HISTORIC BREMNER HOUSE, Strathcona County, Alberta
Bremner House was constructed in 1912, in what is now the municipality of Strathcona County, directly east of Edmonton. This historic residence is valued for its association with the original owner, James Charles Chatterton Bremner, who came to Canada in 1885 from Scotland at the suggestion of family friend Archie Boag who had moved to Canada in 1882. By October he purchased a property adjacent to Archie and moved into a new house on June 1, 1886. Charlie’s holdings steadily expanded and he married Edith Fielders. They had no children. In 1912, they constructed the current grand residence we see today which is in excess of 5000 square feet. Charlie died in 1928 and the house was purchased by William Schroter who raised a large family here and ran a successful farm into the 1970s. In 2003, Strathcona County purchased the house with the intention of turning it into public facility that, along with its large property and buildings, would be used to interpret the agricultural legacy of the County.
In 2009, the restoration of the house began with the reconstruction of the large perimeter veranda. The building is in excellent structural condition, although some of its original finishes have been altered, such as the upper windows and the cedar shingle siding. On the other hand, a great deal of original finishes remain and as a Municipal Historic Resource, the restoration work will continue over the coming years.
In 2012, the exterior restoration continued with the reinstatement of the original second floor balcony, in addition to completion of the reroofing in cedar shingles and the restoration of the brick masonry.
The Team:
Client: County of Strathcona
Architect: David Murray
Historical Consultant: David Koshman
Structural Engineer: Merwin Engineering Ltd.
General Contractor: Erith Builders and Consultants Inc.