Key Number:	HS 20072
Site Name:	Grant McConachie House
Other Names:
Site Type:	0101 - Residential: Single Dwelling

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			52	24	4

Address:	12909 - 121 Street
Number:	9
Street:	121
Avenue:	129
Other:
Town:	Edmonton
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1 1/2
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Unknown
Superstructure:	Nailed Frame
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Gambrel
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:
Exterior:	Front gambrel roof with patterned shingle work in front gable; front and side bays; pointed mullions in upper window sash on ground floor. The house is a gamble roofed, two storey frame building. The upper storey is shingled and the lower is of shiplap siding. The house is located on a double lot in the community of Calder where it was contracted for the McConachie family in 1917. Grant McConachie, one of the original C.P. Air executives and a well known northern pilot grew up in the house.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Neighbourhood: Calder Large corner lot; prominent coniferous perimeter plantings.
Condition:	Structure: Good. Repair: Good. 28 FEB 1979.
Alterations:	Shed roof addition at rear.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction ended Approx. date of construction.	1917/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Residence Residence Office	1920/01/01 1964/01/01 1976/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
William Grant McConachie Eidelmanns City of Edmonton	1907/01/01 1964/04/01 1976/01/01

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	In 1965, one of aviation's most devoted and colourful advocates, Grant McConachie, died. His career as pilot and airline executive spanned the development of western aviation from the bush days of northern flying to present-day long distance jet travel. President of Canadian Pacific Airlines at the time of his death, McConachie had nursed a love affair with flying since his adolescence when he decided that life in the railroad community of Calder, Edmonton, was not for him. Throughout his career, his charm combined with a touch of brashness, stood McConachie in good stead as first he struggled to gain a foothold in the industry and later when he pitted himself against what he considered the unfair air regulations established by the federal government. Grant McConachie was born in Hamilton, Ontario in April 1909. Within a year, his parents moved to Calder where his father worked as a master mechanic for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. As a community created by the railway, Calder was a close community where families worked, lived and enjoyed recreational pursuits together. Grant attended Calder school and Victoria Composite in Edmonton. At both institutions he was well known for his athletic abilities, his winning personality and his unwillingness to do his homework. It was assumed from the start that he would follow in his father's footsteps and work for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. But young Grant was more attracted to Edmonton's airfield. Instead of frequenting the railyards, McConachie spent much of his time talking to World War I flying veterans and bush pilots, and it was not long before the glamour of flying caught his imagination. A brief stint in Engineering at the University of Alberta was followed by a job on the railroad, although McConachie had no intention of staying in the position. What he was after was money needed for flying lessons and by 1931 he had logged enough hours to qualify for a commercial pilot's licence. Job opportunities during the 1930s were slim until his uncle suggested that McConachie establish his own company with an old Fokker plane. Soon afterwards, Grant persuaded the Cold Lake Fish Company to allow him to fly fish from Cold Lake to the railhead at Bonnyville. McConachie's company, Independent Airways, folded in 1932 when Grant discovered he did not have enough money to pay for maintenance on his aircraft. Always lucky though, McConachie soon teamed up with a gold prospector who financed the establishment of a new company, United Air Transport. By 1938, through hard work and astute reinvestment, the company owned twelve airplanes, all engaged in northern work. At the time, the name of the company was changed to Yukon Southern Air Transport. The Second World War brought a number of changes to McConachie's fortunes. By 1941, Canadian Pacific had taken over ten northern airlines, including Yukon Southern Transport and McConachie was made general manager of western lines. Six years later, his drive and dedication earned McConachie the presidency of Canadian Pacific Airlines. His energy, enthusiasm and quick wit kept the Canadian aviation industry alert throughout his tenure as he prodded and badgered the government to give Canadian Pacific a bigger piece of Canada's international transport business. McConachie also pioneered the polar route to Europe, a decision that earned him much ridicule and later respect in the transportation world. ***** Grant McConachie could have had a career working on the railroad, except that his father fired him. McConachie, who was one of the founders of Canadian Pacific Airlines, began flying in 1929 after being dismissed as a locomotive fireman by his father, who toiled in the CNR locomotive