Century Homes Calgary

05/12/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝟐𝟐𝟎 𝟖 𝐀𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐄

Crescent Heights was established as one of Calgary’s first subdivisions. It was initially an independent village that was largely disconnected from Calgary until the Langevin (now Reconciliation) Bridge and the first Centre Street Bridge were built. Eventually Crescent Heights was annexed by Calgary and saw streetcar service extend across the river. The community saw rapid growth up until 1914 when Calgary’s growth and real estate bubble popped. It would take until the mid-1920s for growth to return to Crescent Heights. That growth was fleeting as it came to a halt again during the Great Depression. Like many of Calgary’s early suburbs, it would not fully fill out until after World War II.

The Belbin Residence was built in 1928 at the tail end of the 1920s recovery. It is a modest Craftsman-style bungalow. It was built for Arthur Belbin and his wife Sarah Ann, who moved to Canada by ways of Bournemouth. Arthur worked with the City of Calgary, and bought two lots in 1928 at a discount due to having been seized for tax arrears. The couple built the home on that lot later that year.

Like many other homes in the style and from the time, the Belbin Residence is a scaled-down version of Craftsman. When the style first emerged, it was applied on a larger scale in upper class and professional class communities like Elbow Park in the 1900s. By the ‘20s, the style became more accessible and cheaper to implement. The Belbin Residence is one of the newest additions to the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources.

Learn more about the Belbin Residence and other sites in the Inventory here: heritagecalgary.ca/explore-inventory

04/28/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟏 𝟐 𝐒𝐭 𝐍𝐖

The Arthur Bishop Residence was built in 1912 for and by its namesake, Arthur Bishop, a carpenter. It is a substantial two-and-a-half storey Craftsman residence just south of 16 Avenue North. It is a strong example of the style, with fine interior woodwork like moulded door and window casings, a grand staircase, and panelled doors. It also has a large veranda, one-over-one sash windows, a plain-painted wood cornice, belt course, and cornerboards.

The Arthur Bishop Residence stands out for its contribution to Calgary’s gay history. From 1995-2000 it was known as the Black Orchid Manor, a B&B that was a safe and welcoming place for gay men at a time when homosexuality was still not accepted despite its decriminalization in 1969. In a province whose Premier used the Notwithstanding Clause to try to block the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2000, it was an important safe haven for gay men. The residence was designated in 2021 in part for the role it served in this capacity.

Learn more about the Arthur Bishop Residence and other sites on the Inventory here: heritagecalgary.ca/explore-inventory

04/24/2026

04/13/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝟔𝟒𝟎 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐝 𝐍𝐖

In the 19th and 20th centuries, North American architects set out to create architectural styles that established a clear identity separate from Europe. While Neo Classical and other European styles stayed and had a strong presence, architects like H.H. Richardson, Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright established styles unique to North America: Richardson developed Richardsonian Romanesque, Sullivan developed Chicago Commercial and the early skyscraper, and Lloyd Wrigh established Prairie architecture, designed to reflect the landscape it was built on.

Calgary’s early years and its location on the prairies made perfect sense for the Prairie style to see use. The Madden Residence, aka the Cook Residence or the Huber Residence, was built in 1911, with William Madden taking possession in 1913. Like many buildings in Calgary, it is not a pure expression of one style, though Prairie is the most prominent one; as it also features Craftsman influences. The residence is a one-and-a-half storey, wood frame home with a rectangular plan with a massive wraparound veranda on its south and east facades. The veranda was originally open, but the glazing was added in in the Inter War period. It has a high hip roof with shed dormers on all four sides, and projecting eaves with exposed purlins.

The Madden Residence was designated by the City of Calgary in 2020 and received a plaque from Heritage Calgary in 2021.

Learn more about the Madden Residence and other sites on the Inventory here: heritagecalgary.ca/explore-inventory

04/02/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝟐𝟏𝟐𝟐 𝟓 𝐒𝐭 𝐒𝐖

Cliff Bungalow was established as an extension of the Mount Royal subdivision and was annexed by Calgary in 1907 to accommodate demand for residential land in a booming Calgary. At the time Cliff Bungalow was considered a part of Lower Mount Royal, followed a grid street pattern, and targeted working-class families. The name Cliff Bungalow was not formally given to the community until much later and got the name from the Bungalow school at the bottom of the cliff separating Upper Mount Royal from the working-class communities.

The Ernest S Leonard Residence was built in 1910 during the early development of Cliff Bungalow by day labourers hired by Anthony Brown and James Taylor. It is one of three nearly identical houses on the street, and was purchased by Frederick John Marshall of Orangeville, Ontario, who then rented it our to Ernest S Leonard.

The Ernest S Leonard Residence is a good example of a toned down Queen Anne Revival style home in a working class context. This can be seen in it asymmetry, hipped roof with a front gable on the southern end of the home, and use of varied materials in its cladding like brick and shingles. Some ornamentation is included, including the discharging-arch lintels above some of the windows and the door frame.

