Nothing catches your eye in the wide open prairie like a little red barn, like this one. This one wasn’t so little but fascinating nonetheless.
NICHOLSON FARM
I don’t know much about this property either. I am told this land was farmed by two bachelor’s. There is no longer a house, just these couple of bins and sheds and in behind a piece of equipment. The land is rented and farmed by another family from the area. These photos were taken from the road and when I posted this shot on my Instagram account the current renter seen the photo and advised me that once the crop was off the field we could go in and have a look around.
I love the simplicity of this photo.
TUCKED AWAY
One of the girls from my work showed me this property so I arranged for permission to take photos and have a further look around.
The land owner thanked me for asking to enter the premises and advised me that we were free to take as many photos as we wanted, we were not allowed inside the house.
He told me that a few years back, the family of the original descendant came from B.C. to see the house as one of them was born there. The family immigrated to Canada in 1926 and moved into the area in 1928. They were born in Russia and lived in Siberia for a period of time as well before coming to the area where they settled down and farmed and raised their family.
You can see from this photo that shows the side of the home that the roof is still relatively intact but the weight is starting to weigh on the walls of the home and it has some funky leans and curves.
The inside of the home is starting to heave inwards and while there is a big staircase up the side of the home that is intact, the floor is not.
Unfortunately the home has been used as a hang out and the kids have graffittied the wall, etc. There is still various pieces of furniture inside and the rooms were painted different colors. I like to assume that like kids these days, they picked the colors they wanted but Reg assured me it was likely that color of paint that was one sale at the time!
TWO VULTURES IN ONE DAY?
Our next stop of the day was another find I discovered. Another one I had been driving by on a regular basis and didn’t even realize was there.
We pull up and what flies out of the window? A turkey vulture. It sat on the barn for a couple minutes and then flew around screaming at us for a few more. When it realized we weren’t leaving anytime soon it disappeared. We did not find any snow white babies in this house.
When I first posted about this home I was not sure about the history. I can now tell you that the first recorded landowner purchased this land from the CPR in 1896. They arrived from LaBeauce, Quebec to the treeless prairies vast with inexpensive land. The father died and is buried in St. Felix Cemetery in 1908. He and his wife raised 6 daughters and two sons, most of which moved away from the Province and two daughters whom stayed and lived in Dunrea. The original home on the property was sold in 1912 and became a convent.
The first ancestor of this family to arrive in North America settled in Quebec in the early 1650’s.
I also do know that a friend of ours has lived in this house at two different times in his life, once as a young adult. He did tell me about some of the things he did in the home which were still visible and he asked if a particular item was still in the kitchen, which is was. My understanding is that the last residence of the home were farm hands of the current land over.
This property was then owned by another big family from Dunrae. I am not able to get an idea of when this house was built or by whom.
This house is SO treed over it is crazy. We walked around the entire home and when we found the door we have to crawl over a tree to get inside. You could not take photos of the front of the house. Nature has worked very hard to take this place over again and has almost succeeded.
The home still had beds inside, a dish towel hanging on the cupboard door, a hat on a hook in the closet. There was a shower curtain still hanging in the bathroom and pictures on the wall in the living room.
The home was beautifully designed. It had a large kitchen with what appeared to be some sort of cooking area in the front. It has fallen apart and we couldn’t access it but from the upstairs looking down you could see cupboards and a sink. There were 2 bedrooms downstairs and then you went up this staircase to this open area. Upstairs were two bedrooms and then this little room with a low ceiling to the back of the house which was likely used as storage. Can you imagine the view out that window?
There were a couple of outbuildings and a large barn which I will assume was for dairy cows as well as other outbuildings and sheds.
IS IT A HAWK OR A VULTURE?
Anything I tell you about this house is hearsay. What I can tell you is that this was worth the wait. I have passed this house a thousand times and one day I finally made the necessary arrangements to get inside.
My understanding is that a large family by the name of Gutrie lived in this tiny little home. Jill and Reg recall going to school with a tall, quiet boy that lived in this house.
I think Reg and Colton thought that this stop was going to be short-lived and dull and the two of them reluctantly stopped for my benefit. I can safely say that this would surely be in the top 5 of houses we have shot.
