Elkhorn Manor

The house has a Rustic design which refers to the building materials used. The logs and stones were all taken from the site itself for construction. This area was renowned for its skilled stone and log craftsmen, many of whom came from Norway and Sweden. The architect, W.D. Cromarty, a government employee, incorporated elements from the Anglo-Indian Bungalow Tradition. This design was used in India for high ranking government officials. The style of the house — with bell cast hipped roof, broad eaves, a wrap-around veranda, and sleeping porch — was intended to demonstrate the status and position of senior officials. One unique aspect of this house is the attached garage. In the 1930s, automobiles were just beginning to become prominent in our culture and this attached garage was one of the first in the area and a sign of importance.

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Water in the house comes from an artesian well, the same source that bubbles up at the nearby Wishing Well. In the 1930s, having water pressure was a luxury and this allowed for the construction of an indoor washroom with plumbing, although hot water was not available. James Smart, the first Superintendent of Riding Mountain National Park, was also the first resident of the house. During his tenure he helped design the back nine of the golf course and was responsible for the construction of many of the historic buildings in the park such as the museum, the golf course clubhouse, the East Gate, and other buildings and cottages throughout the townsite. He did this by utilizing the skills of many of the relief workers who were living in relief camps throughout the park, and by giving work to many of the locals who were suffering through the Great Depression. He was followed by a succession of other Superintendents who lived in the house until 1993. See also: Park’s historic residence greets guests (Winnipeg Free Press, August 25, 2012)