No words necessary ♥️🥰😍😘
LYON’S MANOR – CARBERRY, MANITOBA GEM
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.
ROAD TRIPPIN’
A couple weeks ago, in a storm, I spotted an old barn right off the side of the road that I hadn’t seen before. Not sure how I missed it as this is a well traveled route for us.
As you would expect, the building was full of “Keep Out” signs. The condition of this old building and the signs led to a discussion about abandoned farmsteads and trespassing. These photos were taken off the road and no one can stop you from doing that. But the topic of trespassing is grey, in my opinion. At the end of the day, don’t go on if you don’t have permission. And if you do go on and you do get hurt, that’s on you.
I would imagine that while this property was running, it was a nice spot with a nice little ravine behind the barn, granery and the house. And the wide open spaces. And oh so close to the highway.
LEFT WONDERING
I drove by this old farmstead what seems to be 100 times during hockey try outs but never had the time to stop. Just after Christmas we headed that way again for a weekend long tournament and thought this is my chance.
I didn’t call ahead to get permission to drive onto the property and sometimes road shots are far more intriguing. I also don’t have much of a history but I’ll work on that too.
I had a good chuckle when I got back into the Jeep after taking a couple photos. The coach from my son’s team had texted to see if we were okay. My son took care of the text by replying “all good, my Mom just had to pull over to take photos of that old house.”
My new favorite hastag, #ipulledoverforthis
SPECIAL CALL
Every once in a while, when speaking to a landowner, they will ask me if I would be willing to share with them some of the photos that I have taken of their property. I always do.
Just this last week I got a phone call from Mr. H calling to thank me for the prints that I sent him. He also welcomed me back anytime and told me that my photographs were “really, quite impressive.” Thank you very much, Mr. H.
I will certainly be heading back when the weather warms up. I want to capture the sunset through these trees.
BROKEN DOWN
I have to admit that the withdrawal I’m feeling right now is crazy. Even though it’s cold, I just want to drive down a dirt road and find something to take some photos of.
During the Christmas break I did just that. Well I almost drove by one of the most intriguing places I have ever seen. Lack of permission to enter and snow prevented me from seeking out more.
I did spot this old trailer on what I’m assuming was the old driveway to the property.
I’ll definitely be back for a better look.
1908
The first descendants of this family farm purchased this land in 1908. It has been in the family for 3 generations. The land had 3 previous owners and the first recorded land owner was recorded in 1901.
Mr. H’s parents married in 1942 and this home was built for their new family. They moved to the original family homestead in 1952. Mr. H doesn’t recall living in the home but advised me that he was told he moved when he was roughly 5. He has made every attempt to prevent the home from being damaged and vandalized.
The family has been very active in farming and Mr. told me that until a while ago he made use of the graineries on the property but said age and advances in technology made it hard to use and utilize the way he’d like to. Mr’s parents were the third generation to farm this land and were very successful. Over the years they witnessed vast changes in the farming industry. The land was first farmed with horses and threshing machines, they survived the depression and spent their lives keeping up-to-date with the changes in their industry. They farmed till they passed.
Mr. now lives in the original family homestead which was built in 1886. In the early 2000’s a two story barn built in the 1900’s was destroyed by fire. Mr. had hired a mason to repair the stone foundation but the fire was to much for the old building to withstand.
BEASTS
While out cruising the back roads with Makenna, looking for a house, we found some steaks.
This one reminded me of our kitten.
It was a very photogenic animal. Then this one wandered over and it reminded me of a bear.
This one moved around alot so please disregard the “blur” to this photo.
MANITOBA SUNSET
This evening for the first time in a long time I picked up my camera to take a picture of the sunset in my backyard. Initially I said to my husband, from our yard I could take a stunning sunset picture just about everyday.
So out I went only to discover there was no battery in the camera. Then I tried playing with the exposure and forgot how! It appears me, cold weather and photography don’t go together.
Anyways, I finally got it done. Not as crisp as I’d like but pretty good since I might be a little out of tune.
HILLSIDE MANOR
Remember this place that I made my family stop at when it was -47 or so out?
The family of John and Emma McFadyn was the first family to settle in what would become Parksbeg, Saskatchewan. John became the second station agent. He was born at Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island in 1852.
This house stands on the on the North hillside beside the East bound TransCanada Highway.
It was one of the first houses in the area to have central heating and complete indoor plumbing.
In 1941 the Lawson’s moved into this house on the hill.
WANTING MORE
I came upon this home driving around down the back roads one afternoon with the girls. I do recall that on this day we made many finds.
I headed home and started calling around for permission.
Mr. & Mrs. M were married in 1890 and came to the area and purchased this section of land. It remained in the family until 1996 when another family took over the land to farm it. A small section of land is still owned by descendants of this man.
Mr. & Mrs. M had 3 sons. One married and raised his own daughters on this land. He had been farming the land on his own since he was 17 years old when he father passed away. The youngest, Stafford went away and joined the RCMP but later came back to farm the land with his brother and mother.