This is where I also developed my fear of open wells and long grass! I think what is scariest for me is the fact that Colton was with us and wandered through the area before me. I can not stress enough to be careful. Reg says to me after we discovered it, “I guess we should carry a rope with us too!”
This truly was a diamond in the rough. The home is tiny and didn’t appear to have any indoor plumbing. The doorways were very low, the home consisted of two rooms on the lower level, an awkward staircase ran up the one side of the house right along the window to an area that appeared to be a large open space which I am assuming was more like a sleeping loft. There were remnants of a smoke stack in the ceiling which would have heated the small home.
Of course Colton and Reg ventured up to the loft and discovered a small white bird and a “dead” mother bird in the corner of the house. Of course, animal lover that I am advised them to gather up the babies. Reg found a stick and turned the mother over to discover a few more snow white babies under her except the “dead” mother bird rolled herself back over the babies to protect them. She was playing possum. At first the thought was that this was a family of hawks. The boys came down so that they wouldn’t disturb her anymore but I had to go up and get a photo of this up close. I have seen birds sitting on top of this house on many occasions when I have driven past it so no one was surprised to find one in there. When I popped my head up to floor level and got a look at her she had switched her game from playing dead to regurgitating which we later discovered are two of the common defense mechanisms of a turkey vulture. This was no hawk.
Not a great photo of her but I didn’t want to disturb her anymore than we already had. You can see her snow white baby with her.
At the entrance of this home, just inside the doorway was a small stove which I am assuming the family used for cooking. Maybe at one point this was the stove that was in the center of the home and heated it as well.
The yard had what I am assuming was a small granary, a concrete pad which was likely some sort of garage and a building that had collapsed, just the roof was visible.
A few weeks later on my way to Brandon, Momma vulture was sitting on the house when I drove by. She didn’t stay long and wasn’t thrilled about me and my camera again but I did happen to get a couple shots of her.
4 GENERATIONS OF FARMING
Our day started out at the old homestead of one of Reg’s friends. The family still farm’s in the area but no longer reside in this home. The ancestors of this family are from Scotland and have farmed this land for 4 generations.
I absolutely love their driveway.
I also found the most interesting gate on their property.
This place was also full of something I truly enjoyed, old ornate door knobs. Lots of them.
HARRISON MILL
In 1897, the Harrison’s built a flour mill to process grain into flour for local farmers. A year after opening, they added a large stone warehouse. The mill was operated by three generations of the Harrison family.
Originally powered by steam, the mill was converted to diesel engines in the 1930’s and then electrical current in 1947. An associated workshop enabled the Harrison’s to make repairs on site. As well, they did mechanical work for others until dismantling the shop in 1955.
In the 1940’s the family purchased a lumber business and built a new lumber yard adjacent to the mill in 1962. They phased out the lumber business in 1972 but continued to mill grain until the late 1990’s.
The two grain elevators were built in 1928 by Federal Grain Limited. They were moved to this location late 1940s.
The facility is believed to be the oldest mill in Western Canada.
Information obtained through the Manitoba Historical Society.
FORGOTTEN
In the search for a car in the tall grass of a farmer’s field, we came upon a sign, off in the distance, unreadable to the naked eye. Further investigation, deeper into the bush and through waist high grass, led us to a private cemetery on private property. We were able to find one marker.
After inquiry at the local town office we discovered that this private cemetery was the final resting place of 14 individuals ranging in age. The oldest recorded death was 1890. This is the final resting place of the elderly and unfortunately, the young too. Deaths were recorded as appendicitis to drowning. Except for one, markers were hard to find. So sad.
SAWATZKY HOMESTEAD
I’ve have visited this location a couple of times now. The first time was hard as it is Reg’s old home and after his family moved away it was the victim of terrible vandalism. I can’t imagine going back to my childhood home and seeing it in such disrepair. So, the first time I was there I did not go inside. I explored the property with Reg and heard about all the things he built and did as a young man with his Dad, his brother, his dog. I know which trees he planted as a boy and the tree he calls Grandpa’s willow. I enjoyed the view of the Long River through the property, winding and weaving and winding and weaving again. The rock road they made across the river at a shallow, narrow point where they could drive their vehicles across. That him and his new bride made this home their home for a period of time before they moved away to B.C.
