Nels Johnson Residence

This dwelling was built in 1921 and would serve as the home of blacksmith Nels Johnson and his wife, Charlotte, until 1971. Born in Sweden, Johnson had come to Canada in 1909 and worked as a blacksmith in Edson before moving to the Sexsmith district in 1920. In 1921, he was employed by Dave Bozarth, the first blacksmith in town, and, in 1927, took over the blacksmith shop and ran it until 1974. When he married Charlotte, “Lotte”, Burns in 1930, they moved into this dwelling, which, from time-to-time, served as a home-away-from-home for her three children and many grandchildren from a previous marriage. In 1976, it was acquired by Lotte’s daughter, Inez. Like the house just to the north, it represented the Arts and Crafts style of domestic architecture which became common in Sexsmith.