Margaret Martin Residence

8324 106 Street, Edmonton

Margaret Martin owned a 320-acre farm on this site at the turn of the 20th century. In 1899 Margaret and her husband, David, left their North Dakota home to settle in the Canadian northwest. David set off with livestock and farm machinery in April to secure the land, and Margaret followed in July with their 11 children. Sadly, one small daughter died of pneumonia shortly after they arrived. Eighteen months later, David died of the same illness. The family buried both loved ones on their farm, at what is now Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Margaret commissioned the architectural firm of Magoon, Hopkins and James to design this foursquare, Prairie-style home in 1907. The firm later became Magoon and MacDonald Associates that built the Metals Building, Tegler Building, McDougall United Church, Salvation Army Citadel, St. Stephen’s College, and other Edmonton landmarks. This home features a bell-cast flared roof, bracketed eaves, quioning details on the edges, curved dormers, bay windows, a wrap around veranda and multi-paned windows throughout.

The Martin family moved into what was then 18 Second Street West, Strathcona, the only house on the west side of the street until 1910. The remaining area of Martin Estates, the name given to the newly subdivided farmland, eventually became the communities of Pleasantview and Parkallen.

Margaret died in 1940, leaving the home in her daughter Edith’s care. The Martin children created their own legacy in Edmonton. Grace Martin McEachern became a well known school teacher. Helen Martin married Cecil Rutherford, the only son of Alberta’s first premier, A.C. Rutherford. David Quincy Martin worked for thirty years with the Alberta Liquor Control Board after marrying Lova Shaw, daughter of H.V. Shaw, proprietor of Edmonton Cigar Factory.

The Martin Residence has subsequently been home to many, including Oscar and Olga Burnstead and Martha Kempo.

- Edmonton Historical Board

Designation & Awards

Edmonton Historical Board Plaque Award

Municipal Historic Resource (April 19, 2005)

Era: Urban Growth
Themes: Homes
Cultural Groups:
Area: Southwest

Margaret Martin Residence

Edmonton Historical Board Plaque

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