More than a hundred and twenty years ago, this was virgin prairie that stretched as an endless golden plain. Though it appeared flat, the expanse was split by deep valleys carved out by raging spring flood waters. Travellers had little to guide them on this sea of grass, perhaps a buffalo path, or an Indian trail that wandered over the country side avoiding wetlands. Travel was on foot or by horse, sometimes pulling a cart or a waggon. There were few trees to mark your progress and fewer houses with none of the things we take for granted, like yard lights. The landscape was even more bleak and dangerous during winter storms. Blizzards produced whiteout conditions that all but blinded the traveller and obliterated the few markings that existed.

During the late 1800's a line of posts were often driven into the ground to mark the way from one community to another. Travellers could now more safely cross this ocean, but it is sure that during inclement weather, this building would have been a welcome site offering warmth and protection. Many families left their doors unlocked at night so that during bad weather people could enter the house, find shelter and get some rest. In the morning they never knew how many guests they would have collected on their floor.

The Boundary Trail Region is a narrow strip of southern Manitoba that extends from the Red River to the Saskatchewan border and encompasses all the municipalities adjacent to the U. S. border. By 1873, the government recognized the need to start opening up the Canadian West for settlement so Her Majesty's British North America Boundary Commission surveyors were sent to survey and map the official boundary between Canada and the United States. Their efforts helped make it possible for the newly formed North West Mounted Police to complete their historic March West in 1874 to bring law and order to the western frontier.

This house is located 8 miles north of the US Border, and according to maps of the area appears to have been close to route of The Boundary Trail and to Pembina Crossing, a place where travellers often stayed on their journey west.

The exact date of the house cannot be determined because the decade number is missing. The oldest possible date is 1896, but the house could also have been built in 1886 or 1876. I will follow up with an image if the date mounted under the eves.