232 6a st ne p1 |
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Object Description
| Title | 232 6a St NE |
| Date | 2013 |
| Year of Construction | 1905 |
| Description |
232 6A St NE This cottage home was built in 1905. Who built is unknown at this time. Regardless, it probably was the first house to occupy this block on what was then known as Dresden Street in the community of Germantown as it was then known as. Between 2006 through 2008 the home’s interior was significantly redesigned and modernized. It was gutted back to the original timbers; the attic was removed and the living space was opened up with an open-concept plan with a vaulted ceiling and gallery lighting under the direction of Rectangle Design. As it now stands, the only original parts remaining are the exterior timbers and form; the fir flooring – below the new visible maple hardwood floor; and the basement. The interior architecture is stunning and thoughtful with an exterior reminiscent of a west coast coattage and won a design award – however, it is the people who once lived here and the events surrounding this home that are the real story. EARLY HISTORY OF THIS BLOCK We know that in 1910, the year after this suburban community now known as Riverside was annexed by the city, only four homes on this street were occupied (#214; 228; 230; 232). One other side was also under construction (#208). The following year the census was taken in 1911 and this street was almost fully developed as it now stands. One more home was built and occupied during that year (#224) with one more built in 1912 (#222) and another shortly thereafter (#204). During the 1911 census we find that in those 6 modest-sized homes occupied on this block there were eight family units containing 50 people (17 adults, 23 minors – and 7 of those adults were boarders). Since then all houses built during the 1910s on this street still stand with the exception of the two houses along with the original St. John’s Lutheran Church which were all razed to make way for a major expansion of the church in the early 1970s; and another house (#228) demolished for redevelopment around the same time. As a result this block is a bit of a time capsule of sorts, still retaining the original character of buildings in the community from the 1910scfor the most part, with some updating as expected. FIRST KNOWN OWNERS This property (232) was built in 1905, and the adjoining property (#230) which was built 1909/10. They are both located on the same city lot. Because of this, the first known individual owners of both properties lived next door to each other and purchased the two properties together as a package from CP Rail, then subsequently subdivided them shortly thereafter. In 1911, the two known owners were recent immigrants from Italy – Guiseppe Boffa and Domenico Carreno and they shared the two adjoining homes as described above. During the 1911 census, we know that Guiseppe Boffa (44), his wife Catherina (39) and four children Maria (19); Nina (17); Carolina (12); and Ernesto (7) all occupied this property. The family immigrated to Canada in 1907 with the stated intention to move to Calgary. They lived in this house until 1912, when the family moved to a larger home a few blocks away on the side of the hill on the west side of Edmonton Trail @ 415 – 4 Avenue NE. It is believed that he built that home while living here and working for the City of Calgary as a labourer in the water works department. At the same time, the two oldest daughters worked at Ontario Laundry located across the bridge in what is now called East Village. The family lived at the 4th Avenue NE home until 1915 when they moved to Fort William (Thunder Bay), Ontario. With the onset of WWII in early January 1938, the now 70 year-old Guiseppe sold his home, and along with his wife Catherina and their daughter Carolina left Canada with $1000 cash in their pocket to join his brother Vincenzo in the town of Piozzo, in the Piedmont region of Italy where they presumably lived out their lives. The other original co-owner of this property, Domenica Carreno occupied the adjoining house (#230) which still stands. He and his family immigrated to the USA in early February 1900. They settled in San Francisco and in 1903 he stated his intent to obtain US citizenship. It is suspected that they most likely moved to Calgary at some time after the great earthquake and fire in San Francisco which took place during 1906. During the 1911 census, Domenico (45), his wife Teresa (34); son Guiseppe (18); Madeline (14); Catterina (12); Mary (2); Josephine (1) lived in that home along with three boarders from Italy – John Brosini (31); Silvio Fortunesco (30); and Pietro Rinaldi (25) – for a total of ten people in that modest-sized home. Domenico and his family continued to reside there while he worked as a labourer for the City of Calgary and his two eldest daughters also worked at Ontario Laundry like the two eldest daughters at this home. Obviously the two families were close. In November 1916, Domenico with family left Canda, with the stated intention of moving to Hollywood, California to join the eldest son who left for California the year prior. They seem to have stayed as Domenico passed away in Los Angeles during September 1943. