Sunday, March 29

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~

39 comments:

  1. I love old houses...not just castles...humble homes too! I always wonder who lived there and what their lives were like.

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  2. I think old houses have such character! This one is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us - I hope the person who buys it has an interest in it's history and doesn't just but it to make money.

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  3. Hi Mary, Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog.

    Wow, the castle is spectacular, its beautiful, oh to own a house like that *sigh*.....
    I love looking at old buildings and houses, Im particularly fond of visiting churches (although Im not religious) I love the feel and smell of them and of course the stained glass windows are amazing. Hopefully as the warmer weather arrives in the UK I will be visiting some of our historical buildings and showing the photographs on my blog. Thanks again for visiting me X

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  4. breathtaking! and so much rich history!
    Thank you, Mary!
    ~AM

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  5. I also hope they keep the history alive with this castle. . it is so beautiful, thanks for sharing it Mary.

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  6. Hello Mary
    Nice to see you the other day and for your comment on the blog

    That is a beautiful old house, its good the exterior has been refurbished even if the interior has been rearranged. Is there a caveat on the grounds (to be kept as is) or a possibilty the new owner could subdivide it for future development?

    Take care
    Cathy

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  7. A castle for sale! Some queen or princess needs to buy that one! It's lovely, I love old mansions like that!

    Katherine

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  8. Very interesting history lesson on the house, grounds and owners and boy, how beautiful it is to see it now. One can only imagine how magnificent it had to have been when it was new.

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  9. Oh boy...if the walls could talk!! What stories this mansion would tell us. I would love to have a 'walk through'!!!!

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  10. What a great story and what a beautiful castle. I too love old homes and we live in one built in the 1950's. I prefer older homes with a history to the newer styles. I always have. And yes you're right, if walls could talk what a great history lesson we would hear....

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  11. I hope that the new owners treat the place really well. Have the present owners ever opened part of it for Doors Open day in the fall?

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  12. Ps....I just noticed your new bunny avatar for your profile...how cute!!!

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  13. First of all thanks for taking me down memory lane with the previous post. I can see why you would dream of living there. When I see beautiful old houses, I have a itch to go inside and explore. Sorry to hear about the med debacle. Mother would not take anything until she was sure it was okay and I wish we could all be like her. Peace

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  14. I am meant to live in a castle. Yep, I am.

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  15. yes I adore old houses too, that was some great information about it :-)

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  16. Hi Mary,
    Did you get the email I sent you last night?

    Katherine

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  17. What a fantastic house!
    I love the history behind these places. You would love the Biltmore in our area.
    How sad that they could not hold on to what had meant so much to his family.
    What a fabulous bed and breakfast this would make.

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  18. what a castle
    I lived there as a child always wondered what it was
    I finally found on the net
    enjoyed your story and pictures

    garry d

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