Absolutely love these historical Calgary videos! Very well done, hope you make more. If you're taking requests (which I'm sure you're not), I'd love to see one on the Devenish building on 17th, I worked in there for 10 years. Very interesting building.
Thank you! I don't take requests, but I do pay attention to what people want to see, and have a running list going. I like to come up with themes for the videos, so you may see a video with the Devenish in it in the future. Thanks for watching, I appreciate the support.
I just watched 1 min and 30 seconds of your video and I am already impressed by the research and production you have put into this documentary; Okay, now I am going to press play and watch the rest. Great Job!!!
I used to lived in 5 Ave, 8th street and passed by these houses almost every week, I remember the commercial part of DT is always a joy walk in the summer and I love to walk to Chinatown and buy food, I always thought these houses are old but never would have guess they are over 100 years old... Now I live in Bridgeland and even Bridgeland is slowly losing it's houses, they are turning into apartments or commercial buildings.... thank you for making this video, I now appreciate the history of Calgary a lot more.
As a Dutch urban planner and traffic engineer I did a project for the city of Calgary a few months ago. Didn't really know about these downtown houses. Very interesting!
Ties Van Ederen What kind of project? An art project? Calgary has a history of hiring international artists who pump out art that is both so expensive it's a joke, and sometimes a joke at the expensiveness. (like the pictures of Calgarians that weren't pictures of Calgarians, or the one that burned people, or the bridge that had to be shipped back across the planet and modified again.
Sorry, I'm seeing your reaction just now. No it wasn't an art project, it was a research project on how to make the city less car dependent and more livable and people-oriented overall. We actually joked about the silly art projects such as the giant blue ring and the sticks and stones. I came to believe that these were placed because by law a certain percentage of the total budget has to be put in art at the sight. This got us laughing, because why invest in art oriented on car drivers that are moving too fast to actually admire it. This money could be spent way better. However, they did a great job on the giant face in front of the Bow Building though, because people will be able to admire it.
Love this info. Your prediction about 521 8 St has come true. Referred to as the Sanders house (I don’t know the derivation of the name) it is scheduled for demolition as of September 27, 2019. This one is sad, because it was the last remaining downtown house with residential occupants.
I lived at the corner of 4th Ave & 5th Street and attended McDougall School on 4th Ave. One of my schoolmates, Mary Legge, lived in the house behind the Lutheran Chuch. Her father was the pastor. Another schoolmate lived with her family in the little stucco house you showed. Her family occupied the basement apartment, entry via the white side door. Looks just like it did 60 years ago! My last visit back was about 10 years ago. I walked around the oLd neighbourhood & was surprised to see quite a few of the old houses that my friends had lived in were still there. Thanks for posting this -- brought back many memories.
I absolutely love hearing stories like this, thanks so much for sharing. Glad you enjoyed the doc, and that it was able to bring back those memories for you.
You may be interested...in the 1960, this was a vibrant neighbourhood. From 6th Ave down to the river & from 4th St. Over to 10th, it was still a mostly residential area with many large, gracious homes and lovely gardens. I recall eating a lot of crab apples!. There were also a couple of grand apartment buildings. At that time, several of the larger houses had been converted into apartments & we lived in one of these -- 604-4th Ave, a large clapboard house with a wraparound veranda, lilac trees and a big lawn. It was one of the first big houses to get knocked down & was replaced with a hotel. As kids, we would be sent out to play & told to be home by dark. In the summer, we'd head down to Prince's Island to swim in the river. There was an old dock there & a knotted rope to swing out over the water. Today's parents would be horrified, but I don't remember anyone drowning. There was an old & probably abandoned stadium nearby, where we used to play baseball when we had enough for two teams. In winter, we'd grab our skates after dinner & head to the Crystal Palace on 4th Ave., near 10th St., passing the Chinese laundry with the big sign of the washerwoman with her petticoat showing when she bent over to scrub laundry. We thought that was pretty scandalous! Times changed, we changed and Calgary has certainly changed.
I love this, thank you so much for sharing. I moved to Calgary in 2001, and it has changed a lot since then! This baseball stadium, was it over by the Mewata Armoury, or was it closer to Eau Claire?
