Our subject is a quaint little residence, built in the early 1910s and restored to appear much as it did back in the day. We’re in small town Alberta, it’s a gorgeous evening and we’re taking a tour of a nice place owned by a friend. Come join Fraser and the Team for a few minutes of fun taking in the Yates House, named after the original owner.
The namesake…
Yates was a busy person and operated the local drug store, plus for a time owned another in the the next town down the tracks along with a farm across the river. In addition he was mayor of his home community for a stretch and oversaw the the installation of the civic water works (a big deal at the time). A brother at the local Masonic Lodge (aka: the good ol’ boys – no wives allowed – drinking club) he was also a member of the town school board. You might say he was a busy fellow…a big wheel…a mover and shaker.
The Yates House: built in the 1910s and pretty as a picture. Step inside with Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
Say it with me and make it loud: Thanks “Anonymous” for making this article possible. Do the same…
Early in his tenure in the area, and soon after marrying the Mrs, the house you see here was built. The two Yates’ both hailed from back east, Prince Edward Island (by way of BC) and New Brunswick, incidentally. Retiring in the mid-1940s Yates sold his business and this very home to one Farquharson who earlier operated a competing drug store in town. In the years to follow there were other owners with the current one acquiring the property about a dozen years back. You can see he takes pride in presenting it and we’re thankful for the opportunity.
Welcome to the Yates House!
All fixed up and looking good, the house is of a common design for the time, one and a half stories and with a big front veranda. Wander any 1910s-1920s era neighbourhood and it’s guaranteed you’ll see one similar in design.
Scroll down for more photos and to comment.
Your author lived in more than a few houses of this style as a kid, including one up in Edmonton (the city’s not been the same since) that the Team toured in 2021 and will post photos of soon. Talk about a trip down memory lane – it was a spooky old dump then back then but well-restored today – so stay tuned.
The first question that always comes to mind when touring an old house…is it haunted? Are there strange goings-on at the Yates Place? Tell us!
If a home is of this age, there’s a reasonable chance someone either expired within its walls or fell deathly ill and later passed on somewhere else (at the hospital or on the way to the hospital), if that means anything. By those standards, however, that would mean half the dwellings out there would have a resident spirit. Fraser mentioned the odd door opening by itself, but this could be attributed to settling. The ghost angle is certainly more fun and truth is one bedroom had us a bit creeped out. Was it an overactive imagination that had us uneasy or the bleeding walls? Hard to say.
Putting the Boogie-Man angle aside and ignoring modern accoutrements, exploring the Yates House makes one feel as though they’ve travelled back in time. The crystal doorknobs, the vintage décor, the vintage everything and the illusion is complete. I think we saw a horse and carriage pass in the alley but it may have been a Camry or Oldsmobile or something.
Fraser shows us an vintage booze bottle found hidden between floor joists. Displaying a 1926 tax stamp, there’s still a little swig inside if you’re feeling reckless and adventuresome. We double dare you. We’re shown a curious bunker like room off the basement that was and still could be used for cold storage. It goes right out into the back yard and while it has us thinking Cold War bomb shelter, it’s not of that era. We’re kind of Civil Defence obsessed, so forgive us.
Speaking of basements, these are often avoided by certain Team members when visiting old houses as too creepy, but here it’s been renovated so no problem. It’s common knowledge that’s where demonic beasts dwell, unless of course some new flooring and paint has been put in.
That vintage O-Gauge sure brings back some memories and has thinking we’re kids again.
Shooting at twilight gives us the John Sharpe Blues, not a depressed feeling but instead a colour. A departed friend and pro camera-jockey, he used to join us on many abandoned adventures but his paying job was that of a real estate photographer. By timing his show home photo-shoot visits for late in the day he would get pleasing soft colours in the windows and that adds a wonderful ambience to the scene that realtors just love. That John was a wealth of useful information and sorely missed.
Did those ’50s-’60s era butt-shakers really help one loose weight and get fit? We remain skeptics, but damn, you sure looked comical using one. The thought of all those glutes vibrating furiously has us giggling like a twelve year old. Hey Jello-***, nice backside!
It belongs to a friend and Yates was the original owner.
Out in the garage, it’s a special treat, Fraser’s restored 1929 Essex Super Six. Essex that year was North America’s third largest auto maker in terms of output (although most of that was US sales). Still, their volumes were (relatively) modest compared market leaders Ford and Chevrolet. By the mid-1930s Essex had vanished from the scene and remains little known outside certain car-enthusiast circles.
Maybe one day we we’ll convince him to take us on a ride (wink-wink) and with that we’re done. Nice place, eh?
There’s new content posted regularly at BIGDoer.com, so please drop by often.
They’re saying…
”A great way to spend some spare time…5 stars.” Byron Robb.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Wow!
Three little letters that when combined with an exclamation point says so much. Glad you liked the post!
That car looks cool, I work at custom auto restoration and we just started a model A rebuild last Friday..I’m excited to see the outcome
It’s a nice old Essex and do keep us posted on the progress of yours.
That’s a very impressive automobile.
Would love to take it for a spin.
A great one-two combination. Bless your friend.
Thanks!
It’s nice to see something vintage and in awesome shape – you find a lot of treasures, Chris.
We’ll be the first to tell you…we’re blessed to explore so many old places like this.
Very interesting.
Old houses like this are amazing.
Cool, and a vintage looking comfort bike to go with the Essex…
Never noticed, but yes.
And they have suicide doors from the factory.
Always thought that was a cool feature.
Stunning!
Doesn’t it photograph nice?
Nice!
Yes sir!
Beautiful!
It photographs nice.
We loved this house and lived here from 1997-2006.
Oh, we’d love to know more if you’d like to share…
That is so cool!..
Fraser’s house is amazing.
This is remarkable
Wow
How cool is that!
Looks so beautiful.
It’s been well kept and looks amazing.
Very interesting!!
Sure is!