Goodbye to 276 Street

31 May 2025   When Colin and Kate moved into Colin’s parents house on 276 Street out past Maple Ridge Susan and I fell in love with their property. It was a beautiful acreage with trees, fields and a woodlot at the back with a creek. It needed some work but over the years they cleaned it up and turned it into a wonderful country home. Then about two years ago they remodeled the old house into a beautiful modern home. And then they surprised us all by selling it.

When we arrived at Kate and Colin’s almost everyone was there. Kate had a marquee tent errected and snacks out and chairs were set out on the lawn. We followed a Tesla into the drive and I thought it was Flynn’s. Well, it was, but it was Olivia, Flynn’s oldest daughter, alone driving the car. I cannot get over it how fast these kids grow up.

Kate and Colin were having a sort of farewell party for the property. It was sad because the place was so beautiful. I decided that I would spend time walking the property and taking pictures to remember how much I enjoyed it. I am posting the best of these picture here for everyone.

Colin’s mom and dad, Bill and Pat, built the original house in 1960. And they did do it themselves as you can see in these pictures Colin gave me. The property was much different in those days. The trees were all different, the cleared land extended almost to the back of the property, there were very few people living out that way, and there were no highways as we know them. It was a much longer drive to the city in those days. Even to go into Haney, now Maple Ridge, was a journey.

The house from the back looking up the hill

Another picture of Pat on the roof with Bill.

Since it was built the property has undergone many changes. The trees have grown around the house and the back of the property is now a beautiful wood lot with a delightful path back to a small creek that runs along the back edge. Since Colin and Kate moved into the house they have cleared out decades of refuse and decay and made the area around the house into a park like setting.

As I mentioned, a few years ago they began a complete rennovation of the old house into what it is today. I spent a good hour or more on Saturday walking down the road to the north boundary and then along the fence to the creek at the back. It was a delight. I don’t know why but I feel so calm and content when I am out in the bush or walking across meadows of buttercups.

Photographing these moments is always a problem because the camera cannot see feelings. But I have tried to capture the moments I had and some of that joy of being outdoors.

Walking down the road to the North corner of the property and then along the fence we look up at the house on the rise with the old barn below and on the right.

Walking back to the party you can see everyone sitting on the lawn just beyound the big walnut (pecan?) tree.

This little glade would be a perfect place for a small gazebo with a big easy chair in it to sit and read. Summer days here would be heaven.

Colin has built a little bridge over the small creek at the back. It runs under the ferns and brambles so it is hard to photograph in a meaningful way. The path ends here against a wall of trees and dense brush. I think this would be the perfect place for a statue, maybe a nice Madonna. There is a patch of sunlight where she would just glow!

As I was walking back to the house Paul approached me and asked if I would take a picture of him and Morgan. He pointed to a tree in the yard and said that it was a special tree because it is where he and Morgan discussed getting married. They thought it would be nice to be married under that tree. And so they were. I took some pictures for them that day under their tree.

And finally, Nora and David were leaving when I grabbed them and said we had to have our family picture before they could leave. We got everyone together under the big tree for a moment. I brought my tripod for just this picture. Every time we do this we seem to have a bigger and bigger group. We have my children and their children, we have Morgan’s parents, and of course Susan, Nora and I. It is so much fun to go over these pictures and see how the family has grown and changed over the years.

And that was Kate and Colin’s party to say goodbye to this wonderful property. Now we can look forward to their housewarming party in their new place. About the only meaning I can find in life after these 82 years is these family gatherings. And the older I get the sweeter they become.

The “Marr Family Pictures” is created by me, Flynn Marr, and is a private photo album of the Marr family and it’s offshoots.
The content is the property of R. Flynn Marr and subject to his claim of Copyright.
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