Kelsy Norman As I recall, we'd walk down 5th or maybe 6th St. & the stadium was at the end (1st Ave ?). It was a small wooden stadium, painted dark green. I don't remember if we climbed the fence or just walked in. Things were not locked up in those days. Below 3rd Ave., there was a mix of small houses & light industry. I remember the Biltmore Hat factory (cowboy hats) was down there around 7th St. & much further East, a lumber operation, I think called Eau Clair. I guess that is how the area got the name. It sure wasn't called that when I was living there.
I seriously love reading your comments. Around what year was this? Here is some great info about the house by the church, which goes through some of the history of Eau Claire: historictrinitycalgary.blogspot.ca/p/church-history.html
Sweet Vid Kelsy. Calgary has some rich history - I love hearing about what happened during the turn of the century in downtown Calgary. Thanks for sharing some of your findings. Looks like this video got a lot of traffic! Congrats.
RIP Enoch :( On a separate fire related incident, I'm lucky I was able to take a cool northern lights photo of the old McDougall Memorial United Church west of Cochrane a few months before it burnt down. Documenting these places is super important because we don't know how much longer they'll be around. Thanks for what you do!
You've really done yoir research. Well put together video and very entertaining and informative. Thank you Kelsy. So many people can't be bothered looking for Calgarys past glory. Myself, I was born in the nuns side of the Holy Cross. I was also devastated when they demolished the old Calgary General. Thank you for sharing your work and passion.
It's nice to see someone else from Calgary! I've lived in Calgary all my life, but I was never allowed into downtown so I've never seen any of these before. I can go now, but I don't find many reasons to go.
Well done Kelsy. Agree with you - 631 is my fave. When I took pix a few years ago there was still nice vegetation etc in the back yard. Must get down there again soon before it's gone...
Glad you enjoyed the video, I appreciate the support. I saw some pics of 631 from a few years ago, it used to be hidden behind trees and shrubs, glad they cleared all of that.
Would love to rent one of these. Knew a guy who got a living room converted to small apartment with kitchen and his own bathroom (sort of) for 75$ a month.
Cool video. You might consider checking out Ogden. AFAIK it was once a separate town. There is a great old brick building and a dozen or so very old houses on Ogden Road.
I was interested to see what information you could find about the boarded up 2 storey yellowish house that stands near the entrance to the Stampede Grounds. I always imagine what that house must have looked like when it was new and farmland was all around it.
Awesome video. Wondering if you know of “red house” off 17th ave, very old farm house that is now inhabited by a group of art students, definitely built before the 1930’s. probably not within the original boundaries but definitely a cool place!
I've done renovations in some old homes. One was 1906 in parkdale and the other was 1904. Cant remember the exact address but there was an identical one next to it which just got demolished in december.
Lived on electric ave in one of these houses. We used to drag our couch to the edge of our grass near the sidewalk and drink beer while everyone walked by and laughed
Great video I have noticed most of these houses. Except Chinatown. Hey how about a video of Chinatown. I remember Linda Mayes restaurant being on the corner neàr those houses. Dad used to take me there sat mornings. He also back then told me when he was a kid they used to raft where the now old library went in downtown.
You know what, I am just happy people are learning from it. I had a blast researching it, and it looks like people appreciate the effort. Thanks for watching.
I see those houses all the time. I think it’s a shame some of them weren’t kept up better. My house I think was build in 1905 or 1910 and all of the weird quirks like slanted floors just make it even more perfect.
Missing Calgary now. Born & raised in Winnipeg, but my wife and I spent three years in Calgary, until moving back to Winnipeg to be close to family as we were wanting to have kids. We still talk about possibly moving back one day.
Damn, randomly on RUclips and I found your Channel... I looked at your name and realized you teached me photography at lord Beaverbrook with mrs.Henderson ! Crazy
Hey man, this is incredible. Where could I find some information of my house in calgary built in 1943. I want to know where you found all these old records
Thanks for watching, I appreciate the support. Yes, that house is super intriguing; however, that area is not considered downtown. Maybe I will create a video about Vic Park soon.
Great video! I've always thought 114 1st Street Sw to be interesting, right next to the old train station; I wonder who would have lived there and what it would have been like to right beside the train, as well as the iconic 314 12 Ave SE boarded up mansion that all pass on their way to Cowboys or the stampede grounds. I wonder where one would acquire info on the history of these properties.
