Nimmons Residence Plaque Presentation

On May 30, 2023, Heritage Calgary presented a plaque to Brava Development Corp. recognizing the Nimmons Residence

Nimmons Residence, 2018. Image from the Calgary Heritage Initiative.

On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Heritage Calgary presented a plaque recognizing the Nimmons Residence to Brava Development Corp. The plaque was created to commemorate the history of the Nimmons Residence at 1827 14 ST SW.

The home sat on the north-east corner of the property for 120 years before being moved to the south-east corner to accommodate a multi-residential condo building that wraps around the north and west sides of the site.

Josh Traptow, CEO of Heritage Calgary, presents the Nimmons Residence plaque to Jordan Giustini, President & CEO of Brava Development Corp., and Jordana Giustini, General Manager.

The Nimmons Residence possesses symbolic value for its associations with Calgary's golden age of ranching (c1886-1906), an activity which was vital to the city's settlement. It is named for Isabella and William Nimmons, who established the 3-D Bar Ranch near Calgary in the mid-1880s when they purchased a half-section of land from the Hudson's Bay Company. The price of $8 per acre was very high for the time, but the land's proximity to Calgary markets was advantageous for ranching, lifestyle and real estate. The ranch extended from 17th Avenue to 26th Avenue, and from 14th Street to near Crowchild Trail.

The property was the Nimmons’ second ranch house (the first at 1813 14th ST was demolished in 1953), and it permitted views of their herd of Shorthorns grazing near present day 17th Avenue, and of the Jackson and Riley ranch houses. It is a rare example of a surviving ranch house in Calgary.

The Nimmons Residence is significant for its association with its builders and first owners William Nimmons (c1826-1919) and wife Isabella (c1851-1936). They are important for their role as pioneer ranchers, for the contribution of William's quarry and brickworks to Calgary's early construction, and for his role in the city's urban development. After his marriage to Scottish-born Isabella (nee Munneck) in 1883, William emigrated from England to raise his family and establish a ranch outside Calgary's city limits.

"William Nimmons' residence, Calgary, Alberta.", 1912, (CU1100469) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

William had lived in North America prior to their marriage and was imprisoned by Louis Riel while surveying in 1869. Isabella gave birth to Isabella, her second child and one of the first non-native children born in Calgary, within six weeks of arrival in Calgary. William and youngest son Albert worked as ranchers and farmers, and Albert later competed in Calgary's first Stampede. Nimmons established a quarry and brickworks on the northwest part of his estate. His quarry, managed by James Oliver, supplied sandstone for the Lougheed House, Carnegie Library, and many early schools. He also operated greenhouses on the estate.

The Nimmons Residence holds symbolic meaning for the Bankview and Richmond/Knob Hill neighbourhoods as the first house in the area and because the lands–surveyed for William in 1905 and annexed to the City of Calgary in 1907–eventually became Bankview and part of Richmond/Knob Hill. William acted as real estate agent for his lots, working from the Nimmons & McCloy office on 8th Avenue and later from the Isabella Block, aka Nimmons Corner, at 1431 17th Avenue, which he built in 1911. Despite losing it to the City for back taxes for a period in the 1930s and 40s the Nimmons family and descendants lived in the house through the 1980s and owned it until the 21st century.

"Nimmons' residence, Calgary, Alberta.", [ca. 1970s], (CU1100473) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

Learn more about the Nimmons Residence on the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources.