| Architect: Roscoe B. Whitten of Calgary
Contractor:
D.E.McDonald of
Calgary
Original
cost: $150,000
Original
owner:
Alexander Victor
Anderson. Born in Quebec in 1863, Anderson came to
Alberta in 1882 and became involved in a number of
business ventures, including a machinery business selling
"implements and buggies" on Atlantic Avenue
from 1892-1898. Anderson, a wealthy widower, moved into
the apartments he built and managed the building until
his death in 1920 at age 57.
Construction materials:
Reinforced concrete and
red brick. Stone detailing.
Architectural style:
Baroque style with
classical features.
Original interior
details:
Elegant brass cage
elevator, oak mouldings and base boards. Brass staircase
railings on all five floors. Marble floor in front
entrance. Main stairs trimmed with oak. Fine Italian
marble was imported for the rotunda and main stairway in
the foyer. Hardwood floors (maple) throughout. Suites
have 12 foot ceilings, claw - footed bathtubs and a
pass-through window for setting out hot food between
pantry and dining room. Main entranceway one of the most
unique features, located between the recesses of two protruding sections of the building.
Historical highlights:
- at five storeys it
was the largest and highest residential structure
built to date. Located close to the presitigious
Mount Royal District.
- originally designed
as a bachelors' hotel the building was utilized
as an apartment building
- H shaped floor plan
with two light wells was unique in Calgary and
provided natural light to all 63 suites.
- rent for one
bedroom suites started at $60.00 but dropped as
low as $32.50 during the war.
- apartment was not
fully rented until 1916
- for the first few
years there was a large dining room located in
the lower level to accommodate the tenants, who
like Anderson, lived alone and did not enjoy
eating or cooking alone.
- ornate elevator was
once operated by a uniformed attendant.
- many well-know
tenants over the years; A.W.Dingman (Turner
Valley oil discovery), C.F. Jamieson (lawyer and
newspaper columnist), J.C. Linton (alderman and
businessman), Edward B. Curlette (Calgary
photographer)
- many of the
original features of the building are still
intact
- ownership of the
building remained with Anderson's descendants
until it was sold to the Mah's in 1977
- setting for singer
Jan Arden's video "Insensitive"
nominated in 1995 for a Best Video Award.
- reports indicate
that negotiations are currently underway for the
sale and conversion of the Anderson to
condominiums.
|
Anderson Apartments