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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I loved this little old building tucked away in the trees.
And of course, this old cart.
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.
SHORT WALK TO SCHOOL
Mr. W was born in Cornwall, England in 1854. He came to Canada and settled in Ontario. He found love and married his missus. In 1881 they came to Manitoba and settled on this property. The first home built there was a log home and then in 1896 this home was built.
In 1883 a school was built on the SW corner of his property. It was moved in 1902, 2 miles North. Mr. W also owned the local Canadian Elevator in 1913 but it burnt down in 1917. It was valued at $7,000 but he did not carry insurance.
His youngest son A, born in 1896 loved having the school close to home and at 5 years of age he would go to the school at 3:00 p.m. and sit with the teachers until school was dismissed.
A married M in 1921 and lived on the farm. M raised 50 ducks, geese and chickens every year. She kept them in the coop during the day in incubators and at night time she moved them into the house until the warmer weather arrived. There was evidence of one or two buildings that could have been chicken coops.
The raised 3 children on this farm, too.
A & M’s only son, E born in 1938, started to farm with his Dad in 1953. He married W and they had two children of their own. They purchased the farm from E’s parents in 1966.
We found so many outbuildings and different machinery on this land. I especially loved this old wheel the the tree it was resting upon which claimed it.
E & W had one son whom still farms the land but lives nearby. It was K & H that granted me permission to photograph the property and have asked me for copies of the photos that I take for her Mother-in-law as a keepsake. I hope that the photos I have taken can do justice to the memories they must have of this farm.
1900 CENTURY FARM
The H family came to Manitoba in the Spring of 1890. The family settled in the area, his wife and 6 children. In 1900 one of his young sons married, during a double wedding ceremony, with his sister and both settled on different sections of this land. The siblings lived out their lives farming as neighbors on this section of land in the heart of Boissevain-Morton.
The son played a role in the organizing of the East Lynne School District in 1904. They belonged to the Ninga Methodist Church where Mrs. played the organ.
Water was always an issue on the farm. Water was hauled in barrels from another section of land.
In fact, one year on a hot July day Mr. had been working hard for days breaking sod and took a drink from the nearby slough. He ended up with typhoid fever and was bedridden for weeks. Luckily his sister-in-law was a newly trained as a nurse and nursed him back to health.
In 1938 the government paid for a 120 foot long by 60 feet wide and 14 feet deep well. The farm never saw a dry day after that.
They were kind and generous people who in 1931 adopted a six year old boy. The boy was only to stay with them for a couple days. He became an integral part of their family. He joined the World War II and returned home in 1945. He unlike his siblings moved to the Virden area while the rest stayed in the area.
Mr. suffered a major heart attack in 1941 and was not able to work again. He passed away in 1952. Mrs. passed away in 1968 at 91 years of age.
Two of his children then took over the farm until 1971 when they passed on the farm to their Grandson.
FORD GALAXIE
On an exploration trip we found this car. I was actually here to see the old barn but when I seen this I knew I had to get permission to photograph this.
After weeks of phone calls we were granted permission to take some photos.
This car was, one of those cars.
There were good shots of it from every angle.
I would have loved to light this car up at night.
12 YEARS OLD
The original owner of this land, born in 1846, left his large, poor, religious family in Lac Megantic, Quebec at the age of 12 years old with only .90 in his pocket and the clothes on his back. He had intentions of making big money. He took on whatever jobs he could find and for many years was part of a railway construction gang as a cook in Winnipeg.
In 1881 himself and another landowner, whose old property we have visited, headed to the land titles office in Winnipeg to purchase land in the R.M. of Prairie Lakes. They reached their farms over 100 years ago with a team of horses, a plow to break land and food supplies. Working as a cook gave him a good idea of what food supplies would best suit them. They stocked up on cured salted pork, flour, sugar, coffee and tea.
On his 30th year he arrived at his property. He started breaking land by hand and built a small house. It was hard work but he was able to break land. He also purchased a sow that had 12 little pigs. He sold the extra meat for money. He also purchased a cow and calf for milk and meat and 6 laying chickens.
He never married and when he got older and the work got to be to much he asked his brother to help him.
In 1887 a minister arrived in the area and had the idea to build a small chapel on the land. The downstairs served as the living quarters, the upstairs as a chapel and a small corner on the main level served as the post office. Eventually the church was moved to Dunrae, MB. They also started building a blacksmith shop and a general store. The building of the new railway through Dunrae stopped construction and the small church was moved. The first St. Felix Cemetery remained on the property.
He died in 1915 at the age of 69.
