A Brief History Of The Mackin House
The Mackin heritage house, located on the corner of Marmont and Brunette, was originally built in 1909 to house some of the most prominent members of the rapidly growing Fraser Mills Company. Since then it has become a landmark in Coquitlam’s historic Maillardville community.
This grand home was considered a testament to the burgeoning success of the Fraser Mills Company; a symbol of the economic growth the community was soon to experience. Sitting atop the hill at the intersection of King Edward and the old Pitt River Road, the Mackin House was visible from the mill itself. Sitting amongst the scores of modest homes on the freshly cleared town site, the home surely inspired confidence to the huge number of mill workers that had recently arrived in Coquitlam. Even at the time of the first economic boom, the house was considered a monument in the community; a sign to the recent arrivals that they and their families had a secure future ahead of them in the thriving BC forestry industry.
The Fraser Mills Company built the house for Henry James Mackin, and in 1909 he and his wife were the first to take up occupancy. The house was reserved by the Fraser Mills Company for the second in command at the time. Mr. Mackin was the General Sales Manager for the Fraser Mills during its construction, and thus given the chance to be its first occupant. While living in the home, the Mackins raised a family of four children; three girls, Josephine, Dorothy and Marjorie, and a boy, Wilson.
H.J. Mackin was promoted in 1914 to Mill Manager, and was moved into the Fraser Mill’s Manager’s Residence across the street (what is now the Place des Arts building). Once the Mackins vacated, it was Tom Ryan, the General Mill Superintendent, who took up residence in the Mackin House. He lived in the house for 17 years, until 1931 when he was promoted to Mill Manager and moved into the Manager’s Residence. He was followed by his son, Maurice Ryan, the new Superintendent, who lived in Mackin House until 1944.
H.J. Mackin’s son Wilson moved into the house in 1944, and while living there he added a major renovation to the southern wing of the home. Wilson Mackin left the home in 1951, where he was followed by Mac Ewart, the Mill Manager at the time. Ewart was the last of the Fraser Mills Company to reside in the Mackin House.
The Crown-Zellerbach company purchased the Mackin House in 1953, and rented it to various residents until 1980, when it was purchased by the District of Coquitlam. The house was used by Coquitlam for a variety of philanthropic and administrative purposes, including being occupied by the SHARE society, a non-profit agency which provides social support and guidance for residents of the Tri-Cities area. In 1999 Mackin House was opened as a heritage museum under the Coquitlam Heritage Society.
The architecture of the Mackin House is typical of many Edwardian era public buildings constructed throughout the British Empire at the time. During the reign of Edward VII (1901-1910), the majority of new structures being built had two primary influences: French architecture from the 18th century and the designs of Sir Christopher Wren in England in the 17th century. These buildings were characterized by large verandas in front that may span the entire façade of the structure. During this period it was also common to use many windows to compliment a simple, well balanced exterior. These were all features common to Mackin House in its original state.