I wish (like in Québec) we protected our old character homes here from demolishment & redevelopment into especially those new MDF made Cubist looking houses. Real wood! Real craftsmanship should never go out of style! 🍁🍁🍁 from Calgary
FYI 631 - 4th Ave is not abandoned (entirely): Premiere Suites (premieresuites.com/furnished-apartments/calgary/) uses it as storage space. That's why its windows are barred and doors locked up tight.
Thank god! A high quality RUclipsr who lives and or does videos about a city I actually live in
Thank you for the kind words, I put a lot of time and effort into my stories, happy to see that people are enjoying them.
I love looking at all these building's, I live pretty close to downtown so I normally walk downtown after work, it's so pretty!
I've never even noticed the 2 Chinatown (half) houses but can't wait to see them now !
Yea, it's neat how they are hidden in plain view.
Wow! Great video . Love my city thank you for sharing this wonderful video
Thanks Josh, I appreciate the support and kind words.
how did you even dig out the history of these houses?! you are amazing!! please keep making videos!
Glad to see someone going around Calgary finding interesting things. I'm new to the city and want to learn more about it.
Born 'n'raised calgarian here...love to see history on the old cowtown...very well done! thank you for sharing :)
Thank you, and thanks for watching!
Crazy how many of these places I pass by every day (I go to school downtown and go for lots of walks)
Yea, but now you will make it a point to stop and take a look at them. Thanks for watching, I appreciate the support.
You know I never noticed that house in Chinatown before! I walk by there often.
Now you will notice them every time! Thanks for watching, I appreciate your support.
Great work. It's awesome seeing a video that showcases Calgary's history.
My grandma and I, always have been fascinated by these houses specially from 13th-17th Ave. SW and surrounding areas in all quadrants.😍
Absolutely love these historical Calgary videos! Very well done, hope you make more. If you're taking requests (which I'm sure you're not), I'd love to see one on the Devenish building on 17th, I worked in there for 10 years. Very interesting building.
Thank you! I don't take requests, but I do pay attention to what people want to see, and have a running list going. I like to come up with themes for the videos, so you may see a video with the Devenish in it in the future. Thanks for watching, I appreciate the support.
Yyc stand up🔥
Mutey Ikuku YYC!!!!!
love this! calgary is a lovely city and i’m so happy to see videos on it!
Great video, I lived in cowtown for 6 years and enjoyed it, thanks for this.
Great video! Really loved the editing aspect. I just came out to Calgary from Toronto and its interesting to learn more about the city!
Thanks for watching, hope you're enjoying Calgary!
Aside from the lack of basketball courts I am!
Here is a good one, not sure if it is open to the public; however, it would be worth checking out: goo.gl/exGvyw
lmao big facts Calgary needs some ball courts
That's not downtown, that's the beltline.
I just watched 1 min and 30 seconds of your video and I am already impressed by the research and production you have put into this documentary; Okay, now I am going to press play and watch the rest. Great Job!!!
I used to lived in 5 Ave, 8th street and passed by these houses almost every week, I remember the commercial part of DT is always a joy walk in the summer and I love to walk to Chinatown and buy food, I always thought these houses are old but never would have guess they are over 100 years old...
Now I live in Bridgeland and even Bridgeland is slowly losing it's houses, they are turning into apartments or commercial buildings.... thank you for making this video, I now appreciate the history of Calgary a lot more.
As a Dutch urban planner and traffic engineer I did a project for the city of Calgary a few months ago. Didn't really know about these downtown houses. Very interesting!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Ties Van Ederen What kind of project?
An art project? Calgary has a history of hiring international artists who pump out art that is both so expensive it's a joke, and sometimes a joke at the expensiveness. (like the pictures of Calgarians that weren't pictures of Calgarians, or the one that burned people, or the bridge that had to be shipped back across the planet and modified again.
Sorry, I'm seeing your reaction just now.
No it wasn't an art project, it was a research project on how to make the city less car dependent and more livable and people-oriented overall. We actually joked about the silly art projects such as the giant blue ring and the sticks and stones. I came to believe that these were placed because by law a certain percentage of the total budget has to be put in art at the sight.
