Key Number:	HS 30377
Site Name:	Factor's House
Other Names:
Site Type:	0417 - Mercantile/Commercial: Fur Trading Post

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			80	4	6

Address:	W of Peace Bridge at Dunvegan
Number:
Street:
Avenue:
Other:
Town:	Dunvegan
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1 1/2
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: None
Superstructure:	Horizontal Log
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Medium Hip
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Single Detached Wings: Unknown Wall Design and Detail: None Roof Trim - Eaves: Plain Soffit Roof Trim Material - Eaves: Wood Roof Trim - Verges: Plain Soffit Roof Trim Material - Verges: Wood Towers, Steeples and Domes: None Dormer Type: None Chimney Location - Side to Side: Centre Chimney Stack Material: Brick Chimney Stack Massing: Single Roof Trim - Special Features: None 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 Slip Sill Window - Sill Material: Wood Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Number of Sashes: One Window - Opening Mechanism: Single or Double Hung Window - Special Types: None Window - Pane Arrangements: 2 over 2 Main Entrance - Location: Centre (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Wood Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Number of Leaves: 1 Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 1 Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Glass Main Stairs - Location and Design: None Main Porch - Type: Recess Main Porch - Material: Concrete Main Porch - Height: First Storey
Exterior:	Two central doors (north and south sides). Four original windows and one added window on south side. Two windows on north side. One window at each (east and west) end. Central shed dormer on south side. Dovetail corners.
Interior:	Through hallway on North-South Axis, 2 rooms on each.
Environment:	The house stands on land owned by Daniel Marusiak on a fertile alluvial flat on the north side of the Peace River immediately west of Highway #2 suspension bridge. Mr. Marusiak's house stands close to the Factor's house and the surrounding land is taken up by his market gardens. Bluffs rise 600' to the north of the site. (Dec. 21, 1977) Located on Alluvial Flats on north shore of peace river now cultivated as a market garden. Site is dominated by High Bluffs to the north. Modern residence of owner stands close by.
Condition:	Foundations (log sills) are rotten and the building is settling; roof is sagging. Stabilization should be undertaken as soon as possible. (Dec. 21, 1977)
Alterations:	N/A

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Built	1877/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Fort Dunvegan	1877/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Bohdan Marusiak	1970/07/01

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Chief Factor Dr. William Mackay. Visitors included Dr. G.M. Dawson, G.S.C., William Ogilvie, D.L.S. 1878 - house complete, being the first unit of a new Fort Dunvegan which that year became headquarters for the H.B.Co. Peace River District. 1878-c.1895 - gardens adjoining the fort developed as a source of vegetable and grain produce for other company forts. 1886 - headquarters for Peace River District moved to lesser Slave Lake. 1918 - Fort Dunvegan closed. Factor's house subsequently becomes telegraph station and post office. Use of Dovetall corners marks departure from conventional post on sill construction style by H.B.Co. The Factor's house at Dunvegan is the best example of a pre-1880 fur trade building still standing in Alberta. (Cf. Clerk's Quarters at Fort Victoria, 1865, representing a fur trade outpost). * * * House erected 1877-78 by the Hudson's Bay Co. as the first element of a new Fort Dunvegan adjoining the old fort. 1878-1886 Fort Dunvegan was headquarters for Hudson's Bay Co.'s Peace River District. 1918 H.B. Co. abandoned the fort. Building subsequently served as a telegraph station and post office. Building now used for storage and a market garden operation on site. Heritage Significance: The heritage significance of this building lies in both its historical and architectural importance. This is one of three remaining H.B.Co. buildings in the Province from the 1870s - 80s era (Clerk's House, Victoria - 1865; Interpreter's cabin, Calgary - built between 1876 - 1881) and is among approximatley 25 known Alberta structures which pre-date 1880. It played an important role in the fur-trade and the economic development and settlement of the Peace River District. Historical Importance: This building is of great historical importance to the Province for its association with the H.B.Co. and the fur trade, pre-1880. The fact that Dunvegan was the H.B. Co's headquarters in the Peace River district 1878-86 adds to this importance. Through its different capacities and because it was part of a post which demonstrated the increasing reliance on locally grown food, this building represents the economic development and settlement of the area. Architectural Importance: This building is of importance to the architectural heritage of the Province because it is the only standing H.B. Co. Factor's house in Alberta. With its squared logs, hip roof, and rectangular plan it is typical of mid-19th century H.B. Co. architectural style. However, its dovetail corners reflect a shift away from the conventional H.B.Co. post-on-sill construction. * * * Draft for Immediate Release August 15, 1978 Edmonton, Alberta PROVINCE DECLARES HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY FACTOR'S HOUSE At Fort Dunvegan a Provincial Historic Resource One of Alberta's oldest-standing Hudson's Bay Company buildings has been designated a Provincial Historic Resource, it was announced by Horst A. Schmid, Minister of Culture. Originally built as the Factor's house at Fort Dunvegan in 1877, this is the only remaining building from this post. It is still located on its original site, near the north side of the Peace bridge at Dunvegan, and is constructed of squared logs with a hip roof and wood shingles. The dovetail corners reflect a departure from the conventional Hudson's Bay Company post-on-sill construction. From 1878 to 1888 Fort Dunvegan was the head-quarters for the Hudson's Bay Company Peace River district. Noted for its gardens, the post demonstrated an increasing reliance on locally grown food. It played an important role in establishing fur-trade in the area and helped bring about much of the economic development and settlement of the Peace River district. In 1918 the company abandoned the post. The former factor's house subsequently served as a telegraph station and post office. The building is presently used for storage and a market garden is operated on the property. This latest historic site is situated near the old St. Charles church and rectory, where Alberta Culture's Historic Sites Service is conducting an interpretive program concerning the history of both the mission and the fur-trade post.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Provincial Historic Resource	1978/09/15

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: