Author: Sandy Phillips

Southwest Manitoba girl who loves photographing abandoned homes and timeless treasures. I've always loved photography but have never had the time to really explore what's tucked away down those old country roads in the trees. Now I can't get enough. I also enjoy wildlife photography but shy away from it. And people, I would love to take photographs of people but I don't feel I would ever be able to catch their true beauty, I still have a lot to learn.
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ONE HORSE TOWN

My dear husband and son found this place for me a couple weeks ago on their way fishing.  After a quick phone call I was granted permission to have a look and received an invite to check out another place when I had time.

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The home is now in the middle of a pasture and on that day we were visited by a very vocal mare.

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Behind the home was a large body of water that was likely a source of water for cattle and now, the mare.  I was told by the current land owner that his friend lived her and was actually knocked into this water by his bull, knocked out cold and drowned.

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We did find an old barn and a piece of old equipment which was really neat.

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This was a neat old machine.

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I really liked how the setting for your different grains was attached right to the machine for your easy reference.

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I have done some searching on this family and the property but have come up empty handed.  I won’t stop though and if I do find more info, I will be sure to add it.

 

 

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HAUTE

I was lucky enough to be told the location of this home from a fellow abandon seeker in the area whom I believe’s great grandmother or grandmother once lived in the home.

The original owner of this land came to Manitoba in 1885 from Quebec.  He married in 1894 and then bought this land.  The first buildings on the land were a low frame house a log barn and a shop.  The two latter were sod covered.

In 1918 Mr. decided it was time for a new house and planned for a two and a half storey home that was 25 by 32 feet.  The materials were purchased from G.B. Robinson, a lumber dealer in Elgin, Manitoba.  Recorded total cost for the materials and labor to build the home was $4,448.53.

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Mr was an avid goose hunter and I would imagine the hunting was very good off the Whitewater Lake.  It is said that many loads of geese were shipped to Winnipeg via rail and served as a delicacy in posh hotels.

Mr. & Mrs. had five children.

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The home was a stop over for men hauling wood from the Turtle Mountains across the Whitewater Lake who would warm up and have refreshments before carrying on to the Elgin District.

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The youngest son farmed the land until 1966 when they moved to a nearby town.

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EVERYTHING CHANGES

So since hockey has started I have had limited time to take photos and go on house hunting excursions. I’m going through withdrawal.

So I scan while I walk the dog for things to take photos of, I’m desperate.

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RIVERSIDE SCHOOL

Remember the little boy that rushed to the school to sit with the teachers until dismissal?  Well this is the school.

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Built in 1883 on the SW corner of his parents property for $843.00.  They collected a further $10.00 for benches as well as a heating stove for $9.00, 22 lengths of pipe for $0.18 cents each, a broom for $0.35, a box of chalk for $0.30 and desks for $8.50 each.

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Church services were held in the church starting in 1884 until 1915.

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As the nearby village grew, it was decided that the Riverside School should be moved to its current location in 1902.  In 1904 a storm prevented the children from getting home that evening and they were stormed stayed until noon the following day.

Changes to the school happened over time and in the summer of 1912 metallic shingles were put on the roof.  The inside walls were changed from tin to wallboard and wainscoting in 1936.  In 1951 electricity was installed.  An oil burning furnace was added in 1953.

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The last teacher employed was Aggie Jean Martin in 1956 where she was paid approximately $215 per month.  The school, like many other small, one room schools in small communities were the centre of activity where they would hold dances, card parties or box socials.  The school closed in 1956.

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LONG RIVER

I know I’ve mentioned the Long River many times before, for many reasons.  First off, it runs along behind my house and it runs through many farm yards through this Municipality.

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Well with the lack of rain this summer it got very low and began to stink, bad.  Then we got rain and snow and so it began to turn green.  So green that it reminds me of a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s.  Its disgusting.  I stood out on the highway and played with my settings to try and capture the actual color of the water.  I gave up and maybe I’ll go back because it really is a sight to see.

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The Long River flows right into Killarney Lake!  Yuck.

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OUT and ABOUT

This Spring when my mission to find and shoot as many abandoned properties around me began I traveled to and from work searching for barns and rooftops.  Here is one I spotted from the highway on my way to work.

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BISCUITS & BASEBALL

On the way to a property Reg asked me to take a turn to “check something out”.  Off we went down a muddy, not maintained, gravel, not lets call it mud, road to a barn we could see in the distance.  I’m sure I’ve seen this before but when I didn’t see a house, I didn’t make note of the property.  Its a good thing we had the Jeep cause it was muddy. Well all the mud was worth this stop.

