It was constructed for
John "Truth" Houston, Nelson's first mayor and most notable citizen. At that time he was in his second (of four) term as mayor and also the publisher/editor/owner of the influential newspaper,
The Tribune, the second newspaper he had started in Nelson, the first being
The Miner.
Between his frequent absences from Nelson, he lived in this house until 1905, at which time he left the Kootenays, never to return. In 1906, while living in Goldsfield, Nevada, he sold the property to Samuel M. Brydges, of Brydges, Blakemore & Cameron, Financial, Real Estate and Insurance agents.
As were a number of other residences in Nelson, this house was meant to be viewed equally from either of the two adjoining streets. The accented gabled corner is actually the centre of the façade.
High Victorian in style, it combines such eclectic elements as Classical columns along the verandah,
Western Stick Style barge boards, extended rafters and eave brackets.
Though the house has lost much of its original character as the result of extensive renovations, it remains in excellent condition. It is also notable for the wrought iron fence which line both streets.
This house occupies number 161 on Nelson's 2011
Heritage Register update.