From regal to rubble

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Published on Thursday, October 11, 2018

After years of neglect, “The Castle” is finally torn down

Photo courtesy of Denis Saquet

Banner Staff

Neepawa Banner & Press

What was once a local landmark is now nothing more than a memory, as the Davidson House (aka. The Castle) has finally been demolished. The once historic three-storey house located at 344 Main St. in Neepawa was taken down Tuesday, Oct. 9 by Total Demolition Ltd. of Portage la Prairie.

Photos by Eoin Devereux

The demolition of a historic three-story house located at 344 Main St. in Neepawa took place on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Known to many as “The Castle”, the structure had to come down due to extensive interior decay, asbestos and black mould. The Castle has been vacant for about 12 years

Built in 1887 for the town’s co-founder, businessman and politician John A. Davidson, the Davidson House had stood proudly at the top of the hill on the east side of the community for more than 100 years.  The three-storey house underwent renovations in 1901, when the then two-storey structure was enlarged and covered with brick. In 1916, it was sold to another prominent local businessman, William Henry Guinn, founder of Guinn Brothers Marble and Granite Works. The building remained in the Guinn family until 1976, when it was sold and subdivided into apartments. In 2006, it was vacated and over time started to fall into disrepair. Due to extensive interior decay and black mold, as well as an asbestos issue, the demolition of the building was ordered by the Town of Neepawa.

Photo courtesy of Denis Saquet