Knoepfi Residence

1910
1219 14th Avenue SW 
 
Prior to World War I, Calgary experienced an unbelievable building boom. There were entire streets of major developments in the city that were constructed at the same time. But there were also residential buildings going up just as fast. This home represents the typical type of home that went up during this period.It is a wood frame house with minor Victorian detailing. It is based on a simple rectangular plan, and is two stories. It has a prominent front veranda with turned posts to support the upper balcony. Patterned shingles are used as exterior cladding in the gables, with horizontal clapboard siding below. The house design is likely a stock building plan from a pattern book of the era.The building is located in the part of the Beltline that was the highly sought after Connaught district. The district was popularized by the Loughheeds who first built in the area and brought other prominent Calgarians into the area. The area was also popular because of its proximity to the downtown area.

This structure was one of the first on the block. It was built by Jacob A. Knoepfli. Knoepfi, a successful contractor, purchased the property and the adjacent lot in 1910, after they had been 'flipped' a number of times. That year, Knoepfli applied for a permit to built two identical houses at a cost of $2,000 each.

Knoepfli emigrated from Switzerland in 1905 and started work as a carpenter, eventually becoming a successful contractor. He is credited with building over 300 houses and small apartments during Calgary's first building boom. In the early 1920’s he formed the Bungalow Construction Company and purchased several apartment houses and hotels. 

His company managed the St. Regis Hotel and was responsible for construction of the York Hotel. An active member of the Board of Trade and the Lions Club, he retired in the 1940's and died in 1974.

This house was home to James H. Hicks of the Six realty company between 1911 and 1913. In 1913 it became Townsend’s Tailor shop. In 1914 it became the home of Charles Comba, a general foreman.

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