From hsca.ca/historical-context-paper
The Riley pioneer ranch family settled in today’s Hillhurst, gradually increasing their land holdings until they owned a significant portion26 of inner-city Calgary north of the Bow River. City-builders, the Rileys left a legacy in the landscape with the subdivisions they established, the land they donated for park space and education, and the institutions they created and supported.
Thomas & Georgiana Riley
Thomas Riley (1842-1909) immigrated to Canada from Derbyshire, England in 1862, first settling in eastern Canada where he and Georgiana Hounsfield (18431907) married and raised their family of ten before putting down roots in Calgary in 188727. They arrived with their youngest children, the older siblings joining them over time until the whole family was together in Calgary. Within a year they were homesteading just north of the town’s limits at that time, on the northwest quarter of Section 20 (today’s Briar Hill). By 1903, their farm had barns, stables, granaries and a corral, and after receiving patent in 1904, they built their permanent dwelling, Hounsfield Lodge (nonextant). Thomas raised livestock and crops including wheat, oats and potatoes. He also had a strong interest in politics, was active in the Liberal party and ran for political office for the North-West Territories.
Thomas Riley homestead house and farm building. Thomas and Georgiana Riley in pony cart, daughters Louise and Emily and son Thomas on horseback, between 1895 and1899 [Credits: Glenbow Archives M-8375-11-2]
His sons worked on the family farm and also acquired homesteads nearby as they reached the eligible age to apply. They entered into partnership with their father as the Riley & Sons agricultural enterprise. Georgiana acquired the east half of Section 20 in 190228, and in 1902-3, Georgiana and her son Albert purchased Section 31 from the CPR for ranching, their two portions flanking the Morley Trail29. The Riley & Sons lands were known collectively as the Ranche. In 1906, the Rileys sold 1280 acres of their lands near Nose Creek as well as 400 cattle to P. Burns & Co, retaining their horses but moving from grade cattle to raising pure breeds. The same year plans were drawn up for a second permanent house by an architect referred to in Thomas’ diary as Wilson30. Following Georgiana’s death in 1907, her portion of Section 31 and her land in Section 20 went to her family; Thomas reserved a 10 acre parcel for the new house. Upon Thomas’ passing in 1909 Riley & Sons dissolved; their three daughters - Louise, Emily and Maria - inherited the original homestead and Hounsfield Lodge. In 1910 Edmunde and Thomas Jr registered the northeast quarter of Section 20 as the Hounsfield Heights subdivision Plan 5625AC. By 1912, the daughters had married; it was son Frank’s family who would next live in the Hounsfield Lodge until some time after his death in 1939. The lodge and almost five acres were sold to the Bethany Care Society which opened in that house in 1946.
To be continued…