This got us laughing, because why invest in art oriented on car drivers that are moving too fast to actually admire it. This money could be spent way better. However, they did a great job on the giant face in front of the Bow Building though, because people will be able to admire it.
SpenserRoger I left you a comment☝️
Love this info. Your prediction about 521 8 St has come true. Referred to as the Sanders house (I don’t know the derivation of the name) it is scheduled for demolition as of September 27, 2019. This one is sad, because it was the last remaining downtown house with residential occupants.
Great work. I really enjoy this brand of tangible history.
Well researched and edited. Are you just some random dude? CBC should hire you.
Thank you for the kind words. Yea, just some random dude who likes telling stories.
Nah, he could do better!
I lived at the corner of 4th Ave & 5th Street and attended McDougall School on 4th Ave. One
of my schoolmates, Mary Legge, lived in the house behind the Lutheran Chuch. Her father was the pastor. Another schoolmate lived with her family in the little stucco house you showed. Her family occupied the basement apartment, entry via the white side door. Looks just like it did 60 years ago!
My last visit back was about 10 years ago. I walked around the oLd neighbourhood & was surprised to see quite a few of the old houses that my friends had lived in were still there.
Thanks for posting this -- brought back many memories.
I absolutely love hearing stories like this, thanks so much for sharing. Glad you enjoyed the doc, and that it was able to bring back those memories for you.
You may be interested...in the 1960, this was a vibrant neighbourhood. From 6th Ave down to the river & from 4th St. Over to 10th, it was still a mostly residential area with many large, gracious homes and lovely gardens. I recall eating a lot of crab apples!. There were also a couple of grand apartment buildings. At that time, several of the larger houses had been converted into apartments & we lived in one of these -- 604-4th Ave, a large clapboard house with a wraparound veranda, lilac trees and a big lawn. It was one of the first big houses to get knocked down & was replaced with a hotel.
As kids, we would be sent out to play & told to be home by dark. In the summer, we'd head down to Prince's Island to swim in the river. There was an old dock there & a knotted rope to swing out over the water. Today's parents would be horrified, but I don't remember anyone drowning. There was an old & probably abandoned stadium nearby, where we used to play baseball when we had enough for two teams. In winter, we'd grab our skates after dinner & head to the Crystal Palace on 4th Ave., near 10th St., passing the Chinese laundry with the big sign of the washerwoman with her petticoat showing when she bent over to scrub laundry. We thought that was pretty scandalous! Times changed, we changed and Calgary has certainly changed.
I love this, thank you so much for sharing. I moved to Calgary in 2001, and it has changed a lot since then! This baseball stadium, was it over by the Mewata Armoury, or was it closer to Eau Claire?
Kelsy Norman
As I recall, we'd walk down 5th or maybe 6th St. & the stadium was at the end (1st Ave ?). It was a small wooden stadium, painted dark green. I don't remember if we climbed the fence or just walked in. Things were not locked up in those days. Below 3rd Ave., there was a mix of small houses & light industry. I remember the Biltmore Hat factory (cowboy hats) was down there around 7th St. & much further East, a lumber operation, I think called Eau Clair. I guess that is how the area got the name. It sure wasn't called that when I was living there.
I seriously love reading your comments. Around what year was this? Here is some great info about the house by the church, which goes through some of the history of Eau Claire: historictrinitycalgary.blogspot.ca/p/church-history.html
Sweet Vid Kelsy. Calgary has some rich history - I love hearing about what happened during the turn of the century in downtown Calgary. Thanks for sharing some of your findings. Looks like this video got a lot of traffic! Congrats.
RIP Enoch :( On a separate fire related incident, I'm lucky I was able to take a cool northern lights photo of the old McDougall Memorial United Church west of Cochrane a few months before it burnt down. Documenting these places is super important because we don't know how much longer they'll be around. Thanks for what you do!
well done Kelsy! I noticed at the end Linda Mae's restaurant, my dad used to go there sat morning and take me along!
Super cool Video man! i have always wondered about most of these houses! Really cool editing too btw.
This is really cool! Very informative! I think you missed the house near stampede casino that seems really old.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it. That house you are thinking of isn't located in what is considered downtown Calgary.
