The complete story of taking each of these photographs is included in
My First Life My Sinful, Lewd, Wanton life From the Beginning:
so you and I will know who I was!
346 Allegretto Cresc. Saskatoon SK.
My brother Mark and I
Lived in a small Basement suite in Saskatoon, Sk. in the early 1980s, Then
Sometime in 1982 we received a letter from the owner of the property, stating
that He was going to put the house up for sale and in our best interest it would
be best if we found an alternate place to live before him selling the property,
Mark and I discussed our options in depth. We first thought we would try
to purchase the property, however, soon learned that we required 25% down to
purchase a revenue home, And we didn't have any savings as both were living
paycheck to paycheck with nothing extra to place in savings. We were also
unable to find another suite for even similar rent, and neither of us could
afford any increase in rent. Then we heard an ad that the Government was
providing financial assistance to first time home buyers, so we thought maybe we
could build/buy our first home and receive this assistance, from the government,
We carefully considered the differences between building vs. buying a home, As
neither of us had any experience in the construction industry. We Looked into
the option of Nelson Homes, A company that sells semi-prefab houses, By this I
mean they build all of the walls, and supply them along with all other materials
required to complete the house to the site. The Purchaser then needs to
assemble all these walls to complete the framing, install the windows and doors,
shingles and siding, Then Complete the interior /Electrical, Plumbing and
Heating, Insulating, Vapor barrier, Drywall, Painting, Finishing
carpentry, Flooring
So After much Analysis/Calculations, We Decided on a floor plan from Nelson
Homes. We were convinced and confident that we would be able to do this. Now We
had to convince the Saskatoon Credit Union that we could and get Approval for a
mortgage. We Finally Got our Mortgage after 21 Applications were rejected,
the 22nd was approved. We had to borrow $5000.00 from Our cousin Gregg Listoe to
use as a deposit on the lot from the City of Saskatoon. We ordered the Package
from Nelson Homes for Delivery On Friday before the Long Weekend in May 1983.
We also arranged a large work crew of friends and family to be available this
long weekend to help with construction. We hired Rempel Bros. Construction to
excavate and pour the foundation Before this weekend so all was ready to begin
framing when the package arrived. Which it did Friday Morning. Mark
and I and the Driver Had the entire Package unloaded from the flat deck trailer
by noon Friday. When We were finished The driver surprised us by asking for a
check, as it was COD. We told Him He could load it back onto the trailer if he
wanted but we were not helping, as we went to Phone the salesman at Nelson Homes
to work out other arrangements. As the mortgage we had was a construction
mortgage meaning we only received money as the house was built, and the
inspection was completed. He agreed to wait for payment. So Mark and I started
assembling the pony walls - the top 4 feet of the foundation, our entire work
crew arrived Friday afternoon. By Monday night we were Putting on the roof
sheathing. We were in total shock that we had framed the entire house over the
weekend, next was windows doors and shingles, then siding. As the exterior
finishing was progressing we decided that fieldstone would be great for the
foundation finishing, as we could not afford bricks, So off to the riverbank we
went and found lots of stones to use for this, once the exterior was completed,
we moved into the interior to complete that. I did all the electrical wiring. We
hired a plumber to do the plumbing and heating. We completed the house by
mid-October/1983 and moved in. We Had plenty of time to organize a
housewarming-Halloween Party Which was a great Party in our new house. We were
not able to pay Rempel bros. Construction for many months until we received
money from our mortgage. In May of 1984, Mark married Veryl Coghill,
they then moved into the house and we shared accommodations for some time. I
then Arranged my own financing to buy out Mark's share of the house. With this
money Mark and Veryl were able to buy their own house in Saskatoon, I then
married Shelley Currie in June of 1985. Over the next few years, I built a
garage in the back yard. I also finished the basement, with a washroom and
family room with a potbelly wood burning stove in the front corner of the
basement. I got the idea and confidence That I could finish the basement
drywalling without having to do any sanding creating dust in the house as I was
working for Northern Telecom in the fibre optics electronic transmission
division and they had required some new offices built in the plant but were very
strict that the dry Waller could not sand -so it would be dust-free drywalling.
I watched very closely how they would do this as When Mark and I did the first
drywalling on the main floor we seemed to sand off as much mud as we put on.
it was very dusty, and I sure didn't want all of that dust in the upstairs
finished part of the house I was living in. I was able to complete the
drywalling in the basement dust free without having to sand at all!
Mark and
I learned as we were nearly complete in building this House That our mortgage
was approved by a bet between our uncle Carl Listoe - the head finance manager
of the Saskatoon Credit Union and the remaining Mortgage approval members. He
told us how everyone was tired of our applications for a mortgage and asked him
if we were related to Him?, He said. “Yes, they are my nephews.” They all said
they wouldn't approve our mortgage as they bet we couldn't do it, our uncle
replied with "I bet they can do it" So the bet was on and our mortgage was
approved it was a great feeling to have done this on such a monumental
undertaking as our first ever true construction of such only having built a
small tree fort in the back yard one summer followed by building a log fort in
the bush south of Spiritwood. This fort had a door and roof with a 12-volt
electrical system inside to operate a car cassette radio for music in our fort.
Both of us really enjoyed listening to music, as such we wired speaker wire in
the walls of the house in Saskatoon before starting insulating and vapour
barrier it was great to be able to add these features of any kind as were
thought of and afforded another being wiring a switch controlled receptacle in
the overhang to be used for Christmas lights.
Last Updated: 07/12/2020