The property shows no signs of this history any longer, except the St. Felix Cemetery in the middle of the 1/4 section.
This is the present home on the land.
On the property was this neat little play house. You could see in the distance that someone has used it as target practice. That day I wasn’t brave enough to venture through the long grass for a closer look.
There were a couple of old buildings on the land which maybe could have been part of the original land owners.
Maybe one of these old buildings were built all those years ago.
LITTLEST HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, SO FAR
This is by far the smallest house I have been in yet. In fact, it is so small that the dozen of times that I have driven by it I was sure it was just an old shed.
Tucked away in a pasture, you don’t really see much except a very small roof. The view once you get to the house is spectacular. My pictures don’t do it justice.
There wasn’t a whole lot to see here, the remnants of some old equipment and a gas tank. I was sure that the house was moved off its foundation and likely served as some sort of shelter. Regardless we were able to enter it, the roof was pretty much intact but there were no windows or doors.
It was very small and there was no floor, it was right on the bare ground. The tires on the frame of the care were still completely intact.
Heading off the property we came across this pile of wood, wires and scrap. I was then convinced that the house had in fact been moved.
BUTTRUM PART 2
A couple weekends ago I finally got myself inside this school. I don’t know what it is that keeps me going back. One thing for sure is that the sky always looks fabulous in the background. It never disappoints.
Once inside I tried to envision the very first Christmas concert with family & friends peering through the windows to get a better look.
And of course what is an abandoned exploration without me finding a shoe!
Such a neat old place with so many of the old settlers having played some sort of role as trustee, contributor or student. Love that its still here to be a part of history.
EATON’S CATALOGUE ORDER?
I have been waiting all summer to get into this house. I found it online on an abandoned home site and was lucky enough to be told its location by a local lady in town who lived there as a young bride. I then discovered that Reg knows the family and he was able to get us permission to enter the home and photograph it.
Set up high overlooking their land, this home still is as stunning as I imagine it was in its time.
I won’t post a lot of photos of the home at the request of the land owner but I can give you little bit of history about it.
The original homesteader came from Owen Sound, Ontario. His family originated in England and were mainly bankers. Mr. R choose sea life. Becoming bored with his profession he immigrated to Canada in 1868 where he married his wife J. Their first born son was born in Portage la Prairie, MB and at 6 weeks old they traveled to the area and settled into this homestead.
I am told that the home was purchased through the Eaton’s Company. You can find a list of the home plans here.
From comparing photos I took inside and outside of the home I would say that this would be the original listing of the home for purchase through Eaton’s.
There were many mail order home companies back in the early 1900’s but the most famous was the T. Eaton Co. Ltd. The business was centered at its Winnipeg branch. Eaton houses were made for Western Canada and most of the houses are found on farms.
They had dozens of different models but the most popular was the Earlsfield — a 1-½ storey house with a double gambrel roof. The barn-like roof made for very efficient use of lumber to provide a lot of living space.
The materials cost for the Earlsfield in Fall and Winter 1917-18 was listed at $1,193 (that’s $16,482 in 2015 dollars). Inflation was rampant in the teens so they quit posting prices in 1919. Lumber was shipped by rail from mills in BC and millwork from Winnipeg.
Also on the property is what is left a an old stone barn.
This was certainly worth the wait. Of course I took way more pictures but you can only post so many.
ST. FELIX CEMETERY
This one had me stumped. Until today. So now I will edit it.
This land was owned by a bachelor who left home at 12 years old for bigger and better things. He was determined he was going to make it big. He left his large, poor family with .90 in his pocket. He worked his butt off to make ends meet and eventually bought this 1/4 section of land which he broke by hand. He raised animals and worked hard and eventually built himself a log home.
When he started to get older and the work became to much he asked his brother for help. Eventually a local minister and a small chapel was built on the land. Living quarters on the main level with a small post office in the corner and a chapel upstairs. A general store and blacksmith shop were in the works and when the railway was built the decision was made to move the chapel to Dunrae.
This small cemetery is located in the middle of a farmer’s 1/4 section, marked off by poles which holds approximately 30 graves, most of them unmarked and some of them with bare wood crosses.
I am told that this particular cemetery was marked by the local Knights of Columbus group.
A small town site was in the works for this property but the building of the railway changed all this. That is why there are two cemetery’s in the area.
This cemetery is also in a farmer’s field but its not smack dab in the middle of one and its closer to a church.
The headstones at first St. Felix Cemetery were not easy to get to. There were not as many markers there as there were names on the plaque and there were many deep holes in the uncut grass where the stones were. We were able to get closer to a couple of them.