Kelsy Norman oh I see
It’d still be cool to hear the history of it. I always wonder when I see it
Jerrick S it used to be a whore house!
I came here to say the same thing! I too would love to hear the history of this place!
You've really done yoir research. Well put together video and very entertaining and informative. Thank you Kelsy. So many people can't be bothered looking for Calgarys past glory. Myself, I was born in the nuns side of the Holy Cross. I was also devastated when they demolished the old Calgary General. Thank you for sharing your work and passion.
Very well produced and informative. Keep it up!
Fellow Calgarian now living in Banff here. Great video man!
Very impressive video man you killed it. You should do one of these on Vancouver
Made me love my city even more
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Yes it did :)
It's nice to see someone else from Calgary! I've lived in Calgary all my life, but I was never allowed into downtown so I've never seen any of these before. I can go now, but I don't find many reasons to go.
This so cool. I love my city way more now!
what an awesome concept, and well executed! so happy to have found your channel, hit the bell + can't wait for more!
Well done Kelsy. Agree with you - 631 is my fave. When I took pix a few years ago there was still nice vegetation etc in the back yard. Must get down there again soon before it's gone...
Glad you enjoyed the video, I appreciate the support. I saw some pics of 631 from a few years ago, it used to be hidden behind trees and shrubs, glad they cleared all of that.
Thanks for sharing! some I wasn't familiar with! :)
Well done, well shot, edited, great chill music, good voice over. You've got some talent.
Thank you for the kind words and support, I am glad you enjoyed the video.
great video! I work with a company that has worked on a few of these buildings and its cool to know a bit of backstory for some of them!
I never noticed those chopped houses in Chinatown! Definitely gonna take a closer look next time.
Currently living in Calgary,I loved this
Would love to rent one of these.
Knew a guy who got a living room converted to small apartment with kitchen and his own bathroom (sort of) for 75$ a month.
You might see one of those houses fly away with a bunch of balloons.
Cool piece man. Will def check those spots out next time I make it out to YYC
Great Video- love all the history
Great video Kelsy!
I never knew about the houses in china town! Definitely going to check that out next time. Great video! Thanks for sharing :)
Now you will notice them every time! Thanks for watching, I appreciate the support.
Great vid! I walk by some of these all the time
Love my former city (20 years in Calgary). Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching!
Love learning about history
Isn't it fun? Thanks for watching.
Love your historical research
Cool video.
You might consider checking out Ogden. AFAIK it was once a separate town. There is a great old brick building and a dozen or so very old houses on Ogden Road.
Thanks for doing this video! Really cool!
I had some work done by the jeweler at 1:44, great dude!
I'm an abandoned house nerd and history nerd... this video is great
This was awesome! Please make more.
Thank you for the kind words, I truly appreciate the support. I will definitely make more, make sure to subscribe.
this is pretty cool, there's a lot of things i didn't know about my city!
Cool video Kelsy, I've always wondered about some of these.
Thanks for watching, Scott! Glad you enjoyed it.
Yoo thats my home Yyc🔥
Thanks man! I learned something new, I noticed them before but knew nothing about them! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for watching, Jay Wang!
absolutely awesome video man!!!!
Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate the support
Really well done. Thank you for making this.
Thank you for watching!
Loved this video... also from Calgary 👌
There is an abandoned old house near 17th ave., by the cathedral and park there...
May be a video on the history of the Devinish and the Anderson Bldg. 😁
great doc.. thanks for this!
(lived in Beltline for 6 years, didn't know some of these places even existed.)
Thank you for watching, I appreciate the support. Make sure you check out the map in the video's description to visit the houses in person.
Awesome vid bro! Nice to see a Local creator!!:) Cheers!
There's also Hop N Brew if you consider Beltline part of DT.
I don't
Great video ! I’m definitely gonna go check them out ^__^
Thank you! There is a Google map in the description of the video with all the house locations, have fun!
I was interested to see what information you could find about the boarded up 2 storey yellowish house that stands near the entrance to the Stampede Grounds. I always imagine what that house must have looked like when it was new and farmland was all around it.
