Landmark Building
A. YOUNG HOUSE
453 22nd Street , Fort Macleod
Built By: : J. S. Lambert
Built in 1910
'); "A. Young House")
Arthur Young was born in Nottingham, England but came to Canada with his family as a young boy. The family settled in Regina and Arthur completed his schooling there, which included attending the University of Manitoba to study pharmacy. Excelling in his studies, he was honoured with a medal by the university for his high scholastic achievements. After graduation, Arthur Young worked in a drug store with his brother, until he was offered financial assistance by a large firm to open a store in Fort Macleod. Recognizing an opportunity not to be turned down, Arthur Young accepted and set up the first pharmacy in Fort Macleod in 1896. He maintained this business until 1911 when he changed his occupation to insurance and his K.A.Y. Insurance Company became known throughout the Province. The Youngs moved into their beautiful new home, built for them by J. S. Lambert, in 1911, and it soon became the site of many social events in Fort Macleod.
Many other individuals have occupied the house. During World War II the house was converted into eight apartments for Air Force personnel. The house was then owned by Mr. Wiggins, a C.P.R. employee who raised chinchillas in the basement. The house was later bought by Lieutenant Colonel Hayley Aycock, who turned it back into a single family dwelling. In 1979 the house was purchased by Dr. H. Griesbach.
The house is an imposing two-and-one-half storey brick structure, which occupies three-and-one-half lots and displays a large lawn and garden beautifully landscaped with trees and shrubs. The square plan and central entryway are fundamental features of the Four Square or Cube Style home, which was a popular residential style at this time throughout North America. The roof is hipped and features gable dormers with decorative fascia shingles on all four elevations. Along the south elevation, stairs leading to the second floor remain from the days when the house was leased out as apartments. The house is distinguished by a front verandah with classical wooden pillars and a second storey balcony enclosed by a spindle railing. The spindle railing
is featured again at the dormer level. The interior of the house retains a high degree of original fabric and detail. The distinctive features include two fireplaces, oak floors, high ceilings and a spiral staircase, which was added during Aycock's ownership. The existing wine cellar was at one time a morgue, one of the first in Fort Macleod.
The Landmark Buildings and Places Database draws on the series of walking and/or driving tour booklets produced by Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit). The Heritage Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry through permission to reprint these materials online. Extracted from A Walking/Driving Tour of Fort Macleod’s Historic Downtown & Residential Area. Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism and Fort Macleod Provincial Historic Area Society, n.d., with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.