79 Nicola Street West
Description of Historic Place
The Stoodley Residence is a one-storey Arts and Crafts bungalow located on the north side of Nicola Street West in the West End neighbourhood of Kamloops. Built in 1926, the house is distinctive for its built-in flower boxes, multi-paned windows, tapered verandah columns and triangular eave brackets. It sits on the site of a hollow gully, which originally extended across the street and headed down towards the river; evidence of this gully can be seen in the river silt, sand and cobbles that remain among the lush English-style gardens surrounding the house.
Heritage Value
Built in 1926, the Stoodley Residence is significant for its Arts and Crafts architecture. The persistence of traditional period revival styles during the interwar years illustrates the profound popularity of historical references in domestic architecture. Homeowners of the period understood and found comfort in traditional, historically-referenced architecture, yet appreciated the domestic comforts of the modern home. Typical of houses built in the 1920s, The Stoodley Residence reflects the modern ideals of economy and good design as well as an ongoing pride in past traditions. At the time, it was presumed that a well-built house would display a traditional and readily-identifiable style as a hallmark of good taste. Although modest in stature and detailing, notable stylistic features of the Stoodley Residence include its tapered verandah columns, multi-paned windows, exposed rafter tails and triangular eave brackets.
Coupled with its lush, abundant English-style garden and prominent street frontage, the Stoodley Residence contributes significantly to the heritage character of the West End neighbourhood. Residential development of the area began at the turn of the century and gradually spread up the hill to the west.
The Stoodley Residence is valued for its associations with first owners, Joseph Octavius Stoodley (1886-1968) and his wife, Violet Beatrice (née Sweet, 1889-1973) who were both originally from England. Joseph Stoodley immigrated to Kamloops in 1910, and married Violet two years later. He worked as a city clerk but was also played a prominent role in the local educational system. In 1920, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Kamloops School Board. Stoodley additionally served as Truant Officer (elected 1925), City Collector at City Hall (elected 1934), and School Trustee (elected 1939).
Character-Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the Stoodley Residence include its:
- picturesque setting amongst mature coniferous and deciduous trees, on the site of a old gully on Nicola Street West
- location within the historic West End neighbourhood
- residential form, scale and massing as expressed by its one-storey height with front-gabled roof and shed-roofed front verandah, originally spanning the width of the house, now with partial enclosure
- Arts and Crafts details such as twin-coursed cedar shingle siding, wooden lapped siding in the gable ends, bargeboards, triangular eave brackets, exposed rafter tails, and tapered verandah columns
- external red-brick chimney
- windows such as its multi-paned double-hung windows in double and triple assembly, small feature windows flanking the chimney, and horizontal window in front gable
- associated landscape features such as its lush English-style garden consisting of an abundance of mature, naturalistic plantings