First - A Bit of History

Although this home was built over a 110 years ago the Byers are only the 4th family to own it.

The home was built in 1907 for one of High River’s early mayors Charles Short. Charles was responsible for starting a tree planting program and planted many of the Cottonwoods and other trees in High River and of course our yard. We did remove the Cottonwoods in our yard after the largest one fell on the house and ripped of the original front veranda. His daughter, Lillian Knupp, who was well known journalist and historian in this area, spent much of her childhood in this home. She told us her mother planted the lilacs still in the yard, no longer bushes but large canopied trees.

The home was then sold to Geo. Young, also an early mayor and remained in the Young family for many years.

We have had their children and grandchildren drop in throughout the years we have lived here.

In the early 1980’s the home was bought and restored by the Lutheran minister and his wife, Stephen and Joanne Hall, who built many raised garden beds for vegetables and berries alike. There were also many perennials in the gardens surrounding the home. Monks Hood, bachelor buttons, peonies, and large oriental poppies to name a few.

We bought the home in l987 and over time as the raised garden beds deteriorated, some were replaced but others were turned into lawn, patio and a fire pit area. Over the years other perennials were added. After the 2013 flood the house and foundation sustained a lot of damage. In the end we ended up moving the house to build a new foundation, so the gardens surrounding the home were lost but I was able to salvage many of the plants and established new gardens when we moved back in 2016. With only a remnant of the original raised garden beds left most of the gardens are filled with perennials and change throughout the spring, summer and fall with different varieties blooming each in its own time. I still am thrilled when I see each plant return the following year.

Having now read the history, I wish I had thought to take some shots of the house itself but alas I was focused on the gardens and the nearest I came to a house shot was while visiting on the "new" front verandah during the garden tour.