377 Fourth Street - Manning House

Image from Google Street View 2014

The Manning House 1906-2006 written by Fletch Manning in 2006

This old house was built in 1906 by Mr. Harry Lockhart. Fred and Harry Lockhart came from England to the Bardal district to farm but Harry preferred carpentry. He lived south of Clover Hill on the land where Miles Mayert now lives. I was told that he walked down the tracks on Sunday to church in Sinclair and was usually whistling.

Mr. Lockhart came to the "new town" of Reston and bought two 100 foot lots, where the Mannings and Williamsons now live. At one time there was a pronounced hill here and just south a big slough that later became the site of the theater.

This house was built with an 18" high foundation and no basement. There was one big room, divided by half arches making a living room and kitchen. To the side was a small pantry, a hall and turned staircase that led to the bedrooms upstairs. Mr. Lockhart lived here while he built the second house next-door, north.

In 1908, Mr. Majaury bought the place. He was the blacksmith whose shop was where our present post office stands. Aunt Jenny Dempsey, a distant relative recalls visiting here and seeing the new baby.

In 1910, Mr. Kippen Cates bought the house. As a new lawyer he had previously purchased a building further south and set up his law practice. This building was referred to as the Cates Block, and was on the side of the present Stewart Lumber.  He also bought the land across the road to the east. There he put up the tennis courts.

Mr. Cates was an energetic "doer" and a handy man. He arranged to have a full basement and solid foundation. With a horse and scoop shovel the basement was dug and an inner 18" wide foundation poured.

In 1927, he had an addition added to the north, a kitchen on the main floor and the second stairway leading to the rooms above.

He had two cisterns put in. One was for rain water and the other for drinking water. With help, he put in a pressure system and this was one of the first homes in Reston to have a tap upstairs and a flush toilet.

That same year, 1927, he laid oak hardwood floors. These uncovered floors have not had one board replaced in 89 years and are still beautiful after all the traffic on them. Kippen Cates lived here with wife Elizabeth and Phyllis, Beth, Tanis and Bruce. He died in January, 1946.

In 1946, R.C.A.F. Veteran Russell Manning applied through Veteran Land Affairs to purchase the place.  He had to have a half acre of land. His application was accepted.

The VLA paid Mrs. Cates $3600 and Russell Manning paid $2700 to VLA.  The stipulation was that he must live on the property for 10 years before he was granted the deed.

In 1964, Anglo Canadian Oils bought a 150 foot lot across the road and build a station. Bob Peel was the first operator. After Anglo there was Royalite, Gulf Canada and now Petro Canada.

In the 30s a back room was added on the west side. In 1996 and addition was added to the north side.

Russell is gone and the seven children are all off on their own. But this old house is still warm and comfortable. It has been a wonderful home for 60 years.