I have searched and searched for some sort of history on this home and have come up with nothing which is really disappointing.
The first recorded owner was a Mr, E. Dunning who aquired the property in 1897. History books for the area acknowledges Mr. Dunning at the owner but write that there is no history for him except to say that he was a bachelor.
You can understand why anyone photographing this home would want to know something about it. Nestled close to the Souris River, this had to be a beautiful home in its prime. Tucked away down a long treed lane you come across the home.
In 1923 Mr. Robinson was the owner of the land. Mr. Robinson also did not have any known history written either except to say that Mr. Robinson farmed with his brother and that they were from the Medora area. A search of that book also came up empty handed.
If I am every lucky enough to find something on this house, I’ll be sure to rewrite what I find out.
Thank you Forgotten Manitoba for taking me out to see this house and getting another one off my to shoot list.
Its been a while. And to make matters worse, I shot this house in 2023! I need to get it together.
That being said, let’s start with a house that I can’t tell you a whole lot about, mainly because the archives are sparse and the details are shrouded in mystery. The first family I could find any history about was the third owner of the land, who purchased the estate in the early 1900s.
Born in Northern Ireland in 1893, he spent his early years surrounded by the lush green hills and rich culture of his homeland. In 1912, seeking new opportunities, he moved to Canada, where he initially farmed for a local landowner, experiencing the challenges and rewards of rural life in a foreign land. However, in 1915, with a strong sense of duty and patriotism, he enlisted to serve in the war, joining the Field Ambulance Militia, where he played a crucial role in providing medical support to soldiers in France amidst the chaos of battle. After several grueling years of service, he returned to his home area in 1923, bringing with him not only memories of his experiences but also a renewed perspective on life. It was during his time overseas that he met Beatrice, whom he married soon after settling back in Canada, eager to start a new chapter together.
DK and Beatrice raised two daughters, both of whom were born in this home, and retired from farming in 1949, after many years of hard work and dedication to their land. The home was filled with laughter and love, as the family created cherished memories together, celebrating milestones such as birthdays and holidays in the warmth of their rural setting. Their daughters grew up immersed in the values of hard work, perseverance, and the importance of family, which were instilled in them by their parents through countless lessons learned on the farm. As their farming days came to an end, DK and Beatrice looked forward to new adventures in retirement, reflecting on a life well-lived while maintaining connections with their community and the land they had nurtured for so long.
On this day we had a little friend out with us. The neighbouring farm dog joined us on our walk out to the house. Honestly, given my fear of dogs, I was more concerned about the bull that was watching us from across the pasture! We survived.
CRUMBLING MEMORIES 