| Architect: Owner Eugene Coste probably
designed the house.
Original
owner:
Eugene Coste was a
pioneer of the discovery of natural gas in Alberta, a
geologist and engineer 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.
Contractor: Rutty and Weare of Calgary
Original
cost: $50,000
Construction materials:
Brick, sandstone and
timber. Red clay tiled gable roof. Lead glass casement
windows.
Architectural style: Tudor Revival
Original interior
details:
Coste designed the home
to suit his personal tastes with rich walnut, oak and
mahogany panelling, spectacular reception hall, games
rooms, billiard room, music room, wine cellar and
conservatory. The interior was rich with ornamented
mouldings and carved woodwork completed by craftsmen
Coste brought to Canada. Imported marble and tile from
France and Italy was used throughout the house. House was
decorated with gilded mirrors and crystal chandeliers.
Heated with natural gas. Brass bells in the kitchen
summoned the maids to the rooms of "Miss Gabrielle,
Miss Marie, Mr. Dillon and Mr. Coste".
Historical highlights:
- October 1911 Coste
bought lots 10 and 11 from CPR for $10,500
- July 1912 bought
lot 9 from CPR for $7,200
- The 28 room house
was strategically built on two acres of
landscaped grounds in the heart of Mount Royal.
Other buildings on the property included an
elaborate one and a half storey brick coach house, two-storey dower
house for his widowed mother-in-law, Louisa Tims.
A large greenhouse was used to propagate plants
for the grounds which were maintained by a
full-time gardener.
- In 1922 Coste left
Calgary after the death of his son Dillon and
moved to Toronto.
- Coste offered the
estate(valued at $75,000) to the City of Calgary
with the provision that it be used as a hospital
for sick children. City Commissioners declined
the offer.
- In 1935 the City
took possession of the property and buildings for
non payment of taxes.
- For a short time in
1936, Coste House was used to display some of the
7,500 artifacts from the Civic Museum's
collection.
- From 1939 to 1946
the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art
used the Coste House as temporary quarters for
the art and dressmaking programs when No. 2
Wireless School took over the Institute's
buildings and campus for the duration of the war.
- After the war
(March 1945) the City Planning Commission
recommended that Coste House be demolished and
the property subdivided into seven residential
lots. Lawyer J.E.A. Macleod acting on behalf of
the Calgary Art Association successfully argued
to retain Coste House for use as a cultural
centre.
- Between 1946 and
1959 the Allied Arts Council, under the direction
of business manager Archie Key, leased the
building for use as a cultural centre for $100 a
month from the City of Calgary. Funded primarily
by private donations and in part by civic
financing extensive renovations were undertaken
by volunteers and a tea room with a
"club-like" atmosphere was opened on
the main floor. The officers of the Council in
1946 included: President Alexander Calhoun,
vice-president Douglas Doherty and secretary -
treasurer F.D. Motter.
- 800 visitors
attended the opening on September 8, 1946.
- Coste House
provided space for art exhibits and theatrical
productions, office space for cultural clubs, a
centre for continuing education and a hobby
centre. The grounds were used for outdoor
productions where a temporary theatre was
constructed.
- The Arts Centre
played a significant role in supporting the
development of performers and artists in Calgary,
building the foundation for the vibrant arts
community of present day. In 1959 the Arts Centre
moved to a downtown warehouse and shortly after
disbanded.
- In 1960 the house
reverted to private ownership when it was sold by
the city. Between 1960 and 1974 the property had
three owners; lawyer George McKim in 1960,
Maurice McCaig in 1972 and Gunther Kockerbeck in
1974.
- In 1978 Coste House
sold for $750,000 to Bob Lamond chairman of Czar
resources.
- The three
properties including the original Coste House,
the Dower House and the Coach
House were subdivided over the years. All
three buildings are privately owned residences.
|
Coste
House