Historic Edmonton cabin from the 1950s was built with spruce logs from near Drayton Valley
The Northern Alberta Pioneers and Descendants Association Cabin on Scona Hill has deep roots in Alberta's homesteading history, assembled by a master log builder.
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A picturesque log cabin sitting near Scona Road in northwest Edmonton carries the fingerprints of Alberta's early settlement era and a renowned craftsman.
The Northern Alberta Pioneers and Descendants Association Cabin, at 9430 Scona Rd. NW, was completed in 1959 at a cost of $75,000. The organization that built it—originally formed as the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers' Association (NAPOTA) in 1894—had outgrown its previous home at the Exhibition Grounds by the early 1950s. The city offered a long-term lease on Scona Hill in 1956, and fundraising began almost immediately.
The cabin's construction showcases the work of Hobart A. Dowler, a master log and stone builder who has become legendary across Canada for his craftsmanship. Dowler homesteaded in the Edmonton area as early as 1900 and built between 80 and 100 structures from 1935 to 1960, each marked by his signature style: saddle-notch and saddle-notch log joints, split fieldstone foundations, and massive stone fireplaces using only igneous rock.
The spruce logs for this cabin came from a stand near the Pembina River in the vicinity of the bridge at Drayton Valley. They were transported to Dowler's property near Mission Beach on Pigeon Lake, where he laid out and numbered each log for final assembly. This meticulous preparation meant the building could be transported to Edmonton and reassembled in 1958, with excavation work donated by contractor Gordon McDonald.
Downler's legacy extends across Western Canada and national parks. He built cabins for the Central Alberta Pioneers, the Southern Alberta Pioneers Lodge, Rundle's Mission Camp, Camp Wohelo, Camp Maskeptoon, the Alpine Club of Canada, and structures at Glacier, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks.
Since its completion, the cabin has hosted members' meetings, annual teas, council gatherings, and social events. It has also been rented to community and corporate clients. In 1963, the city used the space for four weeks to administer polio immunizations.
The building's saddle-notched logs form a tight, weatherproof wall without chinking or plaster—a design that has kept it sound for nearly seven decades.
The facts
When was the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Descendants Association Cabin completed?
The cabin was completed in 1959.
Where is the cabin located?
The Northern Alberta Pioneers and Descendants Association Cabin is located at 9430 Scona Rd. NW in Edmonton.
Who built the cabin?
Hobart A. Dowler, a master log and stone builder, constructed the cabin using his signature saddle-notch joinery and fieldstone foundations.
Where did the spruce logs come from?
The spruce logs came from a stand near the Pembina River in the vicinity of the bridge at Drayton Valley.
