| Architect:
Contractor:
Rutty and Weare.
Original
owner:
Eugene Coste, a
geologist and engineer, pioneered the discovery of
natural gas in Alberta. Born in Ontario and educated in
France, he came west in 1908 as a consulting engineer
with the Canadian Pacific Railway and in 1909 discovered
the Bow Island gas field. He leased the field from the
CPR in 1912 and founded the Canadian Western Natural Gas,
Light, Heat and Power Company.
Construction materials:
Brick, batten and
stucco. Half timbered details on gables. Sandstone trim.
Partial concrete foundation and basement. Pressed tin
roof in a clay tile pattern replicated the red clay roof
of the Coste Mansion.
Architectural style: Tudor Revival.
Original interior
details:
Grease pit, gas pumps. A
separate entrance provided access to the chauffeur's
quarters which were on the main floor and included a
living room and kitchen. Two bedrooms and a bathroom were
located on the upper floor. The living quarters featured
beamed ceilings and plastered walls.
Historical highlights:
- Coste purchased lot
9 where the Coach House was built from the
Canadian Pacific Railway in July 1912 for $7,200.
- The Coach House was
an integral part of the two acre Coste Estate
which also included a 28 room mansion, a Dower
House for Coste's widowed mother-in-law, a
greenhouse and landscaped gardens.
- It was among the
first "auto sheds" built in Mount Royal
specifically designed for automobiles, not horse
drawn carriages.
- The one and
one-half storey brick structure included living
quarters for the chauffeur and a service area for
automobiles.
- The front apron of
the garage consisted of two large archways
opening to massive oak doors.
- In 1922, Eugene
Coste left Calgary and moved to Toronto. Coste
offered the entire estate; property and buildings
to the City of Calgary with the provision that it
be used as a hospital for sick children. The
offer was declined.
- Coste's long time
chauffeur, Lancelot Dobson, remained behind in
Calgary. He continued living in the Coach House
until 1935 when ownership of the Coste Estate
including the Mansion, Coach House and
surrounding property reverted to the City of
Calgary for non-payment of taxes.
- During the War
(1939 -1946) when the estate was used by the
Provincial Institute of Technology, now S.A.I.T.,
the Coach House was rented to artist and art
instructor Henry Glyde.
- In 1960, Calgary
lawyer, George McKim purchased the estate,
including the Coach House and carried out some
renovations.
- 1960 to 1975 the
Coach House was used as a garage and guest house.
- In 1975 the estate
was subdivided and ownership of lot 9 and the
Coach House transferred to Herbert Grant Marshall
from Mr. Kockerbeck.
- 1975 - extensive
renovations. Addition of fireplaces, bathroom and
kitchen. Oak floors installed. Walls stripped
down to old brick. Concrete foundation removed,
windows moved. Exterior archways glassed in.
Original oak doors refitted.
- between 1975 and
1990 the property changed ownership twice.
- Coach House has now
been returned to its original function as a
garage and is privately owned.
|
Coach House