Key Number:	HS 67965
Site Name:	Hillhurst Cottage School
Other Names:
Site Type:	0314 - Educational: School

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			23	1	5

Address:	455 - 12 Street NW
Number:	55
Street:	12 NW
Avenue:	4 NW
Other:
Town:	Calgary
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Square
Storeys:	Storeys: 2
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:	Nailed Frame
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Medium Hip
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Single Detached Wall Design and Detail: Corner Board Roof Trim - Eaves: Plain Fascia Roof Trim - Eaves: Moulded Soffit Roof Trim - Eaves: Plain Frieze Roof Trim Material - Eaves: Wood Roof Trim - Special Features: Other Window - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Material: Wood Window - Sill Type: Plain Lug Sill Window - Sill Material: Wood Main Entrance - Location: Off-Centre (Facade) Main Stairs - Location and Design: First or Ground Floor, Open Railing Main Stairs - Direction: Straight Main Porch - Type: Closed Porch Main Porch - Material: Wood Main Porch - Height: First Storey
Exterior:	Flag ple at centre roof line
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	The property is partially surrounded by a low wire fence. Treed lot
Condition:	Good (1997)
Alterations:	N/A

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction Started	1910/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
School Residential CYHA - HQ Alberta Wilderness Resource Centre Social and Recreational: Club or Lodge	1910/01/01 1911/01/01 1983/01/01 1997/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Calgary Municipal Heritage Properties Authority Hillhurst Public School Hillhurst Cottage School City of Calgary	1911/01/01 1914/01/01 1983/01/01

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Building Description: Hillhurst Cottage school is part of a residential street scape in North West Calgary. The other structures in the street scape are of the same wintage. No landscaping has been carried out around the property. The property is partially surrounded by a low wire fence. Historical Significance: The Hillhurst Cottage School was constructed in 1910 by the local contractor Saul Spafford. It was one of the first cottage schools commissioned by the Calgary Public School Board during the boom years of 1910 - 1912. It was intended that the Cottage School would be temporary school buildings. Therefore, they were designed for easy conversion to working-class boarding houses, for which they were to be sold 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. Architectural Significance: Hillhurst Cottage School is an early Calgary example of the two storey cottage style. The design stressed function over form, and simple lines rather than any ornamentation. The structure was easy to construct and quite durable. Internally, the two classroom school could have been quickly converted to a boarding house, had School Board plans not been disrupted. DRAFT PRESS RELEASE Edmonton, Alberta The Honourable Dennis Anderson, Minister of Culture announced today that the Hillhurst Cottage School has been designated a Registered Historic Resource. The Hillhurst Cottage School was constructed in 1910 by the local contractor Saul Spafford. I was one of the first cottage schools commissioned by the Calgary Public School Board during the boom years of 1910-1912. A total of fifteen such structures were built by the Board during this period. The Board decided to build bungalow schools in 1913 rather than cottages because they felt that the former provided more classroom space for the dollars invested. It was intended that the Cottage Schools would be temporary school buildings. Therefore, they were designed for easy conversion to working class boarding houses, for which they were to be sold once their brief classroom function had been fulfilled. Hillhurst Cottage School was intended to provide teaching space for a class of Grade One's and Grade Two's for only 2 years. The Hillhust Elementary School, a large sandstone structure, was to be completed and opened in the fall of 1912, eliminating the need for the cottage school. The permanent school opened on schedule, but enrolments were again ahead of available space, thus necessitating the continued operation of the cottage school. A combination of worsening economic times and higher anticipated enrolment disrupted the plans to close cottage schools and built replacements. Hillhurst Cottage was kept open, with some brief closures, from 1910 to 1955. Hillhurst Cottage School is an early Calgary example of the two storey cottage style. The design stressed function over form, and simple lines rather than any ornamentation. The structure was easy to construct and quite durable. Internally, the two classroom school could have been quickly converted to a boarding house, had School Board plans not been disrupted. HILLHURST COTTAGE SCHOOL Built in 1910 (the first year of cottage school construction still represented), the Hillhurst Cottage School represents the simpler of the two variation constructed. It has a hipped roof and a plain facade interrupted only by a small draught vestibule. It has been occupied since about 1970 by the Canadian Youth Hostels Association, and has been the only Calgary headquarters of this regionally- and nationally- important organization. A number of stores catering to the camping and mountaineering trade have opened nearby. The building is unaltered and in good condition. It forms part of an excellent streetscape with many residential buildings dating from the same era. * * * 1911-13 Hillhurst Public School 1914-25 Hillhurst Cottage School 1926-29 Hillhurst Cottage School Closed 1930 Hillhurst Cottage School Open 1931 Vacant 1933-40 Hillhurst Cottage High School

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Municipal A List Provincial Historic Resource	1986/11/07

Register:	06-144

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0564