Landmark Building
CHOWN RESIDENCE
11141-62 Street, Edmonton
Designed By: Ernest Morehouse
Built By: Magrath-Holgate & Co
Built in 1912
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At $4,800, the Chown Residence was the most costly of the four houses on Grace Street build by Magrath-Holgate & Co. The architect was listed as “Owner,” but Ernest Morehouse probably designed the Four Square Style home.
Russell Chown came to Edmonton from the Magrath’s home town, Belleville, Ontario, in 1912. Interestingly, 116 Avenue was originally Chown Avenue. Russell joined his parents and siblings, who had established Chown Hardware in Edmonton in 1906. He became secretary-treasurer of the company, and managed one of the two stores. On December 31, 1913 he purchased this house from Magrath-Holgate, just one block from his brother Leroy’s home at 11145-63 Street.
Russell Chown’s timing was bad. In 1913 Edmonton suffered a severe downturn, and so did Chown Hardware. In 1914, the business “…showed quite a large loss. The volume of trade [was] so reduced that the results cannot be expected to be profitable.” Despite the security Russell Chown provided by re-mortgaging his home in 1915, Chown Hardware was liquidated in May 1916. All the Chowns, except for Russell and his family, left Edmonton.
Russell’s fortune did not improve. In 1914 he was superintendent of the city Stores and Works Department, but the entire department was cut in 1917. He then became a traveling salesman, but was unemployed in 1923, and was a labourer in 1924. At that point, Russell Chown gave up on Edmonton and probably returned to Ontario.
The Chown Residence also suffered a decline. It had cost Russell Chown $7,000, but by 1916 its value was $4,300. In 1922, Magrath-Holgate Ltd. foreclosed on Chown’s mortgage, and in 1924 the house was converted into two suites, resulting in some unfortunate interior alterations. Only in 1946, when it sold for $8,000, did the Chown Residence retain its 1913 value. The Chown Residence was designated a Registered Historical Resource in 1993.
The Landmark Buildings and Places Database draws on the series of walking and/or driving tour booklets produced by Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit). The Heritage Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry through permission to reprint these materials online. Extracted from Historical Walking Tours of Downtown, 2004, Centennial edition of the brochure. Planning and Development Department, City of Edmonton, and Alberta Community Development., 2004, with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.