Reg’s grandparents immigrated from Russia in 1926 and began farming in the Holmfield area. Reg and I have something in common, we are both first generation Canadians.
The second time we went, my family joined us and we explored more of the back country and we just walked and talked. Again, I explored outside before finally deciding to go in.
There are a lot of neat little places and finds all over this property and you could literally spend days here exploring. We walked through pasture and along the river, we found beaver dams, lady slippers, driftwood. Reg pointed out the fence posts he recalls pounding in as a boy. And he showed us the rock where he buried his dog. The property is holds a dear place in his heart and he speaks with such pride of what it was when he was a boy/young man.
This is also where I have taken some of my favorite still shots of barbwire, old posts, hammered in nails in a granary. And I now know how he lost the tip of one of his fingers in an auger accident.
When I think about my visits to the Sawatzky Homestead I think of all those things and the photo Reg took of my husband and my daughter crossing the Long River. What a Dad wouldn’t do for his child. Makenna slung over Cade’s shoulder carrying her through the water and rocks while holding her “dragon horn” she found on our walk.
Or the photo of my on the old jalopy car he had as a toddler. He dug it out of a scrap pile and tried to sit inside it realizing the only way to ride it now was on top of it.
Great memories for all.
MENAREY HOUSE
In 1888, John Menarey (1850-1928) moved to Manitoba from Seaforth, Ontario. Arriving with his wife and four daughters, they settled on a farm near Holmfield, Manitoba. He broke land for growing crops and built a log house and barn on a small hill with a prominent view in all directions. A son and four more daughters were born there, and all would eventually attend school in the area. In 1910, this house, constructed by a local mason was built. It featured field stone walls and a metal mansard-shaped roof. Menarey sold the farm in 1920 and went to live with one of his daughters in Winnipeg whee he died on January 20th, 1928.
The former Menarey residence now sits abandoned. It is a designated historic site and is listed on the Manitoba Historical Site.
I can tell you that the current owner of this property is not a fan of trespassers. We were granted permission onto the property and entrance into the home. When we went back about a week or two later, he would not allow us to go inside a second time.
This is also where I found my second purse of the day.
This is also where I found out what a terrified baby raccoon sounds like when its calling for its mother!!! I can tell you that I navigated the steep narrow staircase like a ninja. I didn’t think I could move that fast on a dirty, narrow staircase.
This is a beautiful old home which is structurally sound considering it is standing out in the wide open of the harsh elements of prairie weather. Heat, rain, wind and bitterly cold winters. The metal roof has maple leafs imprinted on each panel. The detail is amazing. Each room was painted in a different color. It had a spacious upstairs and out the windows you could see for miles over the flat prairies.
If you find this home, please do not enter the property without permission. It is surrounded by a “hot” fence.
FAIRDALE SCHOOL
The Fairdale School District was established formally in May 1883 and a frame school building was erected in what is now the RM of Killarney-Turtle Mountain. In 1897, the schoolhouse was moved by a local family to where it last stood and was later destroyed by fire. It closed in January 1968. Available information suggests the former school building was used as a granary and was present at the site as recently as 2005. A Manitoba Historian attended the site in October, 2011 but all that was found during the visit were some fire-charred wood fragments and the bricks from its chimney. A rock monument nearby commemorates it.
Among the teachers of Fairdale School were A. L. Davidson (1883), Irene Arnott (1911), and Mrs. Devona Kentner (1967).
Unfortunately, this is all that remains of Fairdale School.
HIDDEN JEWEL
This is probably the house that truly started my obsession. This was Reg & I’s first outing together and I really had no idea what to expect. Reg says my expression was priceless as we rounded the driveway and I finally spotted the house through the trees. For days afterwards I went back to this property just to look at it. We had permission to enter the property & home. I was surprised that homes like these are still out there. That they are being preserved. That land isn’t been broken from corner to corner for fields.
