Description of Historic Place:
"The Black Residence, No. 9 is located in a residential area of Dawson city. This attractive, two-storey home is of wood-frame construction and has a steeply pitched, hip roof with indented hip dormers. Tall, slim windows with dark trim enhance the exterior. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Heritage Value:
The Black Residence, No. 9 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.
Historical Value:
The Black Residence, No. 9 is associated with the development of the gold fields and in the establishment of Dawson City as the territorial capital as well as a supply, service, and distribution centre. The Black Residence, No. 9 is also of value for its role as a residence for individuals of national, regional and community importance. This list of individuals includes J. Langlois Bell (Assistant Gold Commissioner/ Barrister) ca.1900-1903, Thomas Dufferin “Duff” Pattullo (Assistant Gold Commissioner/ Broker/ Premier of British Columbia) ca. 1905-1906, Chester A. Thomas (Manager Yukon Gold Co.) 1908-1916, George T. Coffey (Manager, Yukon Gold Co.) ca. 1920-1924, George Black (Yukon Commissioner/ Member of Parliament/ Barrister) 1929-1948, Martha Munger Black (Amateur Botanist/ Author/ Member of Parliament) 1929-1948.
Architectural Value:
The Black Residence, No. 9 is of value for its good aesthetic design. It is characterized by its elegantly proportioned central building mass, with a steeply pitched hip roof and indented hip dormers. Also of good functional design, this wood frame house is soundly built. The selection and installation of grooved roofing, interior wood joinery, millwork, door hardware, sheet metal and wallpaper finishes are notable, and are evidence of the building’s very good craftsmanship.
Environmental Value:
The Black Residence, No. 9 is compatible with its residential setting and is a neighbourhood landmark.
Sources:
Joan Mattie, Twenty-two Dawson structures, Dawson, Yukon, Heritage Character Statement, 88-012; Black Residence, Dawson, Yukon, Heritage Character Statement, 88-012.
Character-Defining-Elements:
The character-defining elements of the Black Residence, No. 9 should be respected.
Its good aesthetic design and functional design and very good materials and craftsmanship, for example;
-the elegantly proportioned central building mass, with its steeply pitched roof and indented hip dormers, to which is joined a number of dissimilar yet complementary
masses with low pitched roofs;
-the solid wood frame construction;
-the surviving floor plans on both floors;
-the tall, vertical sliding 2/2 and 7/2 sash windows;
-te grooved roofing, interior wood joinery, millwork, and door hardware;
-the sheet metal lined room with seven different patterns of plate, which are preserved in the embossed ceiling.
The manner in which the Black Residence, No. 9 is compatible with the character of its residential setting and is familiar in Dawson, as evidenced by:
-its wood frame construction, pitched roof and materials which harmonize with the
surrounding buildings on the residential streetscape;
-its familiarity given its historical, high profile status as a residence for persons of national
significance."
Reference: (
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Inscription on an information panel on site:
Money talks. When Dawson City residents started spending real money for elegant homes around 1900, they were talking about their confidence in the city's future. This residence was one such upper middle class home built by the professional class. While its most well known residents were George and Martha Black during the 1930s, an earlier owner was real estate broker T.D. Patullo. He later became Premier of British Columbia and attempted to annex the Yukon to that province.
class home built by the professional class.
Personal Observations:
The Dawson City Swimming pool is located on the same side of the street as the Black Residence. The Black Home is impeccably maintained and sits on a large lot that is apart from the busiest part of the city. It's easy to see that this house would have been palatial for its time, with probably more of that size and model along Fifth Avenue. At present, the street has few single homes and more municipal and commercial properties.