About Ralph Connor House

Ralph Connor House was designed by acclaimed early 20th century architect George Northwood and built by prominent contractor J. McDiarmid, for Reverend Charles W. Gordon and his family.

Construction began in 1913 and was completed in 1914 at a cost of $50,000. It was one of the most expensive homes in Winnipeg at the time.

More About the House

• Address: 54 West Gate (Armstrong Point)

• Year built: 1914

• Commissioned by: Rev. Charles W. Gordon

• Architect: George W. Northwood• Builder: J. McDiarmid

• Construction Cost: $50,000

• Area: 11,000 square feet on four levels

• Dimensions: 67’ x 62’

• Lot size: 132’ x 210’

• Architectural style: Jacobethan Revival - red tapestry brick with

• Tyndall stone dressings

• Asymmetrical façade with irregular roofline with gables

• Space Composition: 23 rooms consisting of living room, dining room, kitchen, library, 2 sunrooms, screened balcony, billiards room, 7 bedrooms (plus 3 servants' bedrooms), nursery, children’s study, 4 full bathrooms, 2 lavatories, office

• Presentation: Generally masculine in character, dignified, solid, not ostentatious.

Features

• Six fireplaces: living room, Ralph Connor study, master bedroom, second bedroom, third floor living room (originally a bedroom), lower-level meeting room (former billiard room)

• Design incorporated the latest technological advances of the era: electricity, built-in central vacuum system, multiple bathrooms

• Imposing main stair hall with spacious landings, large windows and window seat, carved newel posts with inlays

• Classically inspired quatrefoil details carved into corners of oak door frames and molded into brass hardware

• Leaded glass panes in some main-floor and second-floor doors, including French doors

• Extensive oak and mahogany woodwork throughout

• Exposed-beam ceilings: oak in main-floor hall, mahogany in dining room

• Mahogany wainscotting in dining room

• Oak panelling in front and side entrance halls, wainscotting in halls, study, main-level library and lower-level meeting room

• Heavy mahogany ceiling cornice detail in living room and mahogany fireplace mantel.