Learn more about the Ernest S Leonard Residence and other sites on the Inventory here: heritagecalgary.ca/explore-inventory

03/11/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝟒𝟏𝟔 𝟏𝟏 𝐒𝐭 𝐍𝐖

Hillhurst was one of Calgary’s first suburbs and one of the first communities built north of the Bow River. The community was built on lands subdivided from the Riley family’s holdings in 1904 and then eventually annexed by Calgary three years later. Hillhurst saw significant between then until the lead up of World War One.

Built in 1911, the Thompson Residence is a Foursquare, Prairie-style home that has symbolic value for representing some of the earliest years of Hillhurst’s development. The home was built near the extension of the streetcar line that connected Hillhurst to the rest of Calgary. The Thompson Residence belonged to Theophilus and Charlotte Maud Thompson. The two came from Ontario – Theophilus from Holland Landing and Charlotte Maud from Morrison – and moved to Calgary after they marred in 1905. Theophilus was a plasterer by trade, and took part in the real estate boom in Calgary. He passed away in 1930, leaving the home to his wife, who owned it until her death in 1961.

The Thompson Residence is a good example of a Foursquare layout, Prairie-style home. It is a common design for the period and features wood single cladding and drop siding, a full-width front veranda, squared supports and a hipped roof.

Learn more about the Thompson Residence and other sites on the Inventory here: heritagecalgary.ca/explore-inventory

03/07/2026

𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Heritage Calgary and the Calgary Public Library are pleased to announce applications are now open for the Historian in Residence position.

This three-month community engagement residency supports historians and researchers working in areas related to Calgary’s (Moh'kins'tsis’) social, cultural, and built history.

We’re seeking historians and researchers who study, interpret, and share knowledge about the past. As history evolves, so too does the role of the historian — and we welcome applicants who demonstrate strong research expertise and credible interpretation experience.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.calgarylibrary.ca/events-and-programs/arts-and-culture/historian-in-residence/call-for-applications

03/04/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝟏𝟗𝟏𝟓 𝟏𝟎𝐀 𝐒𝐭 𝐒𝐖

The Olmsted family were renowned pioneers in landscape architecture in North America. Responsible for world famous parks like Central Park in New York City and university campuses like Stanford, the Olmsted’s also designed communities targeted towards affluent investors. The Olmsted’s were contracted by Canadian Pacific Railways to design an affluent community in Calgary’s southwest on an escarpment overlooking downtown Calgary, Mount Royal.

The Carter Residence stands at 1915 10A St SW on the western end of Upper Mount Royal. Built in 1911, the Carter Residence is a Foursquare-style home with a sandstone foundation, brick construction with a front veranda, and second-storey porch. The 11-room home, originally a duplex first purchased by Martha Carter was converted into a duplex in 1923 while still under the ownership of Martha Carter. It remained within the Carter family until 1948 when James Berry purchased it. The home was eventually converted back into a single-family home in the 1980s.

Learn more about the Carter Residence and other sites on the Inventory here: heritagecalgary.ca/explore-inventory

03/04/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬!

Heritage Calgary is looking for a Program Assistant (Summer Student) to help us further our mission and mandate through our online Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources, our plaque program, and community events.

Heritage Calgary offers a flexible work environment with a young, dynamic team. The Program Assistant will report directly to the Heritage Resources Program Manager and work with the Heritage Calgary team in the office and independently.

Learn more about this career opportunity at the link below.

https://ca.indeed.com/job/program-assistant-summer-student-2dbbd7b7e2444e75

02/24/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬-𝐌𝐜𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥 (𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞) 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟎 𝟒 𝐒𝐭 𝐒𝐖

Adaptive re-use takes on many different forms. Sometimes a home is simply turned into an office through re-zoning, other times an old warehouse will see its interior completely changed to accommodate condominiums or office space. Other times, something simple like a house can have another structure slapped onto it.

That is the case with the Inglis-McNeill (Mission Cycle) Building. The house-turned-business has a long history of surviving the ever-growing community of Mission. Originally the residence of an S.E. Inglis and later Malcolm McNeill, the home eventually became a business.

Mission Cycle was founded by Henry Cheal in 1927 and originally located in the Blue Rock Hotel at the corner of 4 Street and 25 Avenue SW. Mission Cycle moved to 2414 4 Street SW before finally settling in the Inglis-McNeill Building in 1955. Mission Cycle served Calgarians for 79 years before closing its doors for the last time in 2003. The Inglis-McNeill Building has since been repurposed into a wine bar. The Mission Cycle sign stands to this day.

The Inglis-McNeill Building is symbolic of the mixed commercial/residential character of 4 Street SW. The original home was built in 1910 in the Queen Anne Revival style, but was converted to a commercial building when Mission Cycle came in. This conversion included a typical 1950s commercial store-front with one-storey cinder block construction, running bond brick cladding and plate glass windows.

Learn more about the Inglis-McNeill (Mission Cycle) Building and other sites on the Inventory here: heritagecalgary.ca/explore-inventory

02/24/2026

Not many know that prior to William Reader's move to the Reader Rock garden site on the Union Cemetery Hill, he and his wife Rose had built a home in East Crescent Heights, which stands to this day, on its original 100 foot lot. When Reader was appointed Parks Superintendent, he then rented the house out, and his son Harry became one of his longest-term tenants. Later on, we'll expand this post with more detail and more pictures, all included in the comments section.