prairie lakes – CRUMBLING MEMORIES

October 6, 2018October 7, 2018

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.

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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.

September 4, 2018September 4, 2018

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.

August 30, 2018September 8, 2018

BUTTRUM SCHOOL

This school in the RM of Prairie Lakes opened its doors in 1982 and closed permanently in June of 1972.

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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.

August 30, 2018September 8, 2018

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.