I have driven by this beautiful old home many times over the years but have never had my camera with me. Today I thought I’d better do this as there have been many rumors around the abandoned talk groups that this home is coming down.
I won’t try to mask this location as just about everyone knows what home this is. While there were no signs posted around the property stating “No Tresspassing”, I did not enter past any gate, service road, etc. My understanding is that the structure of the home is very unsafe.
What fascinates most of us is the details of this structure. The brick walls, magestic staircase and huge structure for it’s time. I have only ever seen photos of the inside and if you haven’t, google it. I can only imagine its grandeur in it’s day.
The original owner, Robert Fern Lyons was born in Leeds County, Ontario in July, 1856. He moved to Manitoba in 1879 where he established a general store on the plains. When Mr. Lyon’s came to Manitoba, the town of Carberry had been platted. At that time, Mr. Lyon’s and a partner purchased the first two lots sold in the business district and built a department store.
On the 20th of April 1888, Robert married Janet Josephine Hume of Winnipeg. They had four children. In 1888 Mr. Lyons sold his interest in the department store.
Mr. Lyon’s built this home around 1896 on a part of his 2700 acres of land he owned around the Carberry area. On 1600 acres he grew grain and raised high grade stock. This two-storey, red-brick veneer residence was occupied by the Lyon’s family until 1919.
He was also said to be a stockholder in the Lone Pine Gold Mining and Milling Company Limited and was Vice-President of the corporation. He also owned a grain elevator at Carberry. A Conservative, he was elected to the Manitoba Legislature as member for Norfolk in 1892, 1899, 1903, 1907 and 1910.
Farmer Thomas Switzer purchased the home in 1919 and lived there until 1927. Mr. Switzer’s son and daughter-in-law stayed there until 1952. The home was then owned by Stanley Paluch and Madeline Sokryka Krawec who lived there until 1964 when they moved to McCreary. At that time the home was sold to Harold Shirtliff.
CRUMBLING MEMORIES 