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Online Heritage Inventory

Eldstrom House

General Information
Thumbnail photograph of Eldstrom House
Click to see full image
Type of Resource: Building
Common Name: Eldstrom House
Address: 9711 Finn Road
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): Gilmore
Construction Date: 1912
Current Owner: Private
Designated: Yes

Statement of Significance
Description of Site
The Eldstrom house is a two-storey front gable house with a side gable extension. The house is sits slightly skewed relative to Finn Road on a large lot with lawn and mature trees.

 Statement of Values
The Eldstrom home is historically significant to the South Arm and Slough District communities because it has a connection to both the farming and fishing history of the area, and a particular association with the early settlers from Finland who settled on Finn Slough but eventually were able to build houses on Finn Road. The Slough District location of the house is significant, as it was one of the earliest farming districts on Lulu Island, and retains much of its agricultural character today
Aesthetically, the design of the house is representative of Richmond’s very early South Arm utilitarian houses, with its gabled roof and front verandah. The landscape with its large lot and mature trees reflects the original settlement patterns in this area.

 Character Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include:
· The location of the house in the South Arm area and its aspect on the lot, at an angle to Finn Road.
· The overall utilitarian design and of the house, including its L-shaped plan, vertical massing, a front gable roof with a side gable extension, an open verandah at the front of the house.
· Details of the construction including a central brick chimney, front and side gable dormers with returned eaves and fish scale shingles in the gable ends, and an original front door.
· The large lot with an abundance of mature deciduous and coniferous trees including a mature holly tree, and a Gravenstein apple tree which has been included on the Landscape Inventory.

 History
The Eldstrom house is a two-storey front gable house with a side gable extension. The house is sits slightly skewed relative to Finn Road on a large lot with lawn and mature trees.

 Architectural Significance
Building Type
Domestic

 Design Features
The house is an L-shape in plan with rectangular massing; it is assumed that the foundation is concrete. The roof is a front gable with a side gable extension, and is covered in asphalt shingle. There is an open verandah at the front of the house; at one time it ran the full length of the front façade, but has been filled in on the north side. The front staircase has been rebuilt in an interesting way: it has been constructed at an angle from the house, and angles away in two directions halfway down. There is a central brick chimney and a front gable dormer with returned eaves, as well as a side gable dormer; both have fish scale shingles in the gable end. The front door is original, and the house has been painted cream with brown trim.

 Construction Method
Wood frame construction.

 Landscape Significance
Landscape Element
Residential landscape and significant trees. The Eldstrom house has a large lot with an abundance of mature deciduous and coniferous trees. In particular, there is a mature holly tree, and a Gravenstein apple tree, which has been included on the Landscape Inventory. The house has some foundation planting, probably associated with the renovations to the house.

 Integrity
Alterations
There has been a large extension built at the rear of the house, the full front verandah has been enclosed on one side, and the front stairs have been rebuilt. As well, vinyl siding has been applied as cladding; there are almost no original surfaces visible on the exterior.

 Original Location
Yes

 Condition
The house is in very good condition.

 Lost
No

 Documentation
Evaluated By
Denise Cook BLA, PBD (Public History)

 Date
Sunday, September 24, 2000

 Documentation
Inventory Sheets by Foundation Group Designs, January 1990
“Heritage Inventory Phase II” by Foundation Group Designs May 1989
“Richmond, Child of the Fraser” by Leslie J. Ross 1979

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