Key Number:	HS 32327
Site Name:	Card House
Other Names:
Site Type:	0101 - Residential: Single Dwelling

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			3	25	4

Address:	337 Main Street
Number:	37
Street:	Main
Avenue:	3
Other:
Town:	Cardston
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:	Horizontal Log
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Medium Gable
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:
Exterior:	Log house with symmetrical front elevation and central gable. Horizontal log construction and typical Mormon style half dovetail notching.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	On original site, now situated in downtown Cardston on Main Street, surrounded by modern development.
Condition:	Excellent condition, partially due to 1937 dismantling, cleaning and reassembling of logs with new additions of concrete chinking and base. Building receives excellent maintance.
Alterations:	1937 - new concrete foundation.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Constructed.	1887/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Residence	1887/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Charles Ora Card Albert John Wiley Erma May Jensen Robert Harold Farren & Lena Berdine Farren James Ferguson	1887/01/01 1959/01/12 1964/08/31 1977/01/10 1985/09/23

Architect:	Charles Ora Card
Builder:	Charles Ora Card
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Built in 1887 by Cardston founder, Charles Ora Card. Lived in by the Cards until their new brick home was constructed in 1900. The log house was dismantled, cleaned and reconstructed in 1937 with alterations such as concrete chinking and base. (Cardston Golden Jubilee project). The building's primary importance lies in its connection with Charles Ora Card, founder and first mayor of the present town of Cardston, (first Mormon 'stake' established in Canada). Card was the first to raise a crop of grain between Lethbridge and the United States border. From 1887 to 1905, he was instrumental in establishing an extensive irrigation system, grist mill, sawmill, cheese factory as well as the Cardston Mercantile Company, for the new community. Constructed in 1887, the Card Home is the oldest standing log building in the district and one of the oldest in Alberta. In accordance with the Mormon tradition of preserving the home of the community founder, the citizens of Cardston have maintained the log house as a reminder of their pioneer heritage. * * * Draft for Immediate Release November 23, 1977 Edmonton, Alberta FIRST MORMON HOUSE IN CARDSTON DECLARED CLASSIFIED HISTORIC SITE A log house representing the first Mormon 'stake' established in Canada, has been designated a Classified Historic Site, the Hon. Horst A. Schmid announced today. This house was constructed by Cardston's founder the first mayor, Carles Ora Card in 1887, the year the Mormons trekked from Utah to southern Alberta. For many years it was the social centre of the new settlement, and the community grew up around it. The Cards lived in it until 1900, when they moved into a new brick home. Charles Ora Card became the President of the Alberta 'stake' of the Church of Latter Day Saints. From 1887 to 1905 he was instrumental in establishing for the new community an extensive irrigation system, grist mill, sawmill, cheese factory, and Cardston Mercantile Company. The card house, still on its original site, is constructed of horizontal logs with typical Mormon-style half dove-tail notching at the corners. It is in very good condition partly due to a Cardston Golden Jubilee Project in 1937, which resulted in the logs being dismantled, cleaned, rechinked, and reassembled on a cement base. This is the oldest standing log building in the district and one of the oldest in Alberta. It presently contains old-style furnishings and is open to the public as a small museum. It is great significance as it was once the focal point for Mormon expansion in Canada.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Provincial Historic Resource	1978/01/18

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0195