Heritage Inventory:  Yes.
Heritage Designation:  Status uncertain.
Why Endangered:  Fire, in need of interior renovation or restoration.  Development pressure.

The endangerment by fire is devastating, not only because of the actual damage of a fire, but because of the fatalism in approach to a heritage site that it creates.  Some heritage properties have been significantly damaged by fire and been restored – one property listed below burned and was restored three times.  All too often, fire damaged buildings are dismissed without any proper assessment on prospects for recovery.

The large Craftsman Style Nurses Lodge with tudor revival influences was constructed between 1920 and 1922, designed by Henry Whitaker.  Some 25 nurses resided here at any given time. Wood craftsmanship and detailing are strong features of the exterior, with open beamed porches and intersecting gable roofscapes in a T plan.  A monumental split stair case leads to the front porch.  The concrete foundation has stucco rendering.  Overall, the exterior of the building has “a strong quality and detail.” The interior features wood trim and fittings throughout of excellent quality, including fireplace mantles, detail on door and window casings, and stair posts and balustrades.  Cast iron radiators also remain.  Plaster and lath walls and ceilings are featured with hardwood flooring.  The original cedar shingle roof has since been covered with asphalt shingle.

A 2002 heritage assessment by McGinn Engineering and Preservation gave the Nurses Lodge the highest rating of the buildings on the Woodlands site.

A recent fire is said to have gutted the interior of the site, but the frame remains standing.  The fire damaged the interior of the main floor, and rose in a chute to some damage on the second floor.  It’s not known how extensive that damage is, but the exterior of the building remains intact.  From the nearby streets, the structure of the building appears to be sound, whatever the damage inside. 

An independent assessment should be made before plans to preserve the Nurses Lodge before any consideration is given to  abandoning the initial goal for the property in the development plan.  In fact, the fire doesn’t seem to conflict with the plans for the building as outlined in the 2002 heritage assessment, which planned to preserve only the exterior. 

The recommendation was to, “retain and restore exterior with new use accommodating heritage interiors.”  While heritage buildings, especially those suffering neglect, can be particularly vulnerable to fire, all too often fire is an excuse to proceed with development.  In fact, some Royal City heritage properties have been restored after far more significant fires, such as the J.J. Johnston home.