Local Castle for Sale

Yates Castle, also known as Wynarden, was built in 1864. I have always loved this mansion and when I was younger, I dreamed of one day owning it. At that time it wasn't in as good condition as it is today.

Yates Castle was built by railroad magnate Henry Rushton Yates, who helped develop what was known years later as the Canadian National Railway. This type of house was not something that was usually seen in those days. It had hot and cold running water, two towers, a dumbwaiter, a wine cellar, speaking trumpets and an underground tunnel to the school that was located on the grounds. This is where the Yates children attended their lessons.
The property is spacious and the trees and yard frame it in a natural setting. Inside at the time of construction was dozens of rooms, including a billiard room, a butler's pantry, a large drawing room and of course the lady of the house had her own boudoir. Modern conveniences included bathrooms, water closets and force pumps.

After Henry Yates died, his massive estate was divided among his survivors. His wife, inherited the property and the house. However, the fortune dwindled and by 1923, Yates Castle stood empty. It fell into a state of disrepair and looters stole fireplaces, woodwork, light fixtures, plaster mouldings and stained glass windows.

Enter Joseph and Mary Talos, who lived just down the street. They were a hard working couple. Mary cleaned houses and worked as a cook. Joseph slugged marble at the foundry. But Joseph dreamed of one day owning a fine house like Yates Castle and when the property went up for back taxes, Joseph scraped together the money to buy it. He paid between $4,000 and $5,000, which was a lot of money in the late 1920s.

Today, it is owned by Joseph's descendent, Steve Talos. Steve remembers going with his father, Rudy, to work on the house when he was a kid. He hated it. However, after earning a degree in history, he began to take more of an interest in the castle and has renovated and restored it to look much like it did in its heyday.

Large tree stump in the foreground gives the house a little more character. Notice the slate roof and the beautiful trim in the photos that give the better view.

The garden of Yates Castle. Notice the ornamental fence in the background. Imagine having all that property to garden. It would look magnificient with arbors, climbing roses, clematis and other climbers.

The two photos above are of the renovated coach house. This property would have been magnificent when it was first built.

Today, Steve Talos has the property up for sale and is asking $1,855,000. Unfortunately, it has been divided into apartments. It would have been wonderful if it could have been kept as a single dwelling, but I wonder how Joseph would feel about that price if he were alive today.

Yates Castle has only been owned by the two families to this point...the Yates and the Talos'. What a history this house has. If only those walls could talk, what a story it could tell.

I hope you enjoyed these photos and a bit of history about Yates Castle. It has been a point of interest to me for many years and I hope whoever purchases it treats it with tender loving care. ~Blessings, Mary~