Former prime minister's home up for sale in Manitoba, fully restored to its original look
There is a chance someone could own a piece of history in Portage la Prairie, Man., as the home of Canada's ninth prime minister is on the market – completely restored to its original look.
The home located at 131 Dufferin Avenue East once belonged to Arthur Meighen, who was prime minister on two separate occasions, from 1920 to 1921 and in 1926 from June to September.
Eric Vieweg is the current owner and since 1993, when he and his family bought the home, he has been working to restore its natural look.
"It was really neglected, it was divided up into apartments. It was really rundown…it looked like a really derelict building," said Vieweg. "But the price was very reasonable and at that time, I was young and stupid and I guess I thought, we could fix this up."
The home of former prime minister Arthur Meighen, located at 131 Dufferin Avenue East in Portage la Prairie, is for sale. (Source: Home Viewtube/realtor.ca)
Before becoming an accountant, Vieweg was a cabinetmaker and those skills helped him restore much of the home with the original material. What he couldn't salvage, he replaced, making it look the same as it once was.
He said he was inspired to bring the house back to life after receiving pictures of the home and what it looked like in the 1920s.
"It looked completely different to what it looked like, at the time, in the late 90s…but to see that house the way it was in the 20s was an inspiration. That kind of made me realize, 'Oh, instead of doing a reno, let's restore it to how it looked.'"
The home of former prime minister Arthur Meighen, located at 131 Dufferin Avenue East in Portage la Prairie, is for sale. (Source: Home Viewtube/realtor.ca)
He said the front half of the main level is completely authentic to the 1920s. If areas like the kitchen needed to be upgraded – like removing a big wood stove – Vieweg still made it fit the right era with modern amenities.
The home also features the original cast-iron tub in the bathroom.
"So the prime minister would have bathed in that tub. So that's kind of cool."
The restoration allowed Vieweg to continue to flex his creative muscles, to the point where his workstation was in the living room for more than 10 years.
The home of former prime minister Arthur Meighen, located at 131 Dufferin Avenue East in Portage la Prairie, is for sale. (Source: Home Viewtube/realtor.ca)
"I'd come home and that was my release, my stress release, my fix for creativity. So it was a good balance, and I guess that's what kept me going."
He added the house cost him a lot of money, but he is proud of the work he has done.
Now, the home is listed for $449,500, and Vieweg said it's bittersweet to be moving on from a home he has put so much time and effort into.
"It was good, you know. We were never bored, but yeah, that chapter of my life is over."
Vieweg hopes that a family purchases the home, saying it has a lot of bedrooms and he feels it should be enjoyed by a family.
As for the next chapter of Vieweg's life, now that the work is done and he is retired, he said he plans on taking a sailboat and sailing around the Caribbean with his partner.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.