ARCHITECTURE:
This 1½-storey, side-gabled Craftsman Bungalow has a prominent front-gabled dormer with paired square posts, designed to look like an enclosed sleeping porch. On the right side is a large bracketed, cantilevered, gabled bay above a small, offset angled bay. All bargeboards have clover cutouts, knee brackets and pyramids. To the left of the upper bay is a small, gabled, box oriel. A deep,full-width, front verandah wraps around to the right. The verandah roof is supported by three square posts on concrete-capped, battered granite piers. The balustrades have heavy square balusters. The offset steps lead to the front door on the right rear of the verandah. The steps and stepped granite balustrades are sheltered by a wide, shallow gable. The upper level and basement are shingled, the main floor is clad in double-bevelled siding. Designed by E.E. Green (953 Empress Av) of Seattle and Victoria, this house cost about $10,000.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
Owners: Residents: 1912-14, 1920-34: Erick Ulin (b. New York 1864-1916) married Harriet Ruhama (née Spray, b. Iowa, USA1869-1942) in Seattle in 1890 and moved here in 1893. He was sec then mgr (1908) of Taylor Mill Co 1894-1913. They lived here with daughters, Harriet “Irene” (b. USA1891-1982) and Erica Eliza (b. USA1898-1958) before moving to San Francisco in 1914. He died in Alameda, CA, USA and four years later Harriet and Erica returned to the house; Erica remained until 1934. Erica married Ralph Gaillard Buckwalter (b. Ashland, OH, USA 1891-1978) in Petaluma, CA in 1928.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
Tenant: 1915-17: D’Arcy Tate, KC (b. Portadown, IRL 1866-1935) was educated at Queen’s College, Belfast. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1893, and subsequently the MB, SK,AB and BC bars. From 1896-1905 he was counsel for Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway that was taken over by CPR. He moved to MB in 1905 as assistant solicitor, Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. In 1910 he became VP and general counsel, Pacific Great Eastern Railway, which brought him to BC. He remained in this position until it became a government railroad. He retired here in 1915.
1935-66: William Alexander McKenzie (b. Puslinch, ON 1873-1966) and Florence Murray (née Thompson, b. Ontario 1886-1959). William came to BC in 1903. He settled in Penticton, and in 1910 married Florence, who had just arrived from Ontario. He was a reeve for a number of years before being elected an MLA for Similkameen 1918- 34. William was appointed Minister of Mines and Labour for 1928-33. He was a carpenter by trade, and during WWII he worked in the shipyards. He was later superintendent of construction for the Hope-Princeton Highway. William and Florence lived here until their deaths.