Landmark Building
‘SHORTY’ MCLAUGHLIN RESIDENCE
Town Farm Site, High River
Built By: John Wesley 'Shorty' McLaughlin
Built in 1896
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John Wesley 'Shorty' McLaughlin came west in 1885 to help construct the Canadian Pacific Railway between Winnipeg and Calgary. In the same year, he freighted supplies for the army during the Riel Rebellion. In 1886, he was operating a stopping house near Pine Creek on the Calgary to Fort Macleod Trail and shortly after, with his wife and two children, he left Pincher Creek and settled near High River. Before the turn of the century, he purchased the Smith and French Stopping House and the quarter section of land on which it sat.
The present site is therefore part of the property originally settled by O.H. Smith and Lafayette French who had been traders at Blackfoot Crossing until the signing of Treaty Number 7 in 1877. By 1879, Smith and French had moved to High River and built the first stopping house. About the same time, 'Buck' Smith, who had also been a trader at Blackfoot Crossing, moved to High River and built a log cabin close to French and Smith. In 1884 he expanded and constructed a large, one-and-one-half storey log stopping house, which he operated until 1891.
When 'Shorty' Mclaughlin arrived, he purchased the Smith and French quarter plus the buildings. As well, for some time he ran the 'Buck' Smith Stopping House. Mclaughlin then broadened his holdings and became a stock trader dealing in horses and cattle. Later, race horses were his main business, and on this site, which has been named Mclaughlin Meadows in his honour, he used to have a race track on which many of his horses ran.
The log buildings have recently been demolished but the stone house Shorty built in 1896 is still standing. It is a simple, one-and-one-half storey dwelling constructed of locally quarried sandstone. Some of the walls have since been surfaced in stucco and a rear enclosed porch has been added. The steep gable roof is covered by wooden shingles and the open front verandah with a half-hip roof is supported by posts. The house is the only surviving sandstone residence in High River.
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 A Walking Tour of High River. Heritage Inventory Program, Alberta Culture, and Town of High River, with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.