Description of Historic Place

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Company House - 101 Saunders Road is a two-and-a-half storey single family dwelling located on a property with a white picket fence, opposite the McAdam Railway Station.

Heritage Value

The CPR Company House – 101 Saunders Road is designated a Local Historic Place for its association with the railway. The house was designed and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1900 as the residence of the Master Mechanic, the superintendent of all rail operations in the division. The style, grandeur and prominence of the house symbolized the status and hierarchy of the position of Master Mechanic. Although a less grand house than one would expect in a larger centre, it appears to be designed and built a step above the other residences in the community during this era, while being careful not to be grand as to cause derision, as McAdam was a predominately working class industrialized village. It was built along with thirty-three single and double company houses in the community to provide adequate housing for workers in the fast growing railway town.

Source: McAdam Village Office, Historic Places File “CPR Company House – 101 Saunders Road”

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements relating to the CPR Company House – 101 Saunders Road include:
- orientation of front door and gable end facing Depot Street, similar to its neighbours, the side of the house facing the main street and rail yard with door and step arrangements gave it the impression of being larger than it was and seemed to be overseeing all that went on in the community;
- dormer windows with sun design above, in keeping with the style of neighbouring railway station ;
- wood scrolling in gable peaks;
- wood cornices and eave trim;
- clapboard covered ground floor with protruding, skirted and shingled upper floors;
- large lawned fenced-in yard formerly maintained by railway workers with impressive flowers and shrubbery;
- hardwood floors throughout;
- two ornate fireplaces with shell designed ceramic tile, one in living room and one in master bedroom;
- two living rooms, a dining room and an office den;
- two third floor bedrooms for servants;
- closed-in windowed garden gazebo;
- adjoined one-and-a-half storey garage with dormer window, in keeping with the style of house;
- wide Douglas fir base boards, casings and mouldings with rosette corners;
- four five-fixture wrought iron crested gold and green chandeliers (era 1900);
- pink opaque textured glass transom above front door;
- front veranda with closed-in windows.