Kerr House
351 Assinniboine Avenue

Built in 1887, the Kerr House is one of Winnipeg's oldest and least altered Second Empire residences. It was built for Francis Ferguson Kerr in the Northwest tip of the Hudson's Bay reserve. Kerr came to Winnipeg to assume the position of Principal of Winnipeg's Carlton School between Carlton and Hargrave Streets. The house sits on the northeast corner of Qu'appell Avenue and Balmoral Street, and is one of the earliest homes built in this area. Although the architect of the house is unknown, the style of the house is identified as Second Empire, a style which was popularized from the latter 1860s to around 1880. Since much of the west was developed after this time, this style of building is not very prominent, and distinguishes the residence from its surroundings. Although the building has seen various occupants since Francis Ferguson Kerr, and the interior of the house underwent extensive renovations which turned it into an office building, the exterior of the house has retains all of its distinctive structural features.

* Historical Buildings Committee