Style: Late Victorian Vernacular Revival
Architect: Alexander Carrie
This house is situated in the original Government Town Site.
George Fortune Motion, a successful businessman, purchased this lot from the Thorpe Company Limited on May 09, 1907. The assessed value was $1,200.00. In late August 1908 the home was completed and had an assessed value of $2,500.00.
George F. Motion was born in Scotland in 1866 and immigrated to Canada with his parents and siblings in 1884. Mr. Motion Senior had settled in the Swift Current area of what is now Saskatchewan and it was left to young George to shepherd his Mother and 11 siblings to the family homestead.
In 1885, at the age of 19 years, George F. Motion became a civilian transport driver for the Canadian Forces in the Riel Rebellion. He was captured along with his fellow transport drivers by the Natives under Chief Poundmaker and was held captive until after the Battle of Batoche.
In 1899 Mr. Motion purchased C.E. Mallette and Company, a feed and provision business; in 1901 he purchased West’s Transfer Company from W.A. West. At the time West’s Transfer was located on the site of the present day Extra Foods Ltd. After his death on February 10, 1931 the business was managed by his second wife, Augusta, and their son, William Westman Motion.
This home remained in the Motion family from 1908 until its sale in 1970. It is an excellent example of how one family can care and nurture a home so that it withstands the test of time.
The outside of this house showcases the Victorian flourishes as clearly as they did a century ago. Take note of the diamond paned windows, “asymmetrically arranged gables” and the large bay windows.
Although this house is zoned commercial be prepared to step back in time as you cross the threshold. The hardwood floors, staircase and banister, door and window frames and high ceilings will surely garner your attention. However, do not overlook the doorknob or hinge, for it is in the complete picture that you see a true example of Nelson’s Heritage at her finest.
This home was part of the 2008 Heritage Home Tour.
Architect: Alexander Carrie
This house is situated in the original Government Town Site.
George Fortune Motion, a successful businessman, purchased this lot from the Thorpe Company Limited on May 09, 1907. The assessed value was $1,200.00. In late August 1908 the home was completed and had an assessed value of $2,500.00.
George F. Motion was born in Scotland in 1866 and immigrated to Canada with his parents and siblings in 1884. Mr. Motion Senior had settled in the Swift Current area of what is now Saskatchewan and it was left to young George to shepherd his Mother and 11 siblings to the family homestead.
In 1885, at the age of 19 years, George F. Motion became a civilian transport driver for the Canadian Forces in the Riel Rebellion. He was captured along with his fellow transport drivers by the Natives under Chief Poundmaker and was held captive until after the Battle of Batoche.
After various opportunities in the North West Territories and at Fort MacLeod, George F. Motion settled in what was to become Nelson, in 1896. He married the next year, but unfortunately his wife, Margaret Erskine Motion, died on 12 April 1908. They had two children.
In 1899 Mr. Motion purchased C.E. Mallette and Company, a feed and provision business; in 1901 he purchased West’s Transfer Company from W.A. West. At the time West’s Transfer was located on the site of the present day Extra Foods Ltd. After his death on February 10, 1931 the business was managed by his second wife, Augusta, and their son, William Westman Motion.
The outside of this house showcases the Victorian flourishes as clearly as they did a century ago. Take note of the diamond paned windows, “asymmetrically arranged gables” and the large bay windows.
Although this house is zoned commercial be prepared to step back in time as you cross the threshold. The hardwood floors, staircase and banister, door and window frames and high ceilings will surely garner your attention. However, do not overlook the doorknob or hinge, for it is in the complete picture that you see a true example of Nelson’s Heritage at her finest.
This home was part of the 2008 Heritage Home Tour.
The photograph of G.F. Motion, circa 1915, and West's Tranfer, circa 1910, are courtesy of the Shawn Lamb Archives, http://www.touchstonesnelson.ca/ ; the photograph of Chief Poundmaker is courtesy of the open source at http://www.wikipedia.com/. The Obituary, The Nelson Daily News, 16 February 1931.
