The Norland

Location: Lethbridge, AB

Year: 2016

Status: Complete

Type: Commercial

Client: Alvin Fritz

Charles Roland Daniel and his family arrived in Lethbridge in 1905. In 1907 land was purchased outside the City limits (east of the Dominion Experimental Farm), and construction on the three-story mansion began. It was to be completed in 1910. It was a mail-order house built from plans from a Lumberman’s catalogue. The lumber was pre-cut, numbered, and shipped by railway to the dairy farm to be assembled. The design included new at that time innovations including generated power supply, indoor plumbing, and built-in vacuum system. It served them and their family for several years.

After passing through several owners, it was purchased by Al & Karen Fritz in the early 1990s to be used as their residence and to offer boardroom space for Alvin Reinhard Fritz Architect Inc. The years of various owners and neglect were apparent, and a consuming restoration project was undertaken to bring it back to its former glory years. Today, the Norland has included a luxury bed & breakfast, then wedding venue and events centre to its roster.

Great care and attention has been applied in ensuring that the historic details of the residence are accurately reflected in the final form. Restoration work has been applied to the heavily corbelled brick chimneys which were physically rebuilt by Alvin as his formal trade skills include extensive experience in the field of Masonry. Other features which have been restored include the front veranda detailing, the column bases, and interior structural work.

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