520 3rd Avenue - Mennie House

This two story house at 536 Third Avenue is an impressive abode with a large yard and is now home to the Green family. Todd and Leah Lobreau and their girls and Myles and Bernice Van Damme and their boys have previously called it home.  Ben Kroeker owned the house from 1973-1980.  He and his wife Gerrie came to Reston when he was principal at the Collegiate but also made their living as a journalist and business owner.  
First residents of this house seem to be the Mennie family. William Mennie (36 years old), wife Jane(33), daughter Catherine (7 years old) and sons William Jr (5) and Alexander D.(3) came to Canada from Ellen, Scotland in 1921 and can be found on the census that year as farm workers for Stuart Gillie near Virden.  By 1924, the family of 5 is living in Reston and William has a draying (hauling) business on the southeast corner of the Main Street and Railway Avenue.  Above the business was a hall known as Mennie's Hall where meetings and social events took place in the early days and it stood until 1972 when it was torn down.  The 1981 Pipestone history book describes Mennie's Hall (also called Jackson's Hall) as being reached by twenty-two open steps leading up from the north and having a stage for dramatic performances.  I have been told at one time, William Mennie owned all the land north and east of his home right up to #2 highway and 9th street. Many homes now fill that neighbourhood and looking at it now, it is hard to imagine the vast wetlands that once covered that spot. 
William was an adaptable businessman as he soon became a coal dealer and later an agent for Imperial Oil. He was first to install gas bowsers on the street in front of his business.  Bill and Jane raised their three children in this home.   
Both sons enlisted in WWII and tragically, Sergeant William Mennie Jr. lost his life at the age of 29 near the end of the war on June 1, 1945.  He is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands. A poignant verse appears on his gravestone as chosen by his family.  Pictures below were found on the Veteran Canada website here.   

  Second son Alexander Duncan (known as Scottie) returned to Reston and took over his father's business in 1946 , married and settled in his own house in Reston at 154 9th Street. Scottie and his wife Shirley (nee Cronk) had 2 sons and left for points west in about 1970 when he sold the Imperial Oil business to Ross Benzie.  Scottie died in 2013 in Calgary.  
Daughter Catherine (Kay) Mennie married Jack Mutter in 1940 and moved around different points in Manitoba.  They had one son Jack Jr. 
The home has had many remodels over the years but continues to impress with a U sidewalk set back from the street. It seems to be of FourSquare design as are many of Reston's older homes.  The symmetry from the front is a classic detail and likely dates from 1910-1925.  Exact date of construction of the Mennie home is unknown currently but maybe one of my readers has the answer?  Comment below or email me additions and corrections please! ssimms@escape.ca