Historic Home of Former Canadian Prime Minister Back on the Market in Manitoba

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Often, the allure of a real estate listing lies in the mention of granite countertops, luxuriously finished basements or indulgent spa showers. Yet, the charm of an abode currently up for sale in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, transcends those typical selling points. This residence of distinction promises prospective homeowners the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dwell within the historic walls once occupied by a former prime minister.

This home, once the residence of Arthur Meighen, Canada’s former prime minister, has re-emerged on the sales market after a brief hiatus. Encapsulating more than 2,400 square feet across 2.5 stories, the vintage property exudes character. It boasts a formal dining room, oak mouldings and a gas fireplace- a perfectly preserved snapshot of Meighen’s past. To add to its charm, it still houses the very claw-foot tub that graced the property during Meighen’s tenure over a century ago.


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A dive into history reveals that Meighen made the city of Manitoba his home around 1902 when he established a law firm there. However, it wasn’t until 1916 that he purchased this property on Dufferin Avenue East. By then, he was a two-time member of the House of Commons and moved into the home with his wife and three children. “He owned that property until 1928,” says James Kostuchuk, the chair of Portage le Prairie Heritage Advisory Committee. “To our understanding, this remained his only dwelling in Portage until the family left the city.”

Meighen, who served twice as Canada’s prime minister – from 1920-1921 and again in 1926 from June to September, did not acquire this status through elections. After his departure to Ottawa, this historic house saw an array of tenants through the decades until a rescue operation was launched by Eric Vieweg in 1993.

After acquiring the property at a reasonable price, Vieweg, a qualified cabinet maker and carpenter with an appreciation for the home’s potential, laboured relentlessly for nearly three decades to restore its former splendour. His careful refurbishments included modernizing the wiring and plumbing, installing new hardwood flooring, building a wraparound porch along with a commitment to retaining the property’s historic charm.

Kostuchuk sees in Vieweg, the dream tenant for the home. “From a heritage standpoint,” he shares, “he was a unicorn purchaser who invested two decades re-establishing the house’s original grandeur.”

Despite its grandiosity, the residence has been hard to shift. After an initial unsuccessful attempt to sell it last year amid fluctuating interest rates, Vieweg removed the property from the market. However, undeterred, he has now re-listed it. Realtor Meagan McKillop is hopeful for the fall market – a typically bustling period for the industry.

Vieweg, now a Winnipeg resident, alongside Kostuchuk, is hopeful for the property’s next occupant to appreciate its heritage and live the history within its walls. The original bathtub, the banisters, and the rooms once teeming with Meighen’s children set the backdrop for an enduring history lesson. Vieweg reflects, “It’s a perfect dwelling for a family. Its ample space coupled with the richness of history makes it ideal for any history enthusiast.”