Smeltzer House
- Smeltzer House
- Phone: 780-464-2023
- Fax: 780-464-2053
Location
1 Broadmoor Boulevard
Sherwood Park, AB
Mailing address
2025 Oak Street
Sherwood Park, AB T8A 0W9
Canada
Directions
Located north of the traffic circle on Broadmoor Boulevard, east side of Broadmoor.
Smeltzer House Centre for Arts and Culture offers a variety of courses including drawing, stained glass, pottery and crafts.
A registered historic site
Maurice Smeltzer was born in 1867 in Huron, Ontario. In 1891, he delivered work horses to Edmonton from Ontario on one of the first trains to reach South Edmonton (Strathcona) from Calgary. He returned with more horses in 1892 and settled on the 480-acre homestead in the Salisbury area on November 14, 1892. The boundaries of what would become Sherwood Park include this Salisbury area.
In 1899, Maurice married Eliza Pithie, a descendant of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. The Smeltzer family was a typical farm family, active in church, local activities and school events. Mr. Smeltzer's success in establishing and operating a farm was evident in the various prizes which he won in local exhibitions for grain and livestock.
Smeltzer House was built in 1920 as a residence for the Smeltzer family. Cyril Fry, Maurice's brother-in-law was the architect; Marshall Hughes, a contractor and friend of the family, built the Canadian Four-Square- style house, a common design from 1900 to 1925.
Smeltzer House was build of solid brick - two walls with an airspace in between. Even the footings are brick. The bricks were purchased from Acme Brick near St. Albert and shipped by train to the Clover Bar siding. They were moved by team and sleigh to the building site.
Frank Smeltzer, Maurice and Eliza's son, lived in the house until 1976 when Strathcona County purchased Smeltzer House and two garages on the three-acre site.
The three-bay garage, now the Clay Hut Pottery Studio, was constructed in the early 1930s. Studio One, the smaller building was the original garage.
Designated a Visual Arts Centre in 1985, Smeltzer House is now home to visual arts programs, art shows and summer programs.
In December 1986 Smeltzer House was designated a Registered Historic Resource by the Minister of Alberta Culture.
Last updated: Monday, March 15, 2010
Page ID: 4799