52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 13 Prompt - Home Sweet Home

 2025

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 13

Prompt - Home Sweet Home

I had lived in two different homes before the one I remember as the home that I grew up in. I do not remember the first two homes. I do remember 442 Witney Avenue (Saskatoon). It was a brand new home that mom and dad had built. I remember the family was so excited to live in this new home. I also remember going over to look at it during construction.

1959 -  Peters' House Under Construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1959 - Don and Dennis (Back Row) & Bonnie and Wendy (In Front)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1959 - Robert and Dennis With Workman's Toolbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was fun to run around and in it during this phase. And as I understand it now, that is something not allowed today on new housing builds.

Apparently it was something short of a miracle that they were able to get a mortgage to buy this brand new home. However somehow they got the mortgage and the house was approved for a build in 1959. They signed the “Offer To Purchase and Interim Financing” on May 11, 1959. 

August 1959 my parents received the approval from The Central and Mortgage Housing Corporation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thus my parents began their dream of home ownership.The area was close to schools. The high school was 3 blocks away and as we moved into our home they were building a new public school across the street from us. It opened in March of 1960. The neighbourhood was families with lots of children. Beside the school was a paddling pool with a building for indoor fun often lead by high school kids that were either hired or volunteered during the summer months. I have spoke of the outdoor skating / hockey rink just adjacent to the this. At the end of our block was a confectionery (which was a great place to buy penny candies) and a hairdresser. This was the first place that I had my hair done professionally. I believe it was Christmas 1965!

At first the huge back yard was filled with garden which produced a lot of veggies that mom canned and or froze for the hungry family to enjoy during the winter. Over the years the garden was slowly replaced with a flower garden and grass.

In the early years dad flooded the back yard for our own personal backyard skating rink.

Improvements and renovations occurred over the years to the house and yard. It was a very small home of 900 square feet or so with no basement, 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. How did the 9 of us ever work that out. And yet friends of our family were welcome. The more the merrier. During my brother's band playing days mom allowed them to set up in the living room twice each week so they could practise their sets. Drums, organs, guitars, bass guitars and microphones. Yes it was loud. I only remember a few summers of band practise in the garage. I think maybe there may have been more noise complaints on that one.

The house held many many memories – some good and some not so good. It was The Peters home and was where we grew up. We celebrated graduations, marriage celebrations and brought our children home to visit their grandparents. We had yearly Christmas gatherings with various family members attending. 

My parents lived out the rest of their lives in this home. My father died in his home at his request in 1983 and my mother died a widow in January of 1987. The house was sold shortly after my mother died.

Bill and I have driven past it several times over the years while visiting family and friends in Saskatoon. It doesn't seem like the same home. 

Wendy