HENRY S. PATTERSON HOUSE
Firm: Clayton Bond and Mogridge
Address: 816 32 Avenue SW
Date of final plans: June 1957
Status: demolished in 2012
The Henry S. Patterson House sat on a corner lot in Elbow Park facing the Elbow Park Tennis Club grounds. In 1952 the client had become ill with polio (see bio below), and although he had recovered by 1955, he was left in a weakened condition. This house was unique in that it was designed specifically for Patterson's poor health and mobility. Looking at it from the outside, one would assume the master bedroom was on the upper floor, leading to the rooftop deck. This, however, was not the case. The master bedroom was located on the main floor directly beside the dining room, thus limiting Patterson's need to walk.
THE CLIENT
Henry Stuart Patterson (1913–1990) was born on 9 October 1913 in Calgary. His father was H. S. Patterson Sr (1881–1957), a prominent Calgary lawyer. Patterson grew up on Edison Crescent. In the 1930s he attended the University of Alberta, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1936 and Bachelor of Laws in 1937. He then articled with his father and his father's partner, W. A. MacDonald, before being called to the Bar in 1938. In 1940 he joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and served five years overseas with the 1st and 3rd Signals Divisions. Following the War, Patterson returned to Calgary to continue his legal career. In 1948 and 1949 he served as the president of the Law Society of Alberta. Patterson's life took a dark turn in 1952 when he was stricken with polio. The disease left him bedridden for six months and in a wheelchair for 18 months. By 1955 he had regained most of his mobility and in 1955 was elected president of the Calgary Bar Association. In 1960 he was named to the District Court of southern Alberta and in 1963 was made Queen's Counsel. He retired in 1988.
On 5 December 1940 Patterson married Laura Lydiard (1914–2009). They had four children: Luanna, John, Sylvia, and Buffy. Patterson died in Calgary on 1 March 1990 at age 76.