In 1968, the University of Alberta expropriated a number of homes in the Garneau neighbourhood, including Rutherford House, so that it could expand to accommodate a burgeoning student population. A fraternity had owned Rutherford House since 1940, when Alberta?s first Premier sold it after his wife had died. As historian Lisa Mort-Putland explains, an outraged community and the University Women?s Club took up a campaign to save the historic house:

The university had very different ideas because it needed the land badly, and the plan was to build Hub Mall on this location. So the Board of Governors again discussed it and decided that they would put up a plaque honouring the concept of Rutherford House. And at that point, Edmonton had gone through a terrible history of destroying its buildings. At that point, Edmonton had no laws regarding preservation or conservation of heritage buildings. And in 1958, we?d seen the original city hall demolished. They?d seen a lot of buildings, original buildings destroyed. And residents were beginning to feel pressured that there was a new city but not an old one.

Public pressure mounted. Prominent Albertans who had spent their student days as fraternity members at Rutherford House also got involved in the campaign. And the provincial government stepped in and signed an agreement with the university to save Rutherford House.

Now the fraternity, as it turned out, owed some back taxes to the city. So in a three-way deal, the university ended up owning the house from the fraternity. And the university still owns Rutherford House. The provincial government signed a lease to operate it. So we have a three-way partnership here at Rutherford House: between the provincial government and Alberta Historic Sites, the University of Alberta and then the Friends of Rutherford House, which is our not-for-profit society that helps us in operating and maintaining and doing some fun things around the home.

Rutherford House was declared an historic resource in 1970. Now almost a century old, the house continues to exude the welcoming spirit and grace of the Rutherford family.

On the Heritage Trail, I?m Cheryl Croucher.