The City of Mission recognized locations that preserved the region’s heritage at council on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
The city presented its annual Heritage Awards to three community locations in Mission’s downtown. The Hougen Block on 33120 and 33128 1st Ave., the Magenta Rose House on 33026 2nd Ave. and GoldenBall Mercantile on 33057 1st Ave. were recognized for the restoration of heritage buildings.
Mayor Paul Horn presented representatives with awards at council and outlined each building’s history and achievements.
“Restoring buildings to historic standard is an extra step of work and money that most sort of skip past,” Horn said. “What I love about all three of these spaces is that they’re not only commercially viable and heritage worthy, they’re commercially viable because they’ve leaned into their heritage value.”
The Hougen Block features several businesses — The Penny, Pressland, and Copper Hall — with the second storey containing five suites. The building was constructed in 1932 by Mission’s first dentist, Dr. Otto Hougen, and his business partner Ron Fisher.
Historical characteristics include an exposed brick interior, hardwood floors renewed with wooden barn planks, coffered ceilings, brick exterior and an unchanged upstairs layout.
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Meanwhile, the GoldenBall Mercantile building was purchased by its current owner in 2020. Its origins as a barber shop began when Sydney Wilson purchased the lot from J.W. Horne in 1921. The building was constructed in 1926 and Wilson and Bud Peterson operated a barbershop at the location from 1926 to 1946.
Peterson took over in 1946 and operated Bud’s Barbershop before it was purchased in 1948 purchased by Don Vadje who ran Don’s Barbershop until 1971. The building sold again in 1974 and became Style Rite Barbers.
The location changed faces several more times and became the Urban Mouse Store, then The Sweet Spot, then the Mission BBQ Garden Café.
The building retains the hand-laid penny tile flooring, green tile exterior and bowed stained glass window up top with vintage-looking laminate wood plank flooring in the gallery and back office. Lighting is vintage milk glass with pendant lamps from the 1950s era.
Finally, the Magenta Rose House , also known as the old Lane House, was built by Lane family in 1938. It was restored and renovated to showcase antiques and collectibles by its current owner.
Many of the original items and hardware are still in the building. The items include Grandma Lane’s curtains, door handles and a doorbell. The original built-ins have been retained and during renovation wood was salvaged and re-purposed for window trim and other projects. The back lot is filled with heirloom flowers and Grandma Lanes original swimming pool.
The Heritage Award program was established by the Mission Community Heritage Commission and awards are presented during Heritage Week each year.
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dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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