Description of Historic Place

171-1 Street SE is a one-and-one-half storey wood-frame house with a distinctive turret, located on the west side of 1st Street in the southeast quadrant of Salmon Arm, British Columbia.

Heritage Value

171-1 Street SE has historic, social, cultural and aesthetic significance, particularly for its role in helping to define the residential enclave between 1st and 5th Streets as the part of town with the greatest concentration of homes dating from the early years of the city.

Built in 1913, the house is important as evidence of the property speculation that took place in most small towns in British Columbia in the years immediately preceding the First World War. It is an excellent example of a modest middle class house from the city's early decades, located in what was considered the "smart" part of town, which was surveyed in 1906. The house is associated with the merchant and entrepreneurial class that arose during the era of city-building, community pride and economic development that occurred after the incorporation of Salmon Arm in 1912. This association continued over the years as a succession of local business owners (sawdust and fuel supply, bakery) and managers (Salmon Arm Farmer's Exchange, Overwaitea Foods) lived in the house.

171-1 Street SE is a good example of an Edwardian bungalow design found in many of the province's smaller communities. Its wood siding and trim are typical of wood-frame housing of the era, as are the subordinate shed-roofed additions constructed at the back of the original house. The centrally-located two-storey octagonal turret is an unusual and important distinguishing feature.

The house has social value as an example of the continuing value of older homes in Salmon Arm. Its good physical condition and well-preserved original materials are signs that this house is appreciated for its heritage value, and indicate a vote of confidence for the future of this older area.

Source: City of Salmon Arm, Development Services Department

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of 171-1 Street SE include its:

- location on 1st Street SE
- generous south side yard
- small setback from the street
- white picket fences
- Edwardian bungalow design with shed-roofed additions at the back
- front verandah with shed roof
- centrally-located two-storey octagonal turret
- original wood windows and trim
- original bevel siding with narrow exposure and trim
- original mouldings