140 Second Avenue - Archer House

140 2nd Avenue - Archer House

Another eye catching four square home finishes this block of Second Avenue in style.  Land for the home was sold to Alfred Archer in 1920 by his neigbour Robert Bulloch.  I don't have an exact date of construction but it seems Archer and his wife Eva were living in the home in the 1921 census. The former Eva Pearl Wall came from a farm near Lenore and married Alfred in Brandon on January 16, 1917.  The Heritage Manitoba website "We Made Pipestone" says Alfred Archer installed the beams himself but Boulton connection Arthur Bushby constructed the house. 
Mr. Archer is considered by many to be integral to Reston being what it is today. Both his parents died while he was young in Little Britain, Ontario and he was raised by an uncle.  He was trained in the family business of tailoring and he left for the west about 1904 in his early 20's. 

Archer's first Tailoring Shop on the left side of this postcard from Prairie Towns website

Mr. Archer was the driving force behind establishing the Reston Memorial Park in 1922 and made his living as a tailor in a shop that once stood where the Drop In is today.  His interest in plants was evident on the grounds of his home on Second Avenue with many species of plants and trees being cultivated. Alfred Archer left Reston after the death of his wife in 1967 to live with his son William in Ontario.  He passed away in 1968 and is buried with his wife in Reston Cemetery. 
The next occupants were Doctor Charles F. Wood and his wife from 1955 to 1965.  He is noted as the first doctor to have an office in the new hospital that had opened in 1952. 

David Braddell and his wife A. Irma next called the house their home.  He was a teacher of high school French as well as being very interested in nature and local history. Irma had taught before their marriage in 1951 and shared David's interest in birds and prairie flowers. They lived with their two children Kevin Roderick and Maureen Karen in the home from 1965 until Irma passed away in 2005. David died in Winnipeg in 2010.  In 2007 it was bought by another teacher Kent Schiltroth and his brother Kyle.  He and his wife Kari are now raising 2 daughters in the grand house and have created a wonderful curb appeal and beautiful yards. 

Further memories, pictures and knowledge of this house or others are welcome as always to ssimms@escape.ca