Innes Residence

Built in 1926, the Innes Residence is an example of a typical Arts and Crafts style residence in the town of Sexsmith which was inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement. Sexsmith possesses a unique and substantial collection of Arts and Crafts style residences, not typical of northern Alberta communities. The strong presence of this architectural style can be attributed to the early town’s large British population. The Innes Residence is valued for its connection with long-term Sexsmith resident and owner of one of Sexsmith’s first automobile garages, Donald “Don” Innes. Don was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1890 and immigrated first to Australia (1911) before sailing to Victoria, BC (1914) at the behest of his brothers William and Alexander, who had already established farms in northern Alberta. He then purchased a farm adjoining his brother in Grande Prairie. After serving in the First World War, he returned to northern Alberta where he eventually married Mary MacDiarmid, and five years later the couple moved to Sexsmith where they constructed this house and opened one of the community’s earliest garages “Sexsmith Garage Co. Ltd.”, sold to Charlie and Jerry Stojan in 1946. The house is also associated with successful Sexsmith grocers and business owners, Carl and Selma Larson who moved to Canada from North Dakota in 1918, first settling in Peace River before moving to La Glace, where they operated “Larson’s Store”. They moved to Sexsmith in 1945 and purchased the former Richards McNaughton Company Limited General Store in 1946 which they renamed “Larson’s”. Shortly after in 1947 they purchased the Innes Residence and resided there with son Ken until passing away in the 1950’s. It is now owned by Don and Judy Jickling and has been designated a municipal historic resource.