SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Cast in the shadow of modern development, an old house sits resolute on 53 Street. Existing as an office space for the last number of years, the dwelling - one of downtown's oldest - has long since been forgotten by former inhabitants who have died or moved away.

Yet one man remembers the glitz and the glamour of Yellowknife's heyday and the construction of the house during a time of optimism and boom in the North.

It was a cold and rainy week when Bryan Hagel decided to return to the city after a 15-year hiatus. Hagel left the territory for Alberta in the late 1960s but has occasionally returned to visit old friends and check up on a city he says is remarkably different every time he returns. Wandering the streets this time around he decided to pass by his parents, former residence. Built in 1960 it was one of the city's gems - an elaborate testament to Northern wealth.

From 1945 until 1964, Hagel's parents Don and Betty worked as well-known lawyers in the city. When they had the house built at 4910 53 Street, Hagel said there was not "any quite like it" yet in town.

Because of their social status, he said his parents regularly opened up their home to visiting dignitaries hosting receptions for guests including former prime minister John Diefenbaker and former governor general Georges Vanier.

"It was quite a showplace and ... my dad was quite a showoff," said Hagel.

One of the building's most admired features was a large back-to-back stone fireplace constructed from various rocks gathered throughout the territory. Hagel said his father had accumulated the stones while travelling around the territory for work.

"He collected some of the stones while flying around to Northern communities as part of the court circuit," he said, adding in that time, "Judges, lawyers and court staff all flew on the same plane to remote communities to deal with cases."

In 1964, Hagel's father was killed in a tragic car accident and his family left the territory in 1966.

"Sadly, they only enjoyed their dream home for a few years," he said.

Since then, the home has changed hands multiple times with additions and modifications made. Today it is almost unrecognizable as office space for engineering firm Stantec. Now that the company is constructing a new building, the residence is slotted for demolition.

Hagel stopped by the office last week to have a look around and was surprised to find Stantec had been trying to find a way to salvage the stones and utilize them in their new building. He said it would be a meaningful way to remember his parents and the city's history; however, the project is still up in the air.

"It's a huge fireplace, there's probably not another one like it in Yellowknife," he explained. "I can't stand in the way of them tearing the house down, but preservation of the fireplace would be a neat thing."

Stantec employee Rod Kirkwood said the company debated extracting the stones and incorporating them into the facade of the new building but time and money have prevented the project from going forward.

"We could not find someone to substantiate ... the stones have in fact come from other communities. We looked really hard but in the meantime the owner dropped it," he explained. "I've tried to get it going again but it will come at a cost."

Hagel said he would be thrilled if the stones were saved but if not, has offered to fund a plaque which would be positioned on the new building in memory of his former home. He says he is not upset about the house being torn down, but hopes his parents' legacy will not be forgotten.

"Probably only long-time Yellowknifers would remember the house as it was originally built," he said. "It's just a great artifact and curiosity for public enjoyment. I believe it would fit right in with all the other quirky things you see around as reminders of the history which is fast disappearing in this town."

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