Brandon Sun By: Michele LeTourneau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Posted:
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Sorrow came to Russell this week in the form of fire, when a seemingly random act destroyed an historic house full of mysteries, ghosts, family memories and possible future stories.
Dubbed the Red House, 312 Pelly Avenue South in Russell has changed hands a scant four times in the 133 years since William James Barrett-Lennard (1857-1940) moved its bricks by ox and cart from the right bank of Bear Creek to a hill to what is now known as Russell.
The story line goes like this: the Boultons, the Drevers, the Falkevitchs and, most recently, the Flockners.
Posted: Jan 07, 2021 12:10 PM CT | Last Updated: January 7
The Red House is the oldest existing home in the town of Russell, built in 1888.(RCMP)
The oldest existing home in the small town of Russell, Man., has been gutted by fire and a 22-year-old man is charged with arson.
Emergency crews were called to the Red House, on Pelly Avenue S., around 11 p.m. Tuesday and found the 133-year-old brick home engulfed in flames, RCMP said in a news release.
A couple of hours later, 911 dispatchers received a call from a 22-year-old man who said he was responsible for the fire, RCMP said.