Banff's historic Rutherford Cottage to receive new lease on life
Rutherford Cottage, the summer home of Alexander Rutherford, Alberta’s first premier, is set to receive a million-dollar facelift.
The residence at 525 Buffalo Street, built in 1908, is presently uninhabitable, with water having damaged the roof and ceiling. In some places the foundation needs shoring up.
The back of Rutherford Cottage faces Buffalo Street.
The state of the cottage has not deterred Peter Poole, president of Bowstrings Banff — the foundation dedicated to preserving Banff's history.
"This little building needs a lot of love and care. It's remarkable though. The flooring, the interior moldings, the window frames, the doorframes are all intact," said Poole who estimates the restoration will cost in the area of $1 million.
"We've got most of the cash on hand. We're still fundraising for chunks and we can get started with a contractor this summer, if we get the permits. The town, so far, thinks it's a great project and so we're really pleased about that."
Bowstrings Banff has hired Shugarman Architecture and Design to oversee the restoration.
"The building itself was constructed in 1908 so it's got completely different building techniques and what a contemporary building would have," explained Joel Piecowye, Shugarman associate. "And you have to look at ways for preserving the building, while bringing it up to a modern standpoint in design and finishes as well as livability."
Piecowye says restoration of a heritage building like Rutherford Cottage does not necessarily mean returning it to its original 1908 condition.
"There's a remedial part which is based off of protecting the building. So, trying to figure out what is important for the building's protection for example, character-defining elements of the building. Which parts of the historic building are worth protecting and precious to the essence of the building, and what parts are things that can be changed and altered?" said Piecowye
The restoration will also require bringing many aspects of the building up to modern building and safety codes. Piecowye cites electric, plumbing, insulation and foundation as some of the many upgrades that will be required.
“All this might sound like it's a lot, but it's very attainable," said Piecowye. "Even though it does need a lot of work. It shows how well some of these buildings were built, because this building has been left in a state of repair for decades, and it's still position where it can be salvaged and protected."
Piecowye says there are several architectural features requiring preservation, including the pyramid roof, the location and the building's front entrance that opens not to the street but toward the nearby bow river.
For Poole, it is the history of the building that sets it apart from other structures.
Rutherford was keenly interested in education, and was instrumental in founding the University of Alberta, later becoming chancellor of the school.
Visiting scholars from around North America would spend summers as guests at Rutherford's cottage, and Poole believes those meetings furthered Rutherford's commitment to education and laid the groundwork for the eventual foundation of the Banff Centre.
"So Rutherford, inspired by other academics who are coming to Banff in the summer, had big ideas, had an idea for a great university," said Poole. "And we think by protecting Rutherford's Cottage, we can create a base for big ideas."
"Imagine that people could come along the river's edge as they did in the past, and they could come up here, and people visiting the Rutherford Cottage might be able to take a tea on the beautiful veranda here," Peter Poole, Bowstrings Banff president.
Bowstrings hopes to commence restoration work this summer and Poole hopes to welcome visitors into the fully renovated Rutherford Cottage in the summer of 2023.
"Imagine that people could come along the river's edge as they did in the past, and they could come up here, and people visiting the Rutherford Cottage might be able to take a tea on the beautiful veranda here."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'