COLUMN: The Carillon Flashback December 24, 1954 – J.R. Friesen house becomes Invalid Home staff residence

Another familiar landmark along Steinbach’s Main Street is gone. The Friesen residence, situated under the big maples next to the family’s Ford dealership, has been moved to a new location on Hanover Street, where it will be used to house the staff of the Invalid Home.

Built in 1916 by J.R. Friesen, this spacious home was one of the very first in town to boast hot and cold running water, plumbing facilities and steam heating. The contractor was John M. Penner, who now lives at Greenland. Plumbing and heating were installed by C.F. Friesen, now retired in Steinbach.

Total cost of the 30-foot by 30-foot, full two storey structure, was $5,000.

When the moving crew began to put the building on wheels, they found a house that was still built with the main floor of solid lumber planks rather than floor joists with spaces in between. Sixty-ton jacks almost failed to lift the structure from its foundation.

But weight wasn’t the only obstacle the moving contractors, Harms Brothers of Morris, encountered. Before the building could be moved, all overhead wires, both power and telephone lines had to be cut or lifted. The entire telephone service, north and west of town, had to be cut and numerous local hydro services were disrupted as the building slowly moved from one set of wires to another.

But, in spite of these obstacles, thanks to good movers, and cooperation between hydro and telephone gangs, the building was moved from Main Street to its location on Hanover Street in a matter of hours. Workmen were then busy reinstalling the furnace and refitting the plumbing.

In a short while the staff of the Invalid Home would have a comfortable home of their own, where they would be able to relax after their strenuous day’s work.