Nobody’s Home: Ramsay

Nobody’s Home: Ramsay edition and we’re looking at a group of vacant dwellings in a historic Calgary community, before they were torn down. No mansions here, they were working class digs in a working class neighbourhood. After standing empty for years, here on a triangle-shaped chunk of land backing on industrial properties, they finally succumbed not that long ago.

Ramsay is just southeast of downtown Calgary and development happened here as early as the 1880s. The current name dates from 1950s and this comes after it consolidated with a number of bordering communities. It’s surprisingly little changed over time and seemingly ignored by the gentrification monster. Still, it’s lost much of the raw and gritty character of years past and most of the old houses seen today are fixed up nice.

While the powers that be are somewhat unclear on specifics, it’s believed the land will be used for part of the new Green Line LRT being built as we speak. The elevated guideway will run right past (over?) the property and these houses demolished only because they needed space. All four homes appear in reasonable shape, so in that regards, it’s a bit of a loss. None are stand-outs architecturally, but they’re not without charm either.

A cursory look through old records turns up no mention of any noteworthy events or people connected to the houses. No one famous, no sinister happenings and nothing to make you say hmm. I guess if we dug real deep, perhaps we’d uncover something juicy…just sayin’…

The location here, while deep in the city now, was at the very edge of town back then.

1) This appears to be a garage and is said to be from 1970 in city records, even if it looks much older. We picture a classic car inside, a dusty old barn find unseen by human eye for decades, but in all reality probably empty.

2) When built in 1911, the first Calgary Stampede was still a year in the future. It’s hard to imagine, no Stampede*, but everything has a beginning, and that even includes the greatest outdoor show on earth.

3) This house is a newest of the four (also the most spacious) and dates back to 1927. We can’t begin to to tell you how different the world was then and most everything we take for granted today and think nothing of, would be to them a dream. Still, the roaring ’20s were heady times, with the economy doing well and much growth.

4) When built in 1908, horses were a more common conveyance than cars. The city’s population stood at about 23k (yes, that’s correct) verses 1.3 million today and that’s an increase of over 5500%! This is the smallest of the dwellings seen here and is almost hidden by the hedges out front.

The streak in the sky an aircraft accidentally captured while shooting the time exposure. Doh! A second frame followed after it passed, but we kept coming back to this one. There’s an interesting contrast of eras represented, which we like. For example when the house was new there were no airplanes in the Alberta skies – none, and wouldn’t be until 1911 when the first flight in the province occurred.

5) By the time this house next door was built (in 1918), prohibition in Alberta was in full swing. No beer for you…no beer for anyone…dark times indeed (a moment of silence please). Interestingly, the Calgary Brewery was/is less than a kilometre away and its smokestack no doubt visible from this angle at the time. That firm made sodas while weathering the storm.

Joking aside now and on a positive note, World War One was just ending.

Now everything we see is gone, the houses levelled a week to two back and the property a big muddy mess (and hardly photogenic). Progress marches on, as it always has and always will. A resident from across the street dropped by and spoke about problems brought on by these empty houses. Vacant properties are a magnet for trouble and this person said they looked forward to them going. I guess that wish has been granted now.

In hindsight, we should have asked their thoughts about the impending LRT. This is a relatively quiet corner of the city, but the view’s about to change and in a big way.

*It happened once, recently (thanks Covid) – here: Calgary Stampede 2020: Cancelled!

Know more (new window): Calgary Ramsay.

We’ve just gotten started and watch for new content posted regularly!

They’re saying…

”The wonderful out-of-the way locations and the photos of them are pure gold…Keep up the good work!” William Gibbons.

More like this…
Last Houses in Victoria Park – Just before they were levelled.
Beachwood Estates – Million dollar homes, similarly vacant.
Section House – A former railway worker’s home.

If you wish more information on what’s seen here, don’t hesitate to: contact us!

Date of Adventure: March, 2019.
Location(s): Calgary, AB.
Article references: City of Calgary and Calgary Transit.

1) Nobody’s Home: Ramsay edition – this old shed.

2) The Calgary Stampede had yet to be held…

3) From the roaring ’20s…

3) This and everything else, is now gone.

4) Calgary’s population has grown by 5500% since…

5) The war ends but don’t celebrate with a beer.