Yukon's historic places

Dateline: January 29, 2026.

Black Residence, Building No. 9

Located at Fifth Avenue and Turner Street, Dawson, Yukon

Formally Recognized: May 25, 1989

    The Black Residence, Building No. 9, is located in a residential area of Dawson city. This attractive, two-storey home is of wood-frame construction and has a steeply pitched, hip roof with indented hip dormers. Tall, slim windows with dark trim enhance the exterior. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

    The Black Residence, No. 9 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
    The Black Residence, Building No. 9, is associated with the development of the gold fields and in the establishment of Dawson City as the territorial capital as well as a supply, service, and distribution centre. The Black Residence, No. 9 is also of value for its role as a residence for individuals of national, regional and community importance. This list of individuals includes J. Langlois Bell (Assistant Gold Commissioner/ Barrister) ca.1900-1903, Thomas Dufferin "Duff" Pattullo (Assistant Gold Commissioner/ Broker/ Premier of British Columbia) ca. 1905-1906, Chester A. Thomas (Manager Yukon Gold Co.) 1908-1916, George T. Coffey (Manager, Yukon Gold Co.) ca. 1920-1924, George Black (Yukon Commissioner/ Member of Parliament/ Barrister) 1929-1948, Martha Munger Black (Amateur Botanist/ Author/ Member of Parliament) 1929-1948.

Architectural Value
    The Black Residence, Building No. 9, is of value for its good aesthetic design. It is characterized by its elegantly proportioned central building mass, with a steeply pitched hip roof and indented hip dormers. Also of good functional design, this wood frame house is soundly built. The selection and installation of grooved roofing, interior wood joinery, millwork, door hardware, sheet metal and wallpaper finishes are notable, and are evidence of the building's very good craftsmanship.

Environmental Value
    The Black Residence, Building No. 9, is compatible with its residential setting and is a neighbourhood landmark.

Sources:
    Joan Mattie, Twenty-two Dawson structures, Dawson, Yukon, Heritage Character Statement, 88-012;
    Black Residence, Dawson, Yukon, Heritage Character Statement, 88-012.

Character-Defining Elements

    The character-defining elements of the Black Residence, Building No. 9, should be respected; its good aesthetic design and functional design and very good materials and craftsmanship, for example;

• the elegantly proportioned central building mass, with its steeply pitched roof and indented hip dormers, to which is joined a number of dissimilar yet complementary masses with low pitched roofs;
• the solid wood frame construction;
• the surviving floor plans on both floors;
• the tall, vertical sliding 2/2 and 7/2 sash windows;
• the grooved roofing, interior wood joinery, millwork, and door hardware;
• the sheet metal lined room with seven different patterns of plate, which are preserved in the embossed ceiling.

    The manner in which the Black Residence, Building No. 9, is compatible with the character of its residential setting and is familiar in Dawson, as evidenced by:

• its wood frame construction, pitched roof and materials which harmonize with the surrounding buildings on the residential streetscape;
• its familiarity given its historical, high profile status as a residence for persons of national significance.

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View of the front (west) elevation of the Black Residence, 1987. Photo by Parks Canada.

The Black Residence, September 1999. Photo by Murray Lundberg.

Heritage plaque at the Black Residence, August 30, 2002. Photo by Murray Lundberg. The text reads:
"Black's Residence
Money talks. When Dawson City residents started spending real money for elegant homes around 1900, they were talking about their confidence in the city's future. This residence was one such upper middle class home built by the professional class. While its most well-known occupants were George and Martha Black during the 1930s, an earlier owner was real estate broker T. D. Pattullo. He later became Premier of British Columbia and attempted to annex the Yukon to that province."