Description of Historic Place

The Littlehales-Barker house is a one-and-a-half-storey wood frame building located on a large property, accessed by a long private driveway offset from Lakeshore Road in northeast Salmon Arm, British Columbia. The house is buffered from the street by outbuildings, including a workshop, a double car garage, and farm equipment storage. The house is adjacent to Cress Creek. The historic place includes the house and surrounding property.

Heritage Value

Constructed in 1913 for Henry Littlehales-Barker, the house is valued for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance to the community of Salmon Arm, particularly in association with pastoral vistas, orchards, and an enclave of neighbouring British gentlemen settlers.

The Littlehales-Barker House is one of the older houses in a group of heritage buildings adjacent to the Appleyard Subdivision. Like many houses built outside the original town site of Salmon Arm, the Littlehales-Barker House was associated with early agricultural development and was originally part of the Pat Owens homestead (NW 24 Township 20 Range 10 W6M). The cluster of nearby heritage buildings (the Fortune House and its re-adapted carriage house and a nearby barn) represents an important part of the early growth of the community and strengthens the historical value of Littlehales-Barker House.

Situated with its back to Lakeshore Road, the house was built before the major transportation route was established. Access to Salmon Arm was originally through the Littlehales-Barker front yard, facing Shuswap Lake, and crossed the Fortune property. By 1931 Lakeshore Road was built to connect farmers as far east as the W.X. Ranch to Salmon Arm and shipping networks, and the approach to the Littlehales-Barker House changed.

Henry Littlehales-Barker, the house's namesake, was a gentleman farmer who was wealthy enough to travel the world twice. The house was subsequently owned by various, prominent community members including George and Isabella Duncan. The Scottish couple were in Canada during World War II and, when the conflict was resolved, returned to Scotland to collect their furnishings and shop equipment. Like the first owner of the house, George Duncan's occupation was classified as a "gentleman" on the ship's register. He was also independently wealthy. The Duncan's settled in their remodeled home in 1946. "Bella" Duncan was elected the head of the local Girls' Hospital Aid. The couple supported the organization by doing rummage sales and plays.

The house is socially-important for its continued viability. The level of preservation of its interior is a sign of an appreciation for its heritage and a vote of confidence for the future.

Character-Defining Elements

The key elements that define the heritage character of the Littlehales-Barker House include the:

- Mature plantings, including crab apple trees
- Generous yards surrounding the house
- Views of Shuswap Lake and bordering agricultural lands
- Support of active agriculture
- Gable roof with dormers
- Prominent windows with views of the lake
- Brick chimneys
- Two verandahs and an enclosed conservatory
- Wood trim around windows and exterior doors
- Sympathetic (to the origional structure) renovations to the exterior