When Alexander Cameron Rutherford won his second term as Premier of Alberta, his thoughts turned to building an official residence. According to historian Lisa Mort-Putland, the idea was rooted in carrying out the social functions of government:

Dr. Alexander Cameron Rutherford commissioned the house in 1909 as he was at the height of his premiership. And his older home, which was originally around the Whyte Avenue area, had become too small for entertaining. And he felt that an official Premier?s home would be a delight for visiting ambassadors and prominent people coming to Edmonton. So he bought a parcel of land in 1909 from a Mr. Garneau. And hoped dearly that the home would always be associated with the university. It also, of course, had the most wonderful view across the river valley to the Legislature and across the High-Level Bridge, all of which were in the plans and then in the making at that time.

The site for the house was located on Saskatchewan Drive at the northern tip of what is now the University of Alberta. And work on the Premier?s official residence began in 1909 with the pouring of the foundation.

Little did he know that, unfortunately, he would resign from the Premiership in 1910. And when the house was finished in 1911, he and his wife paid the 25 000 dollar bill to build the house. And it became his private residence.

Rutherford House was designed for entertaining heads of state and other dignitaries. They really thought that the Prime Minister or perhaps the King would come and visit. The Prince of Wales and Lieutenant Governor and everybody would spend time in Rutherford House as an official dwelling. While prominent people did visit, it was never an official home. The Rutherfords lived here from February of 1911 until 1940, when Dr. Rutherford sold the house.

During that time, thousands of people visited the Rutherfords? home, including university dignitaries, politicians, Lieutenant Governor J. C. Bowen and other prominent people.

On the Heritage Trail, I?m Cheryl Croucher.