1913 – Davidson House, 10 Ruskin Row, Winnipeg, Canada

At a cost of $150,000 in 1913, this was one of the most expensive houses built in Winnipeg. It was demolished in 1963 over the objections of local residents because of its poor state of repair including foundations. Three modern homes were constructed on the site including 10 Ruskin Row, and 1 Palk Road by John Patkau. Designed by Minneapolis architect William Channing Whitney (1851-1945) , it had 37 rooms finished in oak, walnut, and mahogany, a basement ballroom measuring 60′ x 25′, nine fireplaces, and an elevator.

A detached garage at the rear of the property was connected to the house by an underground tunnel. It included a turntable for automobiles, in case the owner, or more likely the owner’s chauffeur was too posh to use reverse

“The rubble stonework is of blue sandstone imported from Amherst, Ohio, with facings of Bedford limestone giving the whole a pleasing effect. The interior layout provides large airy rooms in all parts of the house. The dining rooms and living rooms are finished in mahogany. In the dining room, the wainscot runs to height of seven feet over which is a bold ornamental plaster frieze. The principal feature om the dining room is the handsomely carved Before limestone mantel fireplace. The billiard room and den are finished in oak and the den has a mantel fireplace of blue sandstone. The entrance hall, staircase and upper hall are finished in American walnut which has a particularly homelike effect. The kitchen, pantries and servants’ quarters are finished in selected white birch. The principal bedrooms, guest rooms and ballroom, the latter in the basement being treated in white enamel finish with mahogany doors. The floors are of quarter cut white oak in the principal rooms and birch in the others, and the third floor is finished entirely in Brish Columbia fir. In the erection of the house, no expense has been spared to make it perfect in every detail and a large number of sub-contractors, each specialists in some one thing have been employed.”
Manitoba Free Press, 28 June 1913

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