The Trimble Residence in Lacombe has been officially designated as a Municipal Historic Resource under the Province of Alberta Historical Resources Act.
Lacombe City Council passed a bylaw on June 13 to designate the building, which was originally built in 1901 as significant historical importance.
“The designation of this heritage home is a great asset to the community and the Lacombe and District Historical Society would like to commend the time and effort invested into the successful designation by the City of Lacombe Heritage Resource Committee and the heritage homeowners,” said Melissa Blunden, executive director, Lacombe and District Historical Society. “Without heritage building owners’ commitment to preserving built history, many of the structures we associate with Lacombe’s history today would not still be standing.”
The house, located on 53 St. is one of the city’s early grand estates and is significant for its association with the home’s first owner, Henry Trimble.
Trimble moved from Calgary to the area in 1900 and opened a law office. He co-created many of the town’s core services, including establishing the Lacombe Board of Trade, becoming president of the newly formed Central Alberta Hockey Association in 1903, opening the Lacombe Experimental Farm in 1904, developing the electric railway to Bentley, and becoming Mayor of Lacombe in 1908.
In 1909, he subdivided and sold the property. In 1926, he moved back to Lacombe and repurchased the Trimble Residence, where he lived until 1939.
The Trimble Residence is further valued for its later occupancy by many professionals and business leaders in Lacombe, including lawyer and proprietor of Laird Motors, Harland (Hal) DeWitt Laird (1897-1959) from 1939-1945 and Doctor William Addison Henry (1894-1972) from 1947-1972.
“This designation ensures the building will remain protected in our community for years to come. I want to thank the current owner of Trimble Residence building and the Heritage Resources Committee (HRC) for their diligent work towards preserving the legacy of this building,” said Mayor Grant Creasey.
It joins the list of other buildings within the city that have previously been designated as Municipal Historic Resources including St. Andrew’s United Church in 2013, the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop in 2015, the Young residence in 2016, the Urquhart/ Kanngiesser Building in 2016, Michener House in 2016, Lacombe Cenotaph, Lest We Forget Park (2016, the Fraser MacDonald Building in 2017 and the Flatiron Building in 2021.
The city’s HRC is currently updating the existing municipal heritage survey and the heritage inventory contained in the management plan. These documents contain buildings in the community that are 50 years or older or may have heritage significance.
The update will consider any buildings or sites that were previously not listed and could be added due to age or historical interest. Work is now underway with public engagement occurring later this year and a final report coming back to City Council before year-end.
For more information on the City’s Heritage Preservation Program, visit lacombe.ca/242/Heritage-Preservation-Program.