For the sake of keeping this property secure and free of further unwelcomed visitors, I won’t reveal the name of the property owners or the ancestors who lived there. I was lucky enough to get a bit of the history on this place and even know of some of the later renters of this home.
I will mention that the home is now occupied by raccoons who do not appreciate unannounced company or company at all.
After parking and taking some shots from the outside I make my way toward the front door. To my surprise, I see this old player piano!! Not long after we visited this old beauty, someone was there, moved the cover on the keys back and didn’t move it back. The keys were exposed to the elements even more than they already were and the keys were ruined. So very sad.
I then made my way, hesitantly I must say, because I truly am a bit of a chicken shit, through the door. This was a whole new experience too! I had only ever taken photos from the road. Now I had permission to enter!! I didn’t know where to look or what to take photos of. I was in awe. The first thing I see is this staircase. I wanted to see the railings that were attached. You instantly start to picture how you think this house looked before everyone left. Before the windows broke, before the masked bandits took over.
I take another step in and around the corner to what was what left of a stone fireplace across from a bay window. I start to imagine the furniture that may have been inside, where they put the Christmas tree.
As my make my way around from the fireplace and the living room I step into what I imagine was the dining room. This leads into the kitchen and in this kitchen is an old stove.
We make our way up the stairs, I’m hesitant of what critter will greet me as my head pops up above floor level. We come up to the bathroom, the tub and toilet are still there. And a shower curtain! The upstairs is where the new tenants spend most of their time.
This was also where I found my first purse. Every house I stepped foot into that day, I found a purse. Being respectful, I didn’t open them to see if there was anything inside.
From upstairs I can look outside the 3 big windows out of the front of the house, in the area that hangs over the veranda where the old piano now stands. What a beautiful yard this would have been.
This was the homestead of a family that still farms in the area. The home was later rented out and is used by the local kids to hang out and party.
I love, love, love this old house. I think its still one of my very favorites.
GONE FISHING
On Mother’s Day my family wanted to fish! Works for me, I guess. I just take a book and my camera.
On this day as my husband drives around searching for the perfect fishing spot, I search the area for roofs and old buildings. On our travels through the back roads I spotted this old house. Not familiar with the area, no maps in hand and no neighboring houses around, all I could get were some road shots.
Its a lovely stone home nestled up against a tree line. A big brown barn stands out in front.
It wasn’t your standard home. Rectangular, one-storey. You can see the bay window on the side and the way the home changes direction off the front entrance. Lots of corners, windows and doors. And bricks, not stone. I imagine it was a beautiful home in its glory.
PARKSBEG, SASKATCHEWAN
In 2016 we drove by this house on the way back from Swift Current to Regina. This past December, the 28th (2017) to be exact, during a wicked cold snap, I insisted that we stop. I wasn’t out there very long because it was -47 with the windchill and this house is right on the highway. I snapped a few quick shots.
I would have loved to have seen the inside. There was no evidence of a driveway or anything and there wasn’t a lot of snow but it was just t0o cold to stand at the side of the road for to long.
If I ever find out more, I’ll post. And maybe one day I’ll get out that way when its not freezing cold out.
BLUE HERON
There is something about these long legged birds. They are so graceful to watch.
The Blue Heron is one of my favorite birds. We see a lot of them around here but I usually don’t have my camera or he gets away to fast. Not this time. He was a very photogenic bird. We started our photo session on one side of the bay, he walked across to the other side on the edge of the ice and stayed here until I left.
Spring is a great time to shoot birds in our area. We have the heron, loon and all sorts of ducks that stop by on their fly over my little part of the South and they make their way North.
SCHOOLS OUT FOREVER
This school is located on private property. Most of my fellow abandoned seekers will know this location and have more than likely been to this site already.
This school district was established formally in the Spring of 1885 and the first school was built for a minimal $440.00. The first name requested for the school was Maple Leaf but it was rejected as another school was already named so. There were 10 children enrolled in the school and the first teacher was Mr. Thomas Atkinson. A new school was built in 1905/6, the old one being remodeled as a house which was completely destroyed in 1942. The present school building dates from 1906, when a one-room structure was built of concrete blocks, a building material unique to the early twentieth century. The district was dissolved in January 1967 and at one point the school was said to be used as a granary.
