Downtown Commercial in Calgary in Calgary Metropolitan Region, Alberta — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)
Lougheed Home
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2022
1. Lougheed Home Marker
James Lougheed (later Sir James) came to Calgary as a young lawyer in 1885 and later became leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate. He built a frame home for his family on this site.
In the 1890's, after moving his family to a larger home, he built this sandstone building, the Norman Block and others on land he had purchased on Stephen Avenue. Although gutted by fire on four occasions, it was rebuilt each time to original specifications.
During its lifetime the building housed such diverse businesses as a clothing store (operated by Tommy Burns, the only Canadian to win the world heavyweight boxing championship) and the Lyric (later Pantages) theatre. The theatre was managed by Ernest Willis, an Australian actor who, for many years, had appeared on British and European stages. It exhibited some of the first motion pictures seen in Calgary.
This plaque was unveiled by Premier Lougheed, grandson of the original owner, and nephew of the man for whom it was named, one of Sir James Lougheed's sons.
and
United Management Ltd.
commemorating Calgary’s Centennial 1975
Erected 1975 by Building Owners' & Managers' Association & United Management Ltd.
Topics. This historical
this page online
Location. 51° 2.742′ N, 114° 3.884′ W. Marker is in Calgary, Alberta, in Calgary Metropolitan Region. It is in Downtown Commercial. Marker is on 8 Avenue Southwest (Stephen Avenue) east of 1 Street Southwest, on the left when traveling east. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the left of the front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 128 8 Avenue Southwest, Calgary AB T2P 1B3, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Clarence Block ~ 1900 (a few steps from this marker); T.C. Power & Bro. (within shouting distance of this marker); Stephen Avenue / L'avenue Stephen (within shouting distance of this marker); The Meeting Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Molson Bank ~ 1911 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Buildings (within shouting distance of this marker); Hudson's Block (about
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2022
2. Lougheed Home Marker
Also see . . .
1. Sir James Alexander Lougheed.
Just before the railroad reached the hamlet of Fort Calgary in August 1883, Lougheed moved there. James’s legal practice thrived. The CPR soon became one of his most important clients. Beginning in the 1880s, he made good investments in Calgary real estate, building many rental properties in the downtown area.(Submitted on April 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Norman Block's Contribution to Stephen Avenue.
The Norman Block was one of four commercial properties built on Stephen Avenue by Senator James Alexander Lougheed, who named each of them after one of his sons. The 1904-built structure, designed by Calgary architect William Dodd, was erected on the site following another mixed-use building that was destroyed by fire. In its formative years, the building housed the Alberta Piano Company, McDermid Drug Company and Robinsons Clothing. The rear of the building devoted space to the Lyric Theatre, which hosted everything from vaudeville and concerts to political(Submitted on April 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)rallies and boxing matches. It graduated to motion pictures by 1913 and became part of the Pantages chain the following year before the theatre's ousting in 1921. Closing for renovations, the building reopened in 1923 as The Arcade, welcoming a variety of small businesses.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 20223. The Norman Block(looking north across 8 Avenue Southwest • former site of James Lougheed Home)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