The grass was really high which made it hard to see the stones that were lower to the ground unless you could get closer to them and move some of the tall grass away.
Some of them were the traditional stone and there were a couple made of iron.
Others were just wood crosses that may have been marked with a name but has weathered over time.
Some of these graves have been here before the 1900’s.
NEELIN UNITED CHURCH
As any church in a small community, Neelin United Church played a large role in both the religious and social life of the area.
In 1923 families from the district were holding church services in a nearby school and a Ladies Aid Group was formed to fund raise having Fall suppers, bazaars and lunches. By 1936 the ladies raised $1,000 to build a new church. The land was donated by Mr. W. Henwood.
The building was erected by volunteers and had a full basement. Local carpenter Mr. Atterbury supervised the building operation.
The church opened on July 26, 1936.
Due to declining congregation services ceased after 42 years in December, 1978.
BUTTRUM SCHOOL
This school in the RM of Prairie Lakes opened its doors in 1982 and closed permanently in June of 1972.
This is what the building looks like now in 2018.
The school is nestled on a little hill in the middle of a farmer’s field. If your looking far and wide and in the right area, you will see it.
Miss A.L. MacLachlan was the first teacher at this school was paid $35.00 a month for her term position. She was given 5 months training to become a teacher.
History surrounding the story of this school tells that the schools first concert was a huge success and in fact, so many people attended the concert that there was no room inside the building and parents and town people watched the concert through the windows from their horse carriages up against the side of the building.
Due to a drop in students registered at the school, the school closed for a period of time from Fall of 1939 to 1943.
The school held district social events, dances, card parties and concerts.
Unfortunately we were denied permission to enter this property so road shots it is. I’m sure I’ll be back as the backdrop is spectacular.
SAND & GRAVEL
I am told that this old home, built of concrete and standing up to the elements was built with local sand & gravel, then mixed to make concrete and poured by hand. Here is a photo of the house taken in 1882.
This huge home, I am told, was the home of a large family whom had their help live inside with them. The family came from Ontario and Mr. moved to this property in February, 1882 and started to build the home. In August of that year Mrs. and 3 of their children joined him. The boys took over the farm after their parents died in 1920 and 1926. The farm was then sold to another family that still remains in the area.
The inside tells a very different story of its ability to hold its own against the harsh elements of the prairies. The roof is gone, the walls are coming down and the floor doesn’t exist in some places. Really, anything that is wood is gone. There was no evidence of the once wrap around porch.
The best picture I could get of the home was from the back. The one side is almost completely treed in, so much so that the trees are growing through the windows. The front was no different.
There were a lot of outbuildings and spectacular prairie views where ever you looked. On this particular day a storm was brewing in the area and off in the distance, Reg and I could hear the thunder. It was hot too!
I wish I had found this yard years ago. I wonder if there would have been more there than what is now.
Most abandoned seekers will tell you about there dislike for caragana’s. They will literally take over and provide a shield around an old abandoned home.
FIELD STONE BEAUTY
Over the years, a couple of families have resided on this property but I cannot confirm from the history books who built this home. I did manage to find this photograph that was taken in 1892.
This is what the home looks like now. I can’t tell you enough how much I hate hydro poles!
With the exception of one wall, this house is strong and stable. I admired it from the outside for quite some time. I can tell you that the inside of the home did not disappoint either.
The details inside the home showed the pride the owners had in this home with fine little detailing on the cupboards and in the bathroom. It was lived in for quite some time.
I can only assume from my research that the family that once owned this land immigrated to Canada in the later 1800’s and remained in the area for some time. Many of their ancestors are buried in the local cemetery. They were very involved in their community and were very successful in their farming endeavors. Some of the family endured tremendous loss, losing two sons at very young ages and a wife who became a widow very young as well. The endured and her sons took over her farm and she lived some time.
I wish I knew more.
OLD MODEL T
One morning Reg was given permission to enter this property and because neither one of us had anything planned, we went.
The family originally came from Gloucester County, England in 1901 and farmed on different land in the same RM.
In the winter of 1909 the one time land owner and his love traveled to Belfast, returning to Canada in the Spring, married. They had 4 children, the oldest which passed away at the age of nine.
In 1919 Mr. bought a Model T car. When I came home and read this, I was thrilled to find this connection.
We found many treasures out and about on the property.
It appears that this at one time was the homestead at one point and then was later converted to a barn of some sort. To the left of the house was a concrete foundation with no house which I am assuming was moved to another location.
I found this old cart which I absolutely loved and took many, many photos of. I can envision same in my flower bed in my back yard.