shops in the Calder yards. The Edmonton-raised flyer went on to become president of CP Air, since swallowed by Canadian Airlines International. McConachie was born in Hamilton, Ont., but came to Edmonton as an infant. His father William was the first mayor of the Town of Calder, which later became part of Edmonton. In a 1936 interview with the Edmonton Bulletin, his mother recalled that the family named their cottage at Edmonton Beach 'Mah-Kong-Kee', an oriental version of the family surname, because of Grant's fascination with China as a young boy. Later, McConachie vigorously pursued and won oriental airline routes for CP Air. McConachie's efforts left Canada with its second national airline and a legacy of flight that put this city on the map as the gateway to the North. His first flights at the age of 16 were aboard planes piloted by legendary bush pilots Wilfred May and Punch Dickens. In 1931, at the age of 22, he formed his own company: Independent Airways Ltd., and got what business he could - flying in and out of Canada's North. His first plane was a Ford Tin Goose purchased for $6,000 and his first commercial job was in 1933 hauling fish from Buffalo Lake, Sask., to Edmonton. By 1937, McConachie was president of his third airline, Yukon Southern Air Transportation, with eight planes. In 1942, he amalgamated his airline with CP Air and was in charge of the airline's western operations. By 1947, he was president of CP Air, a post he held until his death in 1965 at the age of 56. In one interview, he recalled trying to secure a mail conract into Fort Nelson, B.C. In order to convince the postal inspector of the efficiency of air mail, he took the man on a flight. As they began taking off across the lake, something went wrong 'I could feel a drag, but the (mechanic) couldn't get to me to tell me what was wrong'. The mechanic had left the caps off the aircraft's pontoons and as it taxied across the water, the plane was sinking fast. 'The tail was under water, so I couldn't steer. I had to pour on all the power I had, and take the plane right across the lake and up on to the shore of a small island,' he recalled . Despite the harrowing experience, the inspector became a friend and McConachie got the mail contract. When Grant McConachie died of a heart attack in 1965, he left an estate of $204,000 to his widow Margaret. *** This immaculately maintained gambrel-roofed residence, situated on a double corner lot, was the McConachie family home for almost three decades. William Grant McConachie and his family moved to Calder in about 1910, where he worked as a master mechanic for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, and later for the Canadian National Railways. McConachie served as the Reeve of West Edmonton for two terms, 1910 and 1911, and was also president of the Calder Community League, and chairman of the School Board from 1938 until his death in 1944. It was assumed from the start that his son Grant, born in 1909, would follow in his father's footsteps and work for the railway, but from the beginning he was far more attracted to Edmonton's airfield. Grant spent much of his time talking to both flying veterans from the First World War and to bush pilots. His first flights at the age of 16 were with legendary bush pilots Wilfrid 'Wop' May and 'Punch' Dickins. By 1931 he had logged enough flying time to qualify for a commercial pilot's license. By 1937, through hard work during difficult times, he had acquired twelve aircraft, all engaged in Northern Work; in that year his company was renamed the Yukon Southern Air Transport. During the Second World War, his firm was taken over by Canadian Pacific Airlines, and by 1947 he had risen to the presidency of that firm, a post that he held until his death in 1965. McConachie pioneered the polar route to Europe, an idea which was ridiculed at first, but which later won him much respect. He is remembered as one of Canadian aviation's most devoted and colourful advocates. * * * The house is located on a double lot in the community of Calder where it was contracted for the McConachie family in 1917. Grant McConachie, one of the original C.P. Air executives and a well known northern pilot grew up in the house. The McConachie house was the boyhood home of Grant McConachie, President of C.P. Air, from 1947 to his death in 1965. McConachie's flying career was an exceptional one and his activities spanned Canada's aviation history from the days of bush travel until the days of long distance jet travel. The house is a simple, two storey wood frame structure with a gambrel roof. There are other houses similar to it in the Calder area. Its significance derives from its typicality. Housing similar to it in date and style can be found throughout Alberta usually occupied by middle class families engaged in the trades or business. Its styling and size separate it from the workingman's cottage typical of industrial areas but are not impressive enough to give it any special significance. The house is owned by the City od Edmonton and is operated as a rental unit. It is anticipated that it will continue to serve as such until the City determines whether the site will be developed to a higher density. September 13, 1982 - designated Historic Resource.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Municipal A List

Register:	A12

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: