William Brown Residence
By Lawrence Herzog
Herzog on Heritage | July 8, 2011 | Article 004
The house William Brown designed and built as the family home at 11108 64th Street NW starting in 1927 was one of at least ten he constructed in Edmonton’s Highlands neighbourhood, most of them on that street. Brown developed the properties on his own and with his father-in-law, Cephas Sisson.
The building permit for $54,000 was issued in February 1927, and Brown drew the plans himself. He chose to use stucco in the gables and dormers, and clinker brink on the main exterior walls and fireplace.
Clinkers were created in early brick kilns that didn’t heat evenly. The bricks that were too close to the fire came out harder and darker and were usually tossed out or sold as “seconds” for rough brickwork.
The minerals in the clay formed a natural glaze with hues of green, red, yellow and purple, giving the clinkers a distinctive appearance. They began to find favour with the arts and crafts movement of the 1920s for their ability to enhance the look of buildings. Most of the so-called clinker homes in Alberta were built in Edmonton between 1919 and the mid-1930s.
It was a short period of popularity and availability of the bricks themselves, and consequently, very few Highlands homes were clad with clinker brick. Now only a few clinker brick houses survive in all of Edmonton.
In recognition of its significance, the William Brown Residence was declared a Municipal Historic Resource earlier this year. A report by the city’s heritage planning department says the residence is significant for its association with Brown, its distinct Craftsman design influence and its clinker brick exterior. The house’s clinker brick, along with its stucco finishes, jerkinhead roofline, large entrance porch, window treatments and exposed rafters give it the feel of a traditional English cottage.
Brown worked downtown as an employee of Weber Brothers, and ran his own real estate and insurance business. He was also a key player in the construction of Highlands United Church and Highlands Golf Club.
Research by Highlands writer Anita Jenkins reveals Brown convinced the city to donate the land for the course. He acted as the club’s president for its inaugural meeting, and became its first secretary-treasurer.
Jenkins writes that Brown arrived in Edmonton around 1900. He and Mabel and their two daughters Rieta and Marjorie lived on 115th Street near Jasper Avenue before moving to the Highlands.
Brown built his first house at 11345 64th Street, and it was just the fourth building permit issued by the city in the Highlands. Over the next 14 years, Brown and Sisson built most of the properties on 64th Street between 111th and 112th Avenues. They include the houses at 11108, 11116, 11122, 11127, 111333, 11141 and 11150.
All of the houses Brown built were different, and this building and selling of houses was a hobby and a source of some revenue, Jenkins observes. "Brown drew up the plans and supervised the construction while working downtown either running his own real estate/insurance business or, for a number of years, working for Weber Brothers."
The lot that Brown purchased to build the house was part of River Lot 32, owned by James I. Bullion from 1886 to 1888. Alexander McDougall acquired the land in 1888 and subdivided his larger holding to existing parcels in 1911. Magrath & Holgate Holdings purchased title in 1913, which they retained until the city seized the asset in 1922.
In 1932, the Browns sold their house to Anna and Everett Love, and moved to a smaller bungalow one block north for which he had been the contractor. In the next 30 years, Brown moved three more times, always within the Highlands, Jenkins writes. The last residence he built at 6007 111th Avenue served as their last home.
The Loves were to own the house until 1948, when it was purchased by Max Peacock, who held title until 1973. Then it was purchased by Alan and Patricia Tappenden. Bob and Carol Snyder have owned the property since 1983.
The heritage planner's report says the house is timber framed on a poured concrete foundation. The principal beams and joists were set in the concrete, and the original roof was likely clad with cedar shingles.
The city heritage planner's report ranks the integrity of the house as "high," and with the exception of asphalt shingles, the building is in original condition. Under the historical designation, the city is paying part of the $71,000 cost of restoring and repairing brickwork and stucco, windows, and cleaning and painting windows and trim.
© Lawrence Herzog 2011, All Rights Reserved
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