Hart House, Heritage house in Patterson Heights, Calgary, Canada
Hart House is a 5,600-square-foot (520 m²) residence on 2.17 acres in Patterson Heights, Calgary. Built in 1905, it has twenty-two rooms, four fireplaces, two porches, and five chandeliers from Edmonton's McDonald Hotel. A coach house behind the main house is joined to it through a greenhouse.
Businessman Edward Crandell built the house in 1905. In 1920 it became the Soldiers' Children's Home for Orphans, but the orphanage ran out of money and abandoned it; rain through broken windows then damaged the vacant mansion. Judge Henry Stuart Patterson bought it from the Crandells and his family restored it, respecting the original workmanship. Stu Hart bought it in October 1951 for $25,000.
The house takes its name from Stu Hart, who bought it in October 1951 and raised ten children there; the basement gym became the Hart Dungeon, where wrestlers such as Superstar Billy Graham, Greg Valentine, Davey Boy Smith and Brian Pillman trained. Nattie Neidhart was the first woman instructed by the family.
The house stands on a hill in Patterson Heights overlooking downtown Calgary, on grounds where deep wells once had to be drilled for water. It is a private residence and not open to the public, so it can only be seen from the street. The coach house behind the main house was once rented by Calgary artist Katie Ohe.
The basement held a wrestling training room where later well-known athletes like Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Chris Jericho and Davey Boy Smith learned their craft. Many international athletes came here to be coached by experienced instructors.
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