Jen
Monday, May 28, 2012
Fort Frances Family Home - The Tierney House
Bernard Blastorah (II) lived in Fort Frances with his family starting around 1911 until 1924 when his wife died. During some of that time I believe they may have lived in the Tierney House at 250 Church Street. Today, that address belongs to the Royal Canadian Legion. This is a comparison between an old photo, which I think may be the old house, and the property as it looks today:
This is only a guess. I'm making this guess based on two other documents I have. One is an old school book which belonged to Iva Tierney. This book is dated January 20th, 1913 at the address 250 Church Street, Fort Frances, ON. It seems the book was then used further by Catherine Blastorah, daughter of Bernard Blastorah (II) who wrote from Harwood ON in March of 1926:
In several letters dated from the year 1921, Bernard Blastorah made moves to purchase the Tierney residence from the Conmee estate:
It is my belief that Bernard Blastorah bought the house where the family lived until moving back to Harwood. Catherine found or was given the schoolbook of Iva Tierney which she then brought back to Harwood. I'm thinking that the property in the black and white picture is the same property which now belongs to the Legion. These are all inferences on my part, and if anyone has any further information, photos, or documents, please let me know! Or feel free to discuss them below.
Jen
Jen
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Some interesting comments from Barney Blastorah about the house in Fort Frances:
ReplyDeleteI am sure that 250 Church St was the house they lived in. My father often quoted that address, and he went back and confirmed it is now a legion. Dan Blastorah also was there. Two interesting stories:
1. The backyard neighbour housed the sled dogs for the RCMP (or NWMP maybe) detachment. My father was always cautioned not to go near them, as the dogs were vicious.
2. During prohibition, my father, then aged 5 or 6, went to the cellar to find his father with strange men, and a lot of wooden cases of...something. He was told not to says anything about it, and a few days later they were gone. Likely BB II was paid off to stash some hot booze before shipment across the border.