Stone Fence Heritage Site

This task took four years to complete. The property later passed on to Whitehead’s daughter, Margaret, who in turn passed it on to her son, John Mitchell.

In 1939, the lots south of the residence were sold and single family homes were constructed in the following years.

The fence now sits on property owned by seven different land owners.

Only a portion of the original stone fence remains along the east and south borders of the block, but it remains an attractive enhancement to the surrounding properties and a unique characteristic of the downtown area.

– Heritage Brandon

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the site’s heritage character as a local landmark include:

the extent, dimensions and location of the existing fence, some 500 metres in length, up to 1.6 metres high and 40 centimetres wide, with corners standing at 17th Street and Rosser Avenue, 17th Street and Princess Avenue, and 18th Street and Princess Avenue in Brandon.

Key elements that define the fence’s design and structural characteristics include:

the limestone masonry, with the body of the fence formed of squared rubble, the stones similar in texture and slightly varying in colour, capped by a band of uniform stones about 25 centimetres high; and with the corners of the fence carefully squared.

Key elements that define the fence’s connection to the former Whitehead estate include:
the pedestrian entrance in the northeast quarter that provided access to the original dwelling, its four concrete stairs bordered by pillars featuring alternate bands of red brick and rusticated sandstone capped by concrete and a vehicle entrance on the east side with pillars also in red brick, but showing less ornamentation.

– Canada’s Historic Places

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