Queen Anne style. Alterations have changed this impression: the large veranda has been closed in, and a one-storey wing has been added to the north. However, the former is reversible, and the latter is largely in character with the main house. HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE (Main house) The site was originally settled in 1873 by John Glenn, a trapper and former gold prospector. Glenn was the first settler in the Calgary area. He built a log house and barns and lived here until 1879. The property was subsequently purchased by the government as an instructional farm for native people. In 1892, William Roper Hull, a successful rancher and businessman, purchased the property. When the original log ranch house burned down, he built the brick, two-storey house, now known as Bow Valley Ranch, at a cost of 12,000 dollars. The structure was finely detailed, with elegant furnishings chosen by Mrs. Hull. In 1902, Patrick Burns, a leading Calgary rancher and meat packer, purchased the property, complete with Mrs. Hull's furnishings. Few modifications were made to the house. Pat Burns was one of the major forces behind the growth of ranching in Alberta. This was an active ranch until 1973. HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE (Foreman's House) This building was brought to the site in 1910 from the McGuiness property, six miles to the southwest. Sixteen teams of horses dragged the house to its existing location, where it was assigned to foreman Ed Hoschka and his wife Nellie. They lived here until 1948. The use of the decorative trim and good quality woodwork are indicative of the fact that the house was very well constructed. Hoschka's elevated status as foreman is reflected in the quality of this building as compared to the communal bunkhouses. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Main house) The ranch house is a modest example of the 'Old English' vernacular style which was popular for country houses in England in the 1880s and 1890s. In the same period this style became popular in North America and many fine structures of this type are found in Ontario. The style is characterized by a square floor plan, steeply pitched roof with the upper story windows piercing the roof line as gable dormers, tall chimney stacks, verandas, mullioned and bay windows, and timber work at the eaves as decoration. The house is of frame construction sheathed in yellow stretcher bond brick decorated with horizontal stringcourses of red brick. The gables are decorated with curved wooden brackets, a king post and collar-tie, topped by extended finials. The wall in the gable angle is sheathed with fish-scale shingles. The original veranda has been enclosed in brick across the front facade and removed along the north wall. The interior is in excellent condition, with the original woodwork and ornate fireplaces intact. In scale and decorative detail, the house is unique among the extant ranch buildings of Alberta. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Foreman's House) The foreman's house is a one-storey frame structure with a low, asymmetrical hip roof and widely overhanging, flared eaves forming a veranda on three sides. The siding is horizontal wide-drop wood except for the portion of the front porch which is vertically sided. A flat roof dormer protrudes from the south side of the roof. The interior plan is determined by a central octagonal front room from which the other rooms radiate. The interior is finished throughout with vertical V-joint cedar decorated by a horizontal moulding at door-top level and a lower chair rail. The architraves are carefully moulded with square corner mounts decorated in circles. This structure is similar in style to the Walrond Ranch House and the guesthouse at the Flying E. Ranch, as all have low hip roofs with overhanging eaves creating verandas, but it is much better condition than either of these structures. (Site Information Summary)

Additional Information

Object Number:	4665-0797
Designation File:	DES 1919
Related Listing(s):
Heritage Survey File:	HS 70167
Website Link:	www.bowvalleyranche.com
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. 1919)