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Brick Buildings
In Enderby, there are
still a few of the old brick buildings left. Most of them were built with bricks from the Enderby Brickyard. As time passes, many of the old
houses have been torn down because people just weren't able to insulate them well enough
for the long, cold winters. But the buildings which are still remaining are monuments to
the good old times.
The Ruttan House is one of them. It is located on the northeast corner of
Belvedere and Regent Streets, at 507 Regent St. In the years previous to the First World
War, Mr. Ruttan was the mayor of the city. He was a building contractor, specializing in
brick construction. He built the Fortune School, and his son-in-law built the Drill Hall.
Various folks have lived in the Ruttan House over the years and today it is an apartment
building. The present owner is Rose Cosens who bought the house in 1988.
On the same Avenue is another brick building called "the little brick house", at
307 Regent St. According to Helen Anderson, Andy Baird, owner of the
Enderby Brickyard, built this house in 1902. During the 1920's the Sveenes lived there and
sold the residence to Billy Preston who owned and occupied it in the 1930's. Larson
Stroulger lived there in the 1950's. Today, it remains a residential building, owned by
Maurice J. Vetter. The little brick house has a main floor with bath, a concrete
foundation and gas heating (F.H.A.) The external finish is a stone siding and it has a
gable roof.
Nearby, at 707 George, on the southeast corner of George and Russell Streets, Bob
Jones, a farmer and teamster, built a large brick house. Bob Jones also was a
city alderman. The house was built in 1900. In 1911 the house was owned by Jones. In 1965
it was assessed for $756; "old but well maintained" described the report. The
kitchen cupboards were modernized and in 1975 it was assessed at $2665. Mrs. McLaughlin
purchased the house in 1974 and remodeled the interior completely. 1981 W. Hartley bought
the house and then sold it to Roy F. and Norma V. Mceachern in 1988. today, it is used as
the Riverside Funeral Service.
One lot east of East Salmon Arm road at 1500 Howard Ave., is a brick house built by Bill
Russell, the son-in-law to Mr. Ruttan. The brick came from what was left after
the construction of the Drill Hall. After that, it was sold to Mrs. Charles Stickland and
today Ray Posemko lives there. The house has a main floor with 4 bathrooms. The roof is
covered with asphalt shingles and has an outside chimney and fireplace. It is heated with
wood and has an open attic with a stairway.
At 211 West Salmon Arm is a brick house known as the Teece house. It is
located on the northside of Salmon Arm Road almost at the corner of Gunther-Ellison Road.
It was built with Enderby bricks by Mr. Ruttan around 1904. Art Teece lived in it for many
years. From 1958-88 it was owned by Eberhard and Norma Archer. The current owner is John
Donaldson. The house has oil heating, an inside fireplace, and an external finish of wood
shingles.
Also on the Old Salmon Arm Road, at 228, is a brick residence built by Mr. Harrop.
In 1936, the house was bought by C.E. Richards. He and his brother-in-law, Mr. Gibbs,
lived in it while Mr. Gibbs owned the Brick and Tile Company. Arthur and Ida Teece lived
in it for a few years after they sold their farm down the road. The house was then
purchased by Jack and Merle Armstrong in 1949, who lived in it until 1974 when Wally
Larson purchased it.
On the northeast of George and Hubert Streets, at 701 George, was a brick house built
before 1900 as a residence. After the First World War, the Canadian Legion
used the building for social purposes. They were in that location for 25 years. It is now
owned by Mrs. Bebee.
Also on George Street, across from Barnes Park, the federal government built a Drill Hall on land purchased
from Fred Barnes in 1914. The local contractor for this structure was Mr. Ruttan's
son-in-law. During World War 1 it was used to train soldiers, mostly as an overflow from
the Vernon Army Camp. After the war it was used by various clubs and groups. It was then
turned over to the city sometime in the 1960's. The Drill Hall was built following
standard regulations: 42 x 92' overall, it has a drill floor of select 7-8" birch
measuring 40 x 66", with three large storerooms on the first floor. In the basement
are furnace rooms, ammunition closets and a rifle range. The Drill Hall had only one
entrance in the front of the building when it was built.
In the middle of the southside of the block on Hubert Street, at 602 Hubert, Andy
Paul built a large brick house. Mr. and Mrs. Inch purchased it, and for many
years Mrs. Inch had a boarding house there. After that, Frank Treat, the Road Foreman,
owned it. Its external finish is brick and it has a wooden gable roof. Its basement is
partially dirt and it has a 6' ceiling. The new owner is currently renewing the floors.
Danielle Affolter, Autumn Bugslag
ALF School 1989