I don’t know a whole lot about this property except for what I have found online and through the town’s history book. I found out about it many years ago from my neighbor who attended the school and posted a photograph of herself in front of it on her Facebook page. She told me the location and for many years I had the info tucked away and finally went there in May to check it out.
I wish I could have seen this place when the bell tower was still attached.
This is another place that I will revisit as my experience grows.
This is another site that I will revisit and reshoot.
FIELD OF DREAMS
First thing I must add is that this building is on private property. So if you happen to find it, please be sure that you get permission before entering onto the property.
The first school district this school was built for was organized on May 16, 1885. Trustees were appointed and the school was built for $500.00. When the school opened in 1886 the first teacher was Mrs. Rae Richardson and the enrollment was 17. It consolidated with a bigger school district in 1968. The last teacher at the school had 7 students.
After I’ve visited a site, I needed to know its history. Sometimes I’m successful, sometimes not. This school was and is still well known for its baseball team. I was fortunate enough to find plenty of info in the town’s history book. The teams that played out of here were very successful and good.
I imagine myself back here one night when the sky is clear attempting to take night shots of this history filled building surrounded by stars. I must also say it looks amazing with the sunset in the background.
I love this old school and the landowner has welcomed me to keep taking photos here.
BELLAFIELD CHURCH
This is one of the first places I ventured out to to. I had no idea that this was here and it was actually a friend that told me about it. I took my daughter with me. Its a neat little place but to be honest with you, I wasn’t sure what I was expecting or what I should take photos of. I need to go back, I need to go inside and I need to recapture this place. Since these photos were taken I think I’ve grown as a photographer and will be the first to tell you that these are not great shots.
There is a lot written about this Church in the history books for this area but I think this sign outside sums it up pretty well. My understanding is that this church still holds a yearly service but I don’t know if that is accurate or not. Whoever takes care of this place does an amazing job. It is in very good condition and the area is well kept.
I would love to try to shoot this at night, one day. And I’ll go inside. I think this would also be the perfect place to take pictures of your special day.
AND SO IT BEGINS
So in April I attended a course put on by Chris Atrell. He had me take my camera off auto and push buttons. I sat through the theory part of the course but did not attend the night shoot as I did not have a tripod. I figured I had taken enough away from the evening and that when I was ready, I would do the course again and learn the night photography part of it. I went away excited and ready to figure out this camera once and for all.
I spent a few evenings at the beach taking photos of the sunset and the birds. I could play with my exposure and depth of field and all the other buttons and it wouldn’t matter what happened. So that’s what I did. I hauled my bag out and sat there with a good friend who shares the same interest as me but her too, never has had the time to learn the ins and outs of her camera. We bounced ideas off each other and different settings.
If you’ve never been, sit with Chris through one of his courses, his photography is incredible, to me anyway cause he to loves the old abandoned houses. He has so many tricks for night photography and he sure knows how to find all those old abandoned homes. The thing I really like about Chris is that he delivers his information in a way that doesn’t scare you, it excites you and it makes you want to try and do what he does. He walks around the class, checks to make sure you’re where he is and if you can’t figure it out, he’ll do it for you. I think the other thing that I liked about him is that I was interested in what he was interested in, the abandoned homes, etc and as I said, he delivers it in a way that is easy to understand.
The course also made me want a new camera. My SX60 HS is considered a point and shoot camera but it has an amazing zoom lens. The lens would cost a fortune to buy alone. That being said, a point and shoot is still limiting in its aperture settings and much more. It’s not a bad camera by any means but I knew a DSLR would hopefully let me go to the next level, if I could get there. I had to see what I might be missing by not having a DSLR. I found an older Rebel with the lenses I wanted for a good price so I bought it. I told my husband that I would sell it if it didn’t work for me. Well I like them both and I do find that I use the Rebel more than I use the SX60, sometimes. I think that if you know what your camera can do and you know how to use all the settings, it doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have, you can get good shots.
CRUMBLING MEMORIES 