Bow Valley Ranch House
History | Bow Valley Ranch | Glenns | Shaws | Shannon Terrace

The Bow Valley Ranch House represented the height of luxury and elegance when it was built in 1896.  William Roper Hull, who had risen to great commercial success in the cattle industry, wanted a home which would allow him to entertain on a lavish scale and be a fitting monument to his financial success. 

WILSON'S DESIGN 

Hull hired James Llewellyn Wilson, Calgary's most prominent architect, to design the house.  Mr. Wilson designed many Calgary landmarks including the Bank of Montreal and the Alberta Hotel.  The design he chose for Hull's house was simple and spacious, elegant and sophisticated.  Wilson based it on the T-plan common at the turn of the century.  It was comprised of a two-story, rectangular main structure with a smaller less impressive wing attached perpendicularly at the back.  When completed the house cost between $3500 and $4000.  The site was just beneath the north escarpment of the valley, sheltered from prevailing winds and on a rise overlooking the broad grassed flats of the creek valley. The architectural style of the main structure was Gothic Revival, highlighted by a gabled hip roof with twin brick patterned chimneys, triangular dormer windows and decorative roof trim. 

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE 

A deep, wide verandah on the east, south and west sides of the structure diminished its sharply vertical appearance.  To create a less angular look to the building, Wilson introduced softer artistic details around each dormer window.  These details were also added to the small walk out balcony as well as the verandah roofline.  The two benches, which sat on the front of the verandah, continued this style with their more detailed lines. Around the bottom of the verandah, Wilson installed a delicate lattice skirt that eliminated all view of the foundation. Similar latticework was used to create a screen at the north end of the verandah to separate the main building from the less attractive working wing. This was intended to display the distinction between the owner and his employees. 

The landscaping that surrounded the house was designed to enhance the main structure.  In the centre of the front yard Wilson placed a large round flowerbed sown with perennials and criss crossed by uncut native sod.  On either side of the bed were alternating trees or bushes set in an arc.  The effect created by the trees and bushes echoed the curved whale ribs standing on the sides of the verandah entrance.  A path lead from the main steps to the gate of the picket fence, which encompassed the front yard.  As a finishing touch, Wilson also incorporated a tennis court for the Hull's recreation. 

ON THE INSIDE

The main rectangular structure included the formal rooms of the house and was designed in a symmetrical manner.  There was a centre hall, a formal parlor or sitting room to the left as one entered the front door and a dining room to the right.  These rooms were precisely the same dimensions, although the bay window of the parlor was built considerably smaller than the one in the dining room.  Each room had a single wood burning fireplace and twin eight-over two double sash windows on its southern side. There were four rooms upstairs.  A master suite with attached dressing room and a walk-in closet was located on the east side with two smaller bedrooms across the hall.  A small room, which was later turned into a functional bathroom, was located on the north wall next to the smaller bedrooms. The north wing of the house was basically a one-story structure with a loft space above.  The loft, entered via a steep narrow staircase in the north wing, was left as one large room and served as the permanent ranch hands' sleeping quarters during the winter. A lean-to attached off-centre on the north wing was also built for the ranch hands.  When Wilson designed the house, this section was to accommodate the workers' dining room and kitchen.  During construction these plans were altered, adding space for spare room, a wash up room and a bedroom for the house manager and cook Charlie Yuen. 

THE HUB OF SOCIAL LIFE 

While Hull owned the Bow Valley Ranch House, it was the social centre for southern Alberta's ranching society. Hull's parties were considered to be THE important social occasions, and their success is well reported. Many government dignitaries, such as the Lieutenant Governor of the territories and members of the legislative assembly, were often Hull's guests. Some journalists referred to his house as Alberta's unofficial vice-regal residence. 

CHANGING HANDS 

In 1902 Hull sold the Bow Valley Ranch, his meat operations and a business block to Patrick Burns. Although Burns never lived in the house, he did hold occasional business meetings and social events there. 
Renovations done to the house in 1945 by the Burns family necessitated rebuilding the roof which broke the established gable pattern. The windows were changed from double sashed to plated glass. Windows were also installed in the verandah and the east wall of the north wing. 

THE WORKING RANCH 

When Patrick Burns bought the Bow Valley Ranch in 1902, he was more concerned with its operations as a cattle-holding ranch that with continuing its reputation for social hospitality.  It was the end of a unique era in Canadian history.