We also found two wells on this property. One between the two houses which didn’t appear to be very deep and was set up higher. In the “Dry Thirties” this family sought out land that had water and eventually rented land in another location because of the good water supply there as they had been hauling it from another location.
The two brothers farmed together until 1942 when the youngest joined the R.C.A.F returning to farm in 1946. At that time, through the Veteran’s Land Act, he purchased this property. His brother had land nearby and they worked together, again. The boys mother lived with them until 1955 when she passed at the age of 73.
The land owner was a trustee for the RM, was the council representative for the local library and attended meetings for library meeting at the request of the Provincial Librarian. He was also on the Executive for our local Royal Canadian Legion Branch.
NICHOLSON HOMESTEAD
I don’t know much more about this land except that it was farmed by two bachelors and is now rented out to another local farmer.
I love this photograph for its simplicity, I think.
ALL IN THE FAMILY PART 2
As per my previous visit, this homestead is also part of the same family, except they were brothers and ventured off in the same countryside farming different sections of land.
In 1899 the parents of this family came to Manitoba to farm this particular section of land. Their son followed in 1892 by railway cattle car, caring for the stock he was bringing with him.
The stunning home was built in 1901 with the help of his brothers using “native stone”. They used a kiln which was erected on the property.
He married in 1902 and him and his wife raised 5 children in this home.
The property still has much of the old farming equipment there, some of it in excellent condition and well cared for over the years.
The yard and home are immaculately kept as the family still farms the land and spends much time here. In fact, many of them were there the day we came, farming. It was nice to hear the stories and get the history.
I enjoyed my visit to this farm and thanked the current owner who granted us permission the night before for his time and his history lesson.
ALL IN THE FAMILY PART 1
I found this house a while back while cruising the back roads with my family. I stopped for a side of the shot and the intentions to get home and find the land owner.
This farm has been in the family for many, many years. This family originated in 1824 after an 11 week voyage from Scotland. In 1890 they decided to head to Manitoba.
A family of five was raised in this home and they farmed this quarter section and a half section across the road. The only son of this family still owns and farms this land.
The home is starting to show its age and had significant damage in the kitchen area from the top floor. There was also a soft spot in the kitchen which we avoided on the way out.
Here is the view out of one of their living room windows. It was very smoky the day Reg and I went out shooting so a lot of our pictures that day weren’t optimal.
Each room had a different wallpaper. Leading up the stairs the wood was lined with newspaper which I am assuming was used as insulation. Reg made his way upstairs which was not the most stable second floor that we have entered. He ventured up alone but knowing Reg he got some amazing photos out of those upstairs windows.
Many of the homes we’ve entered in the last month have had shoes inside. Some have also still had the old rotary telephone. For some reason I love this.
I really enjoyed this home. It is a popular spot for other abandoned seekers in the area who do a lot of night shooting. I knew they were there by the little battery operated lights scattered throughout the main floor of the house.
On our way out of this house I had a squishy step. I stepped back to see that I had stepped on a 2×4, although thinking back I don’t think it was that wide, which was suspended over a hole. Reg ventured over to see what the hole was about but didn’t offer me much feedback. What I don’t know can’t hurt me right? Regardless, I was skitish for the rest of the day.
RICHVIEW SCHOOL
This school is on private property and permission was granted for us to enter.
The school opened in 1887 and operated until January, 1968.
Richview School is the only original school built and still standing in the area. When school started it was agreed upon that classes would run in the Fall, Spring and Summer as the winters were to cold and the school would need to be heated. It was later agreed upon that the older children were needed at home during the summer and they decided to run school through winter. The first student to arrive at the school in the AM was paid to light a fire. The student was paid $0.05 per morning.
In 1939 this addition was made to the school to make more room for social activities.
In 1941 hydro was installed and in 1949 the basement was enlarged to hold a coal furnace. In 1951 the Insul-Brick was added to help insulate the school.
The school bell was donated to the local museum and other items were donated to the new school including the fire extinguisher, text books, radio and a chemistry set.
BROWN LEA SCHOOL
The Brown Lea School District was established in August 1886 and the first classes were held in 1887. The original building was replaced by a wood frame structure built in 1902 by contractor A. King. The school closed in January 1967 but a vacant building remains on private property.
Over the years there were 59 teachers and 220 pupils that attended the school.
Teachers at the school were paid an average of $35.00 per month.
The land for the school was purchased $5.00 and the school cost approximately $400 to build.
This second school house was built in 1902.
CRUMBLING MEMORIES 