Home / Accueil

Fjelsted House

210 Main Street, Arborg, Manitoba, R0C, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1999/09/06

View from across the Icelandic River, of the Fjeldsted House, Arborg, 2005; Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport, 2005
Context
View of main elevation, from the west, of the Fjeldsted House, Arborg, 2005; Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport, 2005
Main elevation from the west
No Image

Other Name(s)

Fjelsted House
Fjelsted Guesthouse
Fjelsted House Tea Parlour & Gift Emporium
Chambres d'hôtes Fjelsted
Salon de thé et boutique cadeaux de la maison Fjelsted

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1912/01/01 to 1912/12/31

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2005/07/28

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

Fjeldsted House, constructed 1912, is a 1 1/2-storey wood-frame home in the Icelandic community of Arborg. Situated on the banks of the winding Icelandic River, the attractive house with its complex roof structure is across a bridge from the community's downtown. The municipal designation applies to the house and the lot upon which it sits.

Heritage Value

Fjeldsted House is an important representative of Arborg's distinct Icelandic heritage. One of the oldest homes in the community, the structure's connection to its Icelandic roots is seen in its informal, functional appearance and high quality of workmanship and detailing. Its design is otherwise typical of period pattern book houses, the plans for which were available through lumber and mail-order companies such as Eaton's. Built for pioneer merchants Asgeir and Ingunn Fjeldsted, the house conveys a charming presence and is a landmark in Arborg, given its prominent location, age and association with important local events.

Source: Town of Arborg By-law No. 5-99, June 9, 1999

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the prominent Fjeldsted House site include:
- the house's location at the southern end of Arborg, on the east side of Main Street near the Icelandic River Bridge, with few neighbouring structures
- the expansive treed and well-groomed lot, bordered by the Icelandic River on the north

Key elements that define the house's external heritage character include:
- the 1 1/2-storey wood-frame structure with a complex hip roof including hip- and cross-gables
- the authentic colour palette featuring horizontal wood siding painted yellow, with contrasting dark trim around openings and at corners
- the gable ends with wave-shaped bargeboards and cedar-shingle fish-scale detailing, vibrantly painted to contrast with the walls
- the enclosed front porch with a gable roof
- a variety of shapes and sizes of windows throughout, with simple wooden casings
- details such as the parged foundation, chimney with decorative brickwork, etc.

Key elements that define the house's interior layout, finishes and details include:
- the informal plan with most interior configurations intact and 3.05-metre ceilings
- the main staircase with a carved wooden balustrade
- most main-floor rooms featuring lath and plaster three-quarters up the wall, with wallpaper tops
- the `cubby' storage closets in the second-floor rooms
- the fir flooring throughout
- the details, including some original wooden mouldings and trim, wooden interior doors, metal heating grates, historically accurate wall coverings, etc.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Manitoba

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (MB)

Recognition Statute

Manitoba Historic Resources Act

Recognition Type

Municipal Heritage Site

Recognition Date

1999/09/06

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Peopling the Land
Settlement

Function - Category and Type

Current

Historic

Residence
Single Dwelling

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Town of Arborg, Box 159 Arborg, MB R0C 0A0

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

M0180

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

SEARCH THE CANADIAN REGISTER

Advanced SearchAdvanced Search
Find Nearby PlacesFIND NEARBY PLACES PrintPRINT
Nearby Places