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE CLOSE PROXIMITY DURING THE 1910s For the remainder of the 1910s the occupants appear to have been renters, or short-term owners – and mostly Italian. During this decade the infrastructure within a small radius of the block developed showing the significance of this block as a hub of activity during that time. Some highlights : • 1980 (circa) rail line for street railway was located in back alley between Dresden and Munich Street (now known as 6A and 7 Streets) and turned onto what was then known as Bowen Ave, or by some accounts as Berlin Avenue (what is now known as 2nd Avenue) which then continued on up the hill somewhere near where Edmonton Trail is. This line most likely connected to the line on what was then known as Louisa Avenue (now know as 1st Avenue) . • 1909 Fire Hall $4 was built on the next block (operated sporadically until 1978) • 1910 (or earlier) A large number of churches were built close by and in particular along 2nd Avenue during the early part of the century. Of note, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (202 – 6A Street NE) was built at the other end of the block, which served the religious needs of the German speaking community in this area . • 1910 Riverside School was built also on the next block (burned down in 1966) ; • 1910 Langevin Bridge was built connecting the community to the City (replaced later) ; • 1910 the new General Hospital was built, three blocks away (imploded in 1998) ; • 1911 Riverside Bungalow School #1 was built on the next block (destroyed at an unknown time) ; • 1912 (?) Hergert Block was built across the street, and Kaufmann & Simon, Grocers open for business on the main floor (building was converted to residences a number of years ago) • 1913 Riverside School housed the first branch location of the Calgary Public Library (for a short period of time) ; • 1913 St. Angela’s School opened on the next block (demolished and replaced in 1971) ; • 1920 the Riverside Bungalow School #2 was built across the street (still standing, although currently vacant) ; PROPERTY BETWEEN 1920s THROUGH 1980s As the decade came to a close, the property ownership became much more stable. A CP Railway carman – Alex Daubert , moved here with his wife and children and lived here until 1928 when he moved to another place further east in Bridgeland. He sold the property to another CO employee (Peter Litzenberger) who lived here for a few years. In 1931 yet another CP Railway employee, Frank Lehnert purchased this home with his wife Francisa (Frances). These two were the longest term residents and both lived in this home for the remainder of their lives – nearly 40 years. Frances passed away in 1968 and Frank passed a few years later in 1971. They are both buried at Mountain View Cemetery just outside the city limits. When the Lehnerts moved in, the commercial building adjoining the property facing 2nd Avenue was in the process of being built. It opened the year later as the Depressing took hold of Calgary. Hank’s Meat Market and the Farmer’s Grocery moved across the street from the Hergert Block (728 – 2 Ave. NE) to the new building, occupying two separate addresses (715 &717 – 2 Ave. NE). The new unnamed building was operated as a grocery and /or meat market for many years and this past month (July 2012) probably has not been used for active commercial purposes since most likely the 1980s and possibly earlier. At some unknown date it is apparent new brick work facing was used to obfuscate the previously existing small market architectural features one expects to see in a 1930s era commercial buildings which has been confirmed with the current owners. During the 1970s, the house had numerous tenants or owners who only lived in the place for short periods of time. Ironically two of the previous occupants who probably did not know each other died within days of each other. One died the day of the other’s funeral. During the 1980s the house had numerous short-term owners who tried to flip the property, sometimes losing a significant amount in a very short period of time, although a presumably young couple lived in this residence for most of the decade. RECENT EVENTS From information provided by people who remember the property during the 1990s, a couple of different owners lived here and the building was allowed to degenerate further. In 1999 the couple who initiated the major renovations purchased the property and it is thanks to them that the property was refurbished and is in such good state as it is. They no longer live here as they outgrew the property in 2010 after the birth of their second child. Youngest son of the original owner Ernest Joseph Boffa (1904 -2004) was inducted inot the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. He was a co-owner (20%) of Canadian Pacific Airlines and helped develop the DEW Line as a technical advisor . 1911 Census of this block 232 – 6A Street NE residents 1905 – 1910? • Unkown 1910? – 1912 • Guiseppe Boffa, labourer 1912 • John K. Elliott, carpenter 1913 • Enrica Gardin, labourer 1914 – 1915 • Foreigners 1916 • Antonio and Katie Ferraro, labourer & employee, Ontario Laundry 1917 • Vacant 1918 – 1927 • Alex Daubert, Canadian Pacific Railway car repairman 1928 – 1930 • Peter Litzenberger, Canadian Pacific Railway employee 1931 – 1971 • Frank and Francisca (Frances) Lehnert, Canadian Pacific Railway labourer 1972 – 1975 • Howard and Lee McAvena, labourer, City of Calgary Electric/nurse’s aid, General Hospital 1976 • Arlene Laro 1977 • John C. Reid, musician 1978 – 1979 • Antonie Zehender, employee, Public Works Canada 1980 – 1988 • Russel Lafrentz and Barbara Ambury, employee, Canada Post/child care worker 1989 • Vacant 1990 onward Limited information available WHO LIVED HERE? |
| Subject | Calgary (Alta.)--Dwellings--History--Pictorial Works |
| Community | Bridgeland |
| Collection | Century Homes Calgary 2013 |
| Rights | Copyright Calgary Public Library. 616 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary AB, T2G 2M2, 1+(403)260-2785 information@calgarylibrary.ca |
| Request High Resolution Image | If you would like a higher resolution image than what is available here we ask that you kindly make a donation to support the Library through this link: http://librarystore.ca/products/community-heritage-and-family-history-digital-library . Please be sure to put the image number (listed below) in the 'Comments' box on the 'My Cart' checkout page of the Library Store website. |
| Image No. | ch_2013_366 |
Description
| Title | 232 6a st ne p1 |
| Request High Resolution Image | If you would like a higher resolution image than what is available here we ask that you kindly make a donation to support the Library through this link: http://librarystore.ca/products/community-heritage-and-family-history-digital-library . Please be sure to put the image number (listed below) in the 'Comments' box on the 'My Cart' checkout page of the Library Store website. |
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