REALTORS® serving Calgary and area

Courtesy of the City of Calgary
Courtesy of the City of Calgary

Dec. 22, 2020 | Tyler Difley

Historical Home Spotlight: Alfred McKay Home

Year of Construction: 1905

Address: 35 Point Drive N.W.

Community: Point McKay

Architectural Style: Vernacular

This pioneer vernacular home was built in 1905 by Alfred McKay (1860-1940). His work as a member of Canadian Pacific Railway survey crews took him from his home in Woodbridge, Ont., to the Prairies in 1880 and he eventually settled in the Calgary area in 1886.

Originally, McKay lived as a squatter in a log cabin on Cochrane Ranch Co. land, before securing his own piece of land in 1891. Many years later, he donated a portion of his homestead to the City of Calgary, which became part of Shouldice Park.

McKay built his home – which seems to have been constructed in a few distinct sections over time – out of sandstone he quarried and transported across the frozen Bow River with his own hands. Featuring two full storeys at completion, the home started as a single-storey residence with only part of a second floor, before additions eventually expanded it to its current design.

McKay and his wife, Catherine Hemmings, had at least five sons, who maintained possession of the home and surrounding property until 1953. Eventually, the home was abandoned and entered a state of serious disrepair. However, the historic property was restored and is now used as a recreation centre.

Tagged: Alfred McKay | Bow River | Calgary | Calgary Real Estate | Calgary Real Estate News | City of Calgary | Cochrane | Cochrane Ranch Co | construction | Design | Feature | Heritage | Heritage Home | Historical Home | historical homes | history | history | Pioneer | Point McKay | Sandstone | shouldice park | Vernacular


Connect With Us

Contact CREB®

300 Manning Road N.E.
Calgary, Alberta
T2E 8K4, Canada

 

CREB® acknowledges that its office is located, and that its REALTOR® members serve, on the traditional territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region and Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. We honour and acknowledge the members of the Métis community and specifically, the Métis Nation Region 3. In the spirit of reconciliation and because we are all treaty people, we also acknowledge all Calgarians who make our homes in the traditional Treaty 7 territory of Southern Alberta.


© CREB®  |  All rights reserved