David and Annie Archibald House (1913)

Welcome back to the Archibald House – returning to the tour to celebrate its 105th Birthday!

Style Elements:  This house is a fine example of a Craftsman-style bungalow featuring simple gables, extended eaves with decorative brackets called corbels, and an open, full-width front porch, supported by heavy masonry or wood piers and hand-crafted interior details.

Architectural Significance: The Archibald house was designed by architect E.J. (Edmund John) Boughen in 1913. Many of the windows are also original and can be identified by the “waviness” of its old sheet glass.  Distinctive for this style of home, the windows are “four over one” (four panes in the upper sash to one pane in the lower sash) or “six-over-one” double-hung.

What to look for:  The shakes on the exterior of the house are original as are the horizontal railings on the porch and the corbels and soffits, while the pillars are reproductions.  The board-and-batten porch ceiling was stripped and stained to its original dark brown colour. The front door was discovered in the basement, hardware intact, and is believed to be original.

 

First home owners: Originally built at 508 Sixth Avenue, this striking house was built for local businessman David Archibald, an engineer with the Westminster Mill Co., and his wife Annie. However, it’s fondly remembered as the Wadsworth House, named for Wadsworth and Deardon Meats operator Richard Wadsworth, who purchased the home in 1921.

The Archibald House is fine example of an “almost” demolition by neglect. In 2010, it was facing demolition to make way for a commercial development on Sixth Avenue when the current owners undertook the massive task of moving the house to their lot on St. Patrick Street.  They have carefully restored as many original elements as possible and ensured that their addition of a master suite and larger kitchen reflects the home’s Arts & Crafts roots. The beautifully landscaped front yard is a recent addition.

The Full Story

Originally built at 508 Sixth Avenue, this striking house was designed in 1913 by architect Edmund John Boughen (whose own home is located at 315 Fourth Ave. for a local businessman, David Archibald and his wife Annie. Archibald was an engineer with the Westminster Mill Co.

This house, however, is fondly remembered as the Wadsworth House, named for long-time owner Richard Wadsworth, who purchased the home in 1921and operated Wadsworth and Deardon Meats, which was located on Sixth Street.

In 2010 the Archibald House almost didn’t make it. It had been a fine example of an “almost” demolition by neglect. It was facing its demise and a trip to the landfill to make way for commercial development at on Sixth Ave. when the current owners undertook   the massive task of moving the house to the lot they owned on St. Patrick.

This house is a fine example of a Craftsman-style bungalow featuring: simple gables, extended eaves with decorative brackets called corbels, a wide, open front porch, supported by heavy masonry or wood piers and hand-crafted interior details.

The shakes on the exterior of the house are original as are the horizontal railings on the porch; the pillars are a reproduction. The corbels and soffits are original. The porch ceiling, in board-and-batten style, was stripped and stained to its original dark brown colour. The front door was discovered in the basement, hardware intact, and is believed to be original.

The shakes on the exterior of the house are original as are the horizontal railings on the porch; the pillars are a reproduction. Many of the windows are also original and can be identified by the “waviness” of the old glass. Windows are abundant and distinctive in this style of home: “four over one” (four panes in the upper sash to one pane in the lower sash) or “six-over-one” double-hung. The light fixtures are not original but period-appropriate fixtures.

The floors on the main level could not be saved as they had at one time been painted bright blue. The banister and staircase are original to the house. The home originally had four bedrooms. One of the bedrooms was incorporated into an addition, as was part of the original bathroom, which created the master bedroom and ensuite upstairs and enlarged the kitchen on the main floor. The door to the upstairs bathroom is the original entrance to “the water closet” (toilet room). Look in to the front bedroom; it has two separate closets, each with its own window. The upstairs floors are reclaimed wood from a 1940s home.

The cast-iron heat vents are non-working but were incorporated into the renovation. The fireplace in the dining room is not original but is designed to replicate the posts of the original banister. The window in the main floor powder room is also original to the house. The bar in the kitchen is where the original backdoor was. The cabinetry in the kitchen and family room is new but in the Arts & Crafts style.

 

Thank you to our Sponsor Team Dave Vallee: Dave Vallee is an award winning RE/MAX realtor who has served New Westminster and nearby communities for 27 years. His in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market makes Dave and his team the go-to agents in New West. This year, Dave and his wife Pamela Adamchuk welcome you to the Archibald House which they rescued, re-located and restored in 2010-11 and made their own. For all your real estate questions or needs, please contact Dave at 604-526-2888 or info@TeamDaveVallee.com