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The house was gone and all that was left was the stone foundation, the fridge, freezer, a couple pieces of furniture and many, many knick-knacks.  I found several kettles that day.

In a metal/glass pile away from the house I even found what was left of an old gravy boat.  I found it fitting, considering it was Thanksgiving weekend.

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Mr. D. C’s father was born in Perthshire, Scotland in 1856.  They moved to Ontario in 1876.  D was born in 1877 and helped his father farm the original homestead purchased upon their arrival in Manitoba.    In 1926 he married E and they lived on his father’s land for 4 years.  Then in 1930 he purchased this particular piece of land and started building the barn and the other buildings.  D was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge.  He was interested in the education of his children and served as a school trustee for the nearby school district.

A, D & E’s youngest son remained on his father’s farm after his retirement.  He had helped his father farm the land his entire life, even while going to school.  As a youngster is played with the local fastball team as well as the local Linament League.

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One of the neatest things about all the exploring I’ve been able to do is when I get home and look over my pictures and then start researching the family only to find that I actually have a photograph that helps solidify the facts that I am reading and researching, like these baseballs.

There were many outbuildings on the property and some old equipment.  And just my luck, an old wooden door knob – I love old door knobs and latches.

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I loved this little old building tucked away in the trees.

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And of course, this old cart.

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A was the second generation to farm this land.  I am told that this original home that stood on that old stone foundation was moved to town when Mrs. left the farm and was put up near our town school.

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THE LONG HAUL

I am told that this home was hauled 40 km to its resting place by a 40 horse team wherein 3 ravines had to be crossed.  While I did not get this confirmed in writing, I will say that the information comes from a reliable source and a fellow abandoned home seeker in the area.

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The home has been designated a heritage site by the RM that it is in and is now home to several bee hives.

The family of this homesteader originated from Ireland and settled in Ontario.  The homesteader, Mr. B was born in 1899 on a nearby farm.  He was the eldest of 11 children.  He was the first baby baptist in the nearby church.  At a young age he left school to help his sickly father farm and his sisters fondly remember him taking care of them and ensuring they had skates and knew how to skate, took them to dances and traveled back and forth with them to and from their boarding schools to ensure they came home on the weekends.

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In 1918 he tried to enlist in the Army, under-aged.  His mother sent his birth certificate to headquarters before he could be sent overseas.  He trained as a barber for the military.

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In 1942 after farming with his father, working in Alberta and farming with his new wife’s brothers he purchased the land that this home stands on.  At the same time he purchased his very first shorthorn heifer and this began a long career of breeding and showing them.  He was described as a good herdsman who loved his animals.  He was a hard working man who did many things to earn money.

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Mr. & Mrs. B also had sheep, chicken’s, turkey’s, ducks and geese. They also had a bountiful garden and many berry bushes which they sold to others.  They were active in their community.

They were well loved in their community and fondly remembered by their children.

I have passed this home many times over the years and appreciate it a whole lot more given the knowledge of its history.

I was also told that the home was vandalized, virtually over night, many years ago, leaving a large hole on the exterior.  What a shame that someone would/could do this to something that 1. doesn’t belong to them and 2. that holds many memories to many.

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STANLEY & STELLA

 The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg is the home of Stanley & Stella, two Stellar’s Sea Eagles.   A large bird of prey originally described in 1811.  A large eagle with dark brown plumage & white wings which feasts mainly on fish and water birds. It is on average the heaviest eagle on earth weighing in at 11 to 20 lbs.

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GERBERA’S

This Spring I received the cutest little arrangement of flowers from a friend.  I wasn’t expecting them and was pleasantly surprised at her kindness.

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I wanted to remember them for years to come and took them outside for a photo shoot.

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Thank you VK for the beautiful flowers.

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PAYING RESPECTS

I found another grave site of a family whose home we photographed over the summer. In this home was a couple of old photos? Him? Son? Grandchild?

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LONG RIVER

The Long River runs out behind my house and into Killarney Lake. The Long River runs through many of the rural properties in the RM. I swear it’s one of the wind-est rivers ever.

It is always home to plenty of ducks, geese, herons and of course rodents.

This summer the boys tried to fish for carp in it and with the draught we experienced it was shallow. A couple weeks ago while walking Bauer it stunk something horrid. Now we are getting tons of rain.

Well now it’s a beautiful shade of green/blue!!