Awesome video. Wondering if you know of “red house” off 17th ave, very old farm house that is now inhabited by a group of art students, definitely built before the 1930’s. probably not within the original boundaries but definitely a cool place!
I've done renovations in some old homes. One was 1906 in parkdale and the other was 1904. Cant remember the exact address but there was an identical one next to it which just got demolished in december.
Hate to see that happen. Thanks for watching!
Yeah park dale is completely changing
Lived on electric ave in one of these houses. We used to drag our couch to the edge of our grass near the sidewalk and drink beer while everyone walked by and laughed
Awesome video, props!
Great video I have noticed most of these houses. Except Chinatown. Hey how about a video of Chinatown. I remember Linda Mayes restaurant being on the corner neàr those houses. Dad used to take me there sat mornings. He also back then told me when he was a kid they used to raft where the now old library went in downtown.
I thought I didn’t like it in Calgary until I moved away, such a beautiful city
So impressed that your video is doing so well. Calgary history is strangely infectious!
You know what, I am just happy people are learning from it. I had a blast researching it, and it looks like people appreciate the effort. Thanks for watching.
I see those houses all the time. I think it’s a shame some of them weren’t kept up better. My house I think was build in 1905 or 1910 and all of the weird quirks like slanted floors just make it even more perfect.
Missing Calgary now. Born & raised in Winnipeg, but my wife and I spent three years in Calgary, until moving back to Winnipeg to be close to family as we were wanting to have kids.
We still talk about possibly moving back one day.
Just curious what the tracklist is, great vid and some great tunes.
I really enjoyed that! Nice!
Can you do another one for all the old commercial building of Calgary, like Hudson Bay, and those banks on steven's Avenue
Would you consider doing a series on last houses in Victoria Park/Stampede area?
J Beesr do u consider the area around st Mary's high school downtown enough for this but cause I wanted to hear a bit about lex ave
I’m from Edmonton if your ever here I would love to collab with you
Damn, randomly on RUclips and I found your Channel... I looked at your name and realized you teached me photography at lord Beaverbrook with mrs.Henderson ! Crazy
That was me! Thanks for checking out the videos, I plan on releasing 2-3 Calgary focused videos this summer.
Hey man, this is incredible. Where could I find some information of my house in calgary built in 1943. I want to know where you found all these old records
coconutcolin the central library has lots of information and reference books about Calgary. You could try looking there :)
Wow. This is so damn good!
House across from the BMO centre on 12th ave is V old looking. suprised it wasn't in there
Thanks for watching, I appreciate the support. Yes, that house is super intriguing; however, that area is not considered downtown. Maybe I will create a video about Vic Park soon.
Great video! I've always thought 114 1st Street Sw to be interesting, right next to the old train station; I wonder who would have lived there and what it would have been like to right beside the train, as well as the iconic 314 12 Ave SE boarded up mansion that all pass on their way to Cowboys or the stampede grounds. I wonder where one would acquire info on the history of these properties.
in the mission area near the safeway there is an old school that was made into apartments. the whole area is cool.
for 1040 re: construction date, have you looked at Henderson directories in Local History at Central Library?
I'm Calgarian. Would love to check some of these out.
Calgary is a fascinating city!
I wish (like in Québec) we protected our old character homes here from demolishment & redevelopment into especially those new MDF made Cubist looking houses. Real wood! Real craftsmanship should never go out of style! 🍁🍁🍁 from Calgary
Christine Davis Calgary is development happy as well
Pretty cool video. Nice work!
Thanks for watching!
Interesting stuff!
FYI 631 - 4th Ave is not abandoned (entirely): Premiere Suites (premieresuites.com/furnished-apartments/calgary/) uses it as storage space. That's why its windows are barred and doors locked up tight.
Update: 631 - 4th Ave SW was demolished last week, and as of today (2018-09-10) 410 - 6th St has a demolition company's fencing around it.
Eyyy!!! Thanks for that! It really puts us out there! And btw are you Calgarian?
I am a Maritimer who has lived in Calgary since 2001. Thanks for watching!
you really deserve more subscribers and viewers... Your content is comparable to the big channels like CBC and BBC!!
Oh wow, that is very kind of you!
Idk if u included Victoria park in ur downtown area but I would have loved to see something bout lex ave good work tho