Rutherford House
Encyclopedia
Rutherford House was the home of the first Premier of Alberta
, Alexander Cameron Rutherford
from 1911 to 1941. It is now an Alberta Provincial Historic Site.
near the University of Alberta
campus. The residence, initially called Achnacarry
by the Rutherford family, after their ancestral castle in Scotland
, and is now known as Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site. In 1966 the House was designated for demolition as the University of Alberta made plans for expansion. It quickly became a public concern to save this important historic structure. The University Women's Club, played a key role in saving this historic resource and in 1970 the Alberta Government announced its decision that this house would be preserved. The Rutherford House is operated by Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Sites and Museums branch and is assisted by the Friends of Rutherford House, a non-profit, charitable society, formed in 1985 to assist the Province with the preservation and presentation of this historic site.
On the 29th of May, 1909, Alexander Cameron Rutherford
became the owner of a superset of the lot now occupied by Rutherford House. The description of him on the certificate title of ownership reads "a gentleman of Strathcona
". By late 1909 plans for the house were drawn up by the firm of A.G. Wilson and D.E. Herrald, British
-trained architects and civil engineers, and excavation completed by Strathcona
contractors James Smith and J.T. Radford. During the following spring of 1910 Thomas Richards, another Strathcona
contractor, and master bricklayer prepared the foundation, which was poured by the end of May 1910. The double brick walls were built during the summer of 1910, with some of the work being done by Thomas Richards himself. Work proceeded on the elegant hardwood interior over the winter, with the house being fit for occupancy by February 1911.
The Rutherford family of four, including Alexander Cameron Rutherford, Mattie Birkett Rutherford, Cecil Alexander Rutherford and Hazel Elizabeth Rutherford moved in by the end of March 1911. The Rutherfords occupied the house until September 1940, when Mattie Birkett Rutherford died. Shortly after her death on September 13, 1940 the house was sold, by Alexander, to the University of Alberta - Delta Upsilon Fraternity, for a nominal fee, corresponding to the cost of construction.
The Delta Upsilon Fraternity vacated the house in 1969, having sold it to the University of Alberta in 1968. The Board of Governors
of the University of Alberta agreed to lease the house to the Alberta Government in late 1970, following a successful campaign for preservation as an historic site by the University of Alberta Women's Club, including the assistance of the Women's Canadian Club, the Northern ALberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association, The Historical Society of Alberta, the Edmonton Historical Board, Provincial Museum and the City of Edmonton.
Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site opened to the public in mid 1973, after three years of restoration. Many of the historic artifacts currently in the house are originals, donated by Hazel Elizabeth Rutherford and Helen Reid Rutherford (Cecil Alexander Rutherford's wife).
Premier of Alberta
The Premier of Alberta is the first minister for the Canadian province of Alberta. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. The current Premier of Alberta is Alison Redford. She became Premier by winning the Progressive Conservative leadership elections on...
, Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first Premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Ontario, he studied and practised law in Ottawa before moving with his family to the Northwest Territories in 1895...
from 1911 to 1941. It is now an Alberta Provincial Historic Site.
Overview
Rutherford House was built by Alexander Cameron Rutherford in 1911 on a large lot in StrathconaStrathcona, Alberta
Strathcona was a city in Alberta, Canada, located on the south of the North Saskatchewan River opposite of the City of Edmonton. It amalgamated with Edmonton on February 1, 1912....
near the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
campus. The residence, initially called Achnacarry
Achnacarry
Achnacarry is a small hamlet, private estate, and a castle in the Lochaber region of Highland, Scotland. It occupies a strategic position on an isthmus between Loch Lochy to the east, and Loch Arkaig to the west....
by the Rutherford family, after their ancestral castle in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and is now known as Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site. In 1966 the House was designated for demolition as the University of Alberta made plans for expansion. It quickly became a public concern to save this important historic structure. The University Women's Club, played a key role in saving this historic resource and in 1970 the Alberta Government announced its decision that this house would be preserved. The Rutherford House is operated by Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Sites and Museums branch and is assisted by the Friends of Rutherford House, a non-profit, charitable society, formed in 1985 to assist the Province with the preservation and presentation of this historic site.
History
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first Premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Ontario, he studied and practised law in Ottawa before moving with his family to the Northwest Territories in 1895...
became the owner of a superset of the lot now occupied by Rutherford House. The description of him on the certificate title of ownership reads "a gentleman of Strathcona
Strathcona
Strathcona is an 19th century variation of "Glen Coe", a river valley in Scotland. The word was invented for use in the title Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, first used for Donald Smith, a Canadian railway financier, in order to avoid association with the Massacre of Glencoe of 1692...
". By late 1909 plans for the house were drawn up by the firm of A.G. Wilson and D.E. Herrald, British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
-trained architects and civil engineers, and excavation completed by Strathcona
Strathcona
Strathcona is an 19th century variation of "Glen Coe", a river valley in Scotland. The word was invented for use in the title Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, first used for Donald Smith, a Canadian railway financier, in order to avoid association with the Massacre of Glencoe of 1692...
contractors James Smith and J.T. Radford. During the following spring of 1910 Thomas Richards, another Strathcona
Strathcona
Strathcona is an 19th century variation of "Glen Coe", a river valley in Scotland. The word was invented for use in the title Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, first used for Donald Smith, a Canadian railway financier, in order to avoid association with the Massacre of Glencoe of 1692...
contractor, and master bricklayer prepared the foundation, which was poured by the end of May 1910. The double brick walls were built during the summer of 1910, with some of the work being done by Thomas Richards himself. Work proceeded on the elegant hardwood interior over the winter, with the house being fit for occupancy by February 1911.
The Rutherford family of four, including Alexander Cameron Rutherford, Mattie Birkett Rutherford, Cecil Alexander Rutherford and Hazel Elizabeth Rutherford moved in by the end of March 1911. The Rutherfords occupied the house until September 1940, when Mattie Birkett Rutherford died. Shortly after her death on September 13, 1940 the house was sold, by Alexander, to the University of Alberta - Delta Upsilon Fraternity, for a nominal fee, corresponding to the cost of construction.
The Delta Upsilon Fraternity vacated the house in 1969, having sold it to the University of Alberta in 1968. The Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
of the University of Alberta agreed to lease the house to the Alberta Government in late 1970, following a successful campaign for preservation as an historic site by the University of Alberta Women's Club, including the assistance of the Women's Canadian Club, the Northern ALberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association, The Historical Society of Alberta, the Edmonton Historical Board, Provincial Museum and the City of Edmonton.
Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site opened to the public in mid 1973, after three years of restoration. Many of the historic artifacts currently in the house are originals, donated by Hazel Elizabeth Rutherford and Helen Reid Rutherford (Cecil Alexander Rutherford's wife).