Description of Historic Place

The Staff Residence at Riding Mountain National Park is a four-plex residential building with a Tudor rustic appearance, located on a large wooded lot in the Wasagaming residential district. Constructed with natural wood materials, it features a prominent hipped roof that is pierced with a massive central stone chimney, large bellcast hipped dormers and a bellcast gabled portico. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Staff Residence is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Staff Residence is associated with the emergency Depression relief programs of 1934-1935, which provided funding for the labour and materials used in its construction. It was constructed to house permanent staff employed at Riding Mountain National Park.

Architectural Value
The Staff Residence is a very good example of a building in the Tudor rustic design, typical of the National Parks. The rustic appearance is distinguished by its combination of highly textured natural materials with equally textural design elements.

Environmental Value
The Staff Residence maintains an unchanged historical relationship with its site. The residence is compatible with the natural setting of Riding Mountain National Park. Purposefully designed to be a conspicuous architectural feature in the townsite, it is a familiar building to park visitors.

Sources:
Edward Mills, Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report, 85-054.
Staff Residence, Wasagaming, Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Heritage Character Statement, 85-054.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Staff Residence should be respected, for example:

Its Tudor rustic design aesthetic, quality craftsmanship and materials, for instance:
The rectangular massing of the four-plex building. The hipped roof pierced by a massive central stone chimney, large bellcast
hipped dormers and a bellcast gabled portico. The horizontal peeled log construction with saddle-notched corners. The combination of natural materials, (log, squared timbers, stone, wood shingles,
stucco) with textural design elements such as exposed rafter tails, prominent crowns at
the corner joints, multi-pane windows, prominent stone facing at the foundation and
porch, and the mock half-timbering in the gable. The Tudor references that include the half-timbering in the gables and the casement
windows arranged in groups of three with transoms above. The interior plan arranged around the central chimney.

The manner in which the Staff Residence maintains an unchanged historical relationship to its site, is compatible with the natural park setting, and is a familiar building in the park, as evidenced by:
The building’s ongoing relationship with its large wooded lot, where it is partially
concealed by mature tress on the edge of the early Wasagaming residential district. The building’s overall form and massing which is compatible with six other structures
and the natural park setting. The building’s design as a conspicuous architectural feature within the townsite which
contributes to its familiarity with park visitors.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Staff Residence at 150 Ta-Wa-Pit Drive was constructed in 1935 to the designs of the Architectural Division. It continues in its original function. Parks Canada is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 85-54.

Reasons for Designation
The Staff Residence was designated Recognized for its architectural and environmental significance, and also for historical reasons.

Relatively unchanged since its construction, this four-plex residential building displays the major architectural and structural features characteristic of the Depression relief construction phase and the "Tudor Rustic" design aesthetic applied to national parks architecture during this period. The Staff Residence is a conspicuous architectural feature, an important component of the 1930s building stock in the park, and the only example of staff residential architecture located in the central townsite area. The building complements its site, a large wooded lot on the edge of the early Wasagaming residential district.

Historically, the Staff Residence is connected with the emergency Depression relief programmes of 1934-35, which provided funding for the labour and materials employed in its construction.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Staff Residence resides in its massing, construction materials, and the quality of its setting.

The building is rectangular in plan, constructed of peeled logs horizontally laid and saddle-notched. The hipped, slightly bell-cast roof is a prominent feature, pierced with a massive central stone chimney, large bellcast hipped dormers and a bellcast gabled portico. The overall form and massing of the building should be respected.

Features which create the building's rustic appearance include its combination of highly textured, natural materials (log, squared timbers, stone, wood shingles, stucco) with equally textural design elements such as exposed rafter tails, prominent crowns (extension of logs) at the corner joints, multi-pane windows, prominent stone facing at the foundation and porch, and mock half-timbering in the gable. The mock half-timbering in the gables is a typical Tudor reference, as are the casement windows arranged in groups of three with transoms above. All of these features are integral to the style and character of the building and should not be altered. Any repairs must be predicated on maximum retention of original material, and the same level of craftsmanship, and care should be taken as is evident in the original work.

The roof was originally finished in wood shingles laid with decorative horizontal bands (perhaps a doubled course of butts) at intervals; when re-roofing is required, consideration should be given to reinstating this feature based on the evidence in historic photographs. Removal of the soffits and fascia to reveal (or reinstate if missing) the decorative log rafter tails would also enhance the character of the building.

The interior plan, arranged symmetrically around the central chimney, should be respected, and early finishes and features noted and incorporated in any renovation work.

The Staff Residence is located on a large wooded lot, partially concealed by mature trees and an embankment along the front of the property. Landscaping should be simple and domestic in character, in keeping with the treatment seen in historic photographs.