One of S’s daughters stayed on the property and was the third generation to farm this land. It was her pride and joy.
I have to admit that I wasn’t happy with my photos of the house as there was a hydro line running right across the front of it. You can see from this photo though, where the photo of the family in the car was taken.
D’s passion was horses. Following in her mother’s footsteps she started raising purebred Tennessee Walking Horses. Evidence of this love was all around the home and this barn built in 1916. Horses were purchased from D and sent to Minnesota, Montana and all over Canada.
This is another one of those homes where they left but knew they were going to keep coming back. Everything is inside. You could move right back in, except age and time won over and the floor has given to the test of time.
There was no way to get upstairs for a look but I imagine that this home and property was stunning in its time. Except for the floor, the home stands tall. The curtain from this upstairs window kept blowing in and out, inviting you inside.
This property is truly a timeless treasure.
ELKHORN
On the Saturday morning on our way to Elkhorn for a hockey tournament the fog was so thick I didn’t even notice this house on the side of the road.
I had been waiting for this weekend for a long time as I was determined I was going to get photos of the Scallion House in Virden, once and for all. The fog had other plans for me.
So on Sunday afternoon heading to the rink for the championship game, I spotted this. I made a quick stop on the way home for a couple of road side shots.
LONG HISTORY
The third owner of this land immigrated to Canada in 1846. I do not know if it was on this particular quarter section of land for sure but the documentation I found says it was. The record of the landowner documentation does not indicate when the land was sold or purchased nor does the history of the family. I do know that Mr. died in 1940 at the age of 63 but his Mrs. spent 10 more years on the farm before moving to Brandon.
The fourth owner of this land came to Manitoba in 1881 and was a partner with a real estate agency in Brandon. He traded this piece of land for a piece of property he owned in Wawanesa and this became the beginning of the family farm.
The family was active in their community and established Min-Mar Siding.
Their oldest son enlisted in the World War II and upon his return lived her with his wife and two kids. He then assumed the position of Secretary-Treasurer with the Turtle Mountain School Division.
The current owner purchased this land in 1978 and is a successful cattle farmer. He started building his herd at the age of 15. He married in 1980 and lived at this farm until 1985 when the home was partially damaged due to fire.
The property was full of valleys. The summer was dry so I can’t tell you if a lot of water ran through this property but I do know that the land is used for storing hay and I’m sure the cattle roam the property too.
LITTLEST HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE PART 2
While Reg goes along with me to shoot houses, his true passion is the farm equipment and old vehicles. He knows that I go home and I start researching to find out the history of the home with the hopes that I can find some connection in the town history books and word of mouth and through what we are told from landowners when we ask for permission to enter upon their land and photograph their buildings.
I found out this week that this was in fact a house, a very small house. The family divided the rooms with cloth for privacy.
This small home was built in 1946 when Mr. R returned from the war. He lived in the home with his wife for many years.
And I was right when I assumed that the home had been moved off the wood pile we found to where it currently rests.
And while it appears that today might not be a good day for me to try to wrap around my head around pages of family history, I can say that there is some relation from this home and the home of the unmarried lady whom took the bus to school with the kids once in a while.
COUNTY DERBY, ONTARIO
This family purchased this land in 1903.
I cannot tell you when this house was built but I can tell you it was very large and spacious with large sliding doors which separated the dinning room from the sitting area at the front of the house.
On the one side of the house there was a stairway leading up with a large wood banister and railings.
The view from the top floor of the home was amazing. There is a large bathroom and 4 bedrooms with a big hallway and large linen closet. This is also where we found the door to 3rd story of the home where someone took it upon himself to get a look around from the roof!!! There was a large eat-in kitchen with a side door off of it and a stairway to the basement which is wasn’t brave enough to try.
KITTIES EVERYWHERE
We weren’t expecting to find a house but we did. And a whole lot of cats. We were lucky enough to meet the gentleman who owns the land and was very familiar with the old homes surrounding him.
His ancestors were born in England but immigrated to the area in the late 1800’s. He started working for a gentleman in the area and in 1899 bought this section of land and built a house and married his wife.
The area school was on the corner of the road leading to his property and history reports that the current teacher allowed the children in her class to watch Mr. drive by with the first car in the area.
In 1914 this home was built. He was a four bedroom home with electric lights and a power washer.
Mr. had a threshing outfit and threshed for many of his neighbours. Farming changed, horses were replaced by combines. That didn’t happen for this family on their sloughy land until 1929. The drought came.
The current land owner is the third generation to farm this land.
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.
The home is now in the middle of a pasture and on that day we were visited by a very vocal mare.
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.
We did find an old barn and a piece of old equipment which was really neat.
This was a neat old machine.
I really liked how the setting for your different grains was attached right to the machine for your easy reference.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The youngest son farmed the land until 1966 when they moved to a nearby town.
WELCOME BACK POTTER
Stay tuned for more on this beauty. Built in the early 1900’s in what was a small French settlement.
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.
CRUMBLING MEMORIES 