9850 112 Street NW, Edmonton Alberta
From Hermis: “The Mountifield Residence is a two-storey, second empire style building built in 1905. It is significant because of its architecture. The house is built in the Second Empire style, one of only a handful left in Edmonton. It has a straight mansard roof with a rounded window on the second storey, flanked by wood windows on either side. Decorative cedar shingles cover the second floor, and a brick cladding on the first floor. The north façade features a bay window. Lastly, a notable feature is the open front verandah at the entrance, with four spindle stone columns, a stone base and simple capitals. Two sets of triple single-hung windows with a diamond pattern are on either side of the front entrance.
The Mountifield Residence is also significant because of its architect, James E Wize who was a notable Edmonton architect responsible for buildings such as the Corona Hotel, the Alberta Hotel, the McLean Block and Queen Alexandra School. In 1908, he was president of the Council for the Alberta Association of Architects.
The first owner was Henry Mountifield, who was born in England in 1867, and lived in Japan and the north before arriving in Edmonton in 1902. Shortly after, he was appointed city auditor and was involved in the real estate business. He had two children, Eleanor and Jim, who went on to become talented sports stars, Eleanor in basketball and Jim in golf.”
The Project
This project began in 2014, when the new owners purchased the house to convert it back to a single-family residence. The building had long been used as an office building. In 2015, the house was designated as a municipal historic resource by the City of Edmonton. The veranda had been significantly altered in the past, so it was reconstructed to replicate the original configuration. The interior renovations included new foundations and deepening of the basement to accommodate an additional suite and laundry. The upper floor interiors were completely renovated to accommodate their growing family.
Consultant: David Murray Architect
Veranda Contractor: A.W. Slemko Builders
Basement Contractor: Abarent Construction Ltd.