Husband a big local name

The property at 12707 Husband Drive in Coldstream holds a rich and storied past, linked both to a prominent family and a celebrated architect.

Once the residence of the Husband family, the house overlooks Kalamalka Lake and was designed by British-born architect Francis Rattenbury, a man whose work shaped some of British Columbia’s most iconic landmarks.

In April 1907, Katherine and Herbert Husband arrived in the Okanagan. After touring the area, they decided to settle in Vernon, purchasing 15 acres of land from the Earl of Aberdeen. They commissioned Rattenbury, who designed such notable structures as the B.C. legislative building and the Empress Hotel in Victoria, to create their home.

The house, built in the Edwardian Tudor Revival style, featured large windows with breathtaking views of the lake. A boat house was also constructed along the shore of what was, in reality, Long Lake Reserve #5.

Francis Rattenbury’s life was as dramatic as his architectural legacy. Despite his professional success, he was later embroiled in scandal and murdered in England at age 67 by his second wife’s 18-year-old lover. But before these tragic events, he had designed the Husband house, a testament to his architectural talent.

Herbert Husband, beyond commissioning a magnificent home, played an active role in the community. He served as Vernon’s mayor from 1910 to 1911, and was known locally as a businessman, orchardist, and thoroughbred horse breeder.

His political connections were significant. In 1910, Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier visited the Husband estate during a pre-election trip through Canada. Katherine, on the other hand, was known for her quiet and generous nature.

Tragedy struck the Husband family in 1912. Herbert, who had risen to the rank of Officer Commanding of the Lumby Squadron of the Okanagan Mounted Rifles (later the 30th B.C. Horse), traveled to Winnipeg for a military training course.

During the exercise, his horse slipped on a patch of ice, and he was killed. His death left behind his wife, Katherine, and their four children. One of their daughters, Dalla, later became a renowned artist who trained at the prestigious Atelier 17 in Paris, a studio frequented by none other than Pablo Picasso. But that, as they say, is a tale for another time.

In the years following Herbert's death, the Husband family continued to live in their home above Kalamalka Lake.

Gwyn Evans is the Archives Manager for the Museum and Archives of Vernon.