Our House
A Brief History of Hycroft
Early Days
In June 1962 the University Women's Club of Vancouver acquired Hycroft, a magnificent Edwardian mansion located in Shaughnessy.
The house was originally built for Alexander Duncan McRae, a leading businessman and politician in Western Canada at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Hycroft was designed by Thomas Hooper, a renowned Western Canadian. Hooper's designs include the Winch building (Sinclair Centre) and the Provincial Court Houses in Vernon and Revelstoke.
Construction began on Hycroft in 1909 and was completed in 1911. Along with the present house and coach house, there were stables, a swimming pool, an Italian garden, a tea house, pergolas, statuary, and a children's playhouse. When the McRae family moved into Hycroft in the summer of 1911 it quickly became the centre of the social scene in Vancouver.
The parties held at Hycroft were legendary, especially the New Year's Eve masquerade balls. The guest book at Hycroft read like a Who's Who of the 20's and 30's; it contained names of visiting royalty, well-known business associates, politicians and the social elite of Vancouver. It was said to be an honour and a delight to be invited to Hycroft.
In 1942, the McRaes gave Hycroft to the Federal Government for one dollar. Mrs. McRae died soon after and Senator McRae died in Ottawa four years later.
The house was used by the Federal Department of Veterans' Affairs as a convalescent hospital for war veterans until 1960.
To learn more about the McRaes and Hycroft, Merchant Prince by Betty O'Keefe and Ian MacDonald provides an excellent and comprehensive history of the McRae family.
Restoration
In 1962 the five-acre property originally owned by the McRaes was subdivided and the stables were demolished. This made it possible for the UWCV to purchase part of the estate which included the 30-room house, coach house, mews cottage and surrounding grounds. At that time women were not allowed to hold a mortgage in their own right so the Club was required to pay in full.
It took one year for the UWCV to finalize the purchase of Hycroft, and five more to restore it. The building had been empty for two years, unheated and without any basic maintenance. The grass was waist high and blackberry vines were growing through the walls. Raccoons had taken up residence and the house interior was a mess. Through many volunteer hours, along with furniture donations from generous members and friends, the Club members turned Hycroft into a home once again.
In December 1974 the UWCV was given an award of merit from the Vancouver Historical Society for the historical and architectural preservation work they had done at Hycroft. The UWCV has also received recognition from the City of Vancouver; in 1994, the Club was given a Heritage Award from the City for their continued maintenance of the house.
Today
Today, the Club members are the stewards of Hycroft and the surrounding property. A House Committee oversees the maintenance of the house and the gardens. The gardens that exist today at Hycroft reflect the work of Club members since 1963.
Restoring and maintaining Hycroft has become a great source of pride for the UWCV. Club members have turned a once crumbling building into a warm and welcoming place for members and their guests.
