G.H. Tutt House

The heritage value of the Tutt House is derived from its 84-year association with one of the community's long-standing pioneer families. There is also value in this good example of pre-WW l cottage-style residence.

George and Sarah Tutt emigrated from England in 1910, landing at Saint John, New Brunswick, and coming across Canada by train to Kelowna. They brought with them their children: Duncan, Fred, Violet, Henry, and Cecily. The family tented in City Park while father George built this house. George Tutt started Tutt's Tailor Shop in 1910, a business he operated for 36 years. When he retired, his son Fred took over and also spent his entire working life in the tailoring trade.

After George Tutt's death, several of the children continued to reside with their mother Sarah in this house. This gives value for the continuity of having the same family in the house for 84 years. Cecily worked as an operator for the Okanagan Telephone Company and Violet (d. 1985) was a schoolteacher. Henry, after a short employment as a grocery clerk, worked as a clerk for Dominion Express and then for CP Express for 45 years. For many years he was tenor soloist at the First United Church. He also sang with the Ogopogo Concert Club on radio station 10-AY (the forerunner of CKOV) from 1928 to 1931. He was one of the founding members of the Kelowna SPCA, and was widely known as 'Mr. SPCA' for his contribution to the welfare of the city's animals. He lived in this house until his death in 1994.

The house has value for its architecture as well. It began as a single-storey, hipped-roof cottage, with an entrance porch beneath the eaves. The manner is typical of the many simple, inexpensive houses that were built during the early years of Kelowna's development. Over the years, additions were made and the attic floor opened up by dormers; the additions have acquired heritage character.