220 - 6th Street - Sibbald House

As of today, the cozy little house that was across the back lane from us is but a memory.  In our 30 years living here, we called it "The Henderson House" but in this blog  I try to use the name of the first occupant to name the house so I believe this one should be named the Sibbald House.This style of home has a clipped gable roof and the windows looking out to the west would have been a cozy sunroom. The long carport leaning on the south of the house would have been a practical addition.

According to the local history books and online sources, it was built about 100 years ago as the home of Joseph and Maggie Sibbald.  The couple came to Canada from Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland in 1907 with their young daughter Jessie Elizabeth and were living in Reston on the 1911 census.  Two more children were born here, Williamina May (Ina) and Joseph Kay.  Census records show the family on 6th Street in 1921, the same year Joe graduated from a "practipedist” course.  This gave him knowledge in fitting shoes which made him an asset to his employer, the G.S. Munroe store.  This stone constructed business still stands as Anderson’s Fine Foods but shoes are not among their inventory!  The store was forward thinking in that employees had a financial interest and likely as a result, Joe worked there for over 35 years.  Thanks to Ancestry user Jim Davidson for these pictures of the family from July of 1939, taken on the day of the marriage of Joe Sibbald  Jr. and Mabel Stewart.  Perhaps these pictures were taken in their yard as a caragana hedge still runs south of the house.  Does anyone recognize the house in the background of the second photo with the diamond shaped window?  The Sibbalds retired to Winnipeg in about 1944 after 37 years in Reston. Joseph Sr. died there in 1968 and his wife Maggie in 1963.  

Joe Jr., Mabel Stewart, Maggie (mother), Ina and Jessie Sibbald

 

Jessie, Margaret, Joe (father) and Ina Sibbald - June 10, 1939

The  home was purchased by Harry and Margaret Winch in 1944.  He farmed land in the Kinloss district from town until 1950 when he ran local businesses including Co-Op bulk sales and the Reston Lumber Yard.  Harry retired in 1964. They had 5 children - Greta, Dorothy, Merle, Walter and Florence, who married Alvin Birnie and made their home in Reston. This picture of Harry was found in the Boulton albums. I was told that Terry Paul was the next resident before it became "The Henderson House".

John Henderson was one of 12 children born to Jack (John Alexander) and Agnes Henderson. Jack had been born in Lucknow, Ontario and  Agnes (Buckley) had come from Scunthorpe, England.  The couple met while both were working on the farm of Travers and Lauree Boulton south of Reston  in 1916.  He enlisted to join WW1 in June of 1916 and went overseas in 1917 which was surprising as his file indicates he was missing all 4 fingers on his right hand as a result of an accident with a sawmill in 1909.  He seems to have been assigned to the CASC - Canadian Army Service Corps which would have helped the troops with food and transportation.  They were married in 1919 after his release.

Jack and Agnes farmed in the Albert Municipality, 9 miles south of Reston in the Stonehill district.The home farm was N 11-6-28 was  included cattle, pigs, poultry and horses.

John Gerald Henderson was the middle child born in 1925.  He farmed as well as worked at the Pool Elevator in Reston, likely when he bought the house on 6th Street.  Being a bachelor, he didn’t need a big house but hosted family gatherings when family came back for a visit like at the 50th Anniversary celebration pictured below for Jack and Agnes. 

Picture from Reflections of Time Albert History Book 1984 (page 374)

John’s surviving siblings were Margaret (later Milner), Donald, Glen (married Eleanor Stonehouse and farmed in Kinloss,Linklater and Hillview area), Kathleen (later Oberlin), Geraldine (later Hamell), James (married Donna Duke and worked as a grain buyer), Marian (later Cronk) Kenneth (married Dorothy Shoemaker and employed in potash mine) and Ila (later Nolan). 

The Albert history book says John was a favourite uncle and played guitar in a local band.  John died in 2004 and besides short term tenants, it had not been occupied since then.  While the dust and rubble settle today, it was a privileged to tell what I have found about the house.  As always, please contact me with any further information or pictures you’d like to share.