This lovely old house belonged to Doris and Donald Barber, who lived in Guelph, Ontario. The Barber family began a painting and glazing store in 1883. Since that time, the family has expanded into custom glass, mirrors and antique glass.
Doris began a business framing art (The Barber Gallery). There were three businesses operating under the family, each of which were based on the selling of glass.
In 2010 the business faced bankruptcy but the family was eventually able to purchase the business back from the bank. At the time, the business employed over 100 employees.
Donald passed away in 1990, leaving his son to take over the glass business and the wife lived until 2015 when she passed away at home. The home was sold shortly after her death.
These details weren’t known to me at the time of my exploration in July of 2020, but they explain a few things. There’s plenty of glass inside the home. The indoor pool is surrounded by glass patio doors. One of the hallways features antique glass design walls, the bathroom has an etched swan, the closet doors are mirrored glass, and the front doors have etched glass in them. There are several 270 degree wrap around glass awnings.
What is particularly fascinating about this house is that the residents never appeared to have modernized the property. It still contains the vibrant colours of the 1970’s, the outdated kitchen cupboards, linoleum flooring, shag carpeting and pretty much every other original design. Several of the bedrooms are lined with wood panel walls (the thin wood with vertical black lines). Two of the bedrooms have rear patio doors that exit out into a hallway lined with awning glass that overlooks the back yard.
The pool area is indoors, surrounded by six patio doors and with skylight bubbles to allow light in. The pool was deep enough to have a diving board and a slide. One could imagine the pool parties that took place decades ago.
There’s no furniture or personal effects left except for the freezer and stove. No photos, nor clothes. The only items that might suggest this house was ever lived in are a telephone and some rubber boots in the cooking room.
The basement is damp, the walls dripping in condensation and the ceiling tiles are covered in black mold. There’s a fireplace and chopped wood supply. You can almost picture family watching Archie Bunker in the basement on a winter’s night.
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I am very upset with your insensitive view of my family home.
Built in1952 by my parents who worked very hard the home was featured in 60’s magazine for the contemporary solid cherry kitchen first in housing built in appliances the carpet in the living room was soiled by the animals squirrels etc that broke in with the new developer owner who is letting the house deteriorate
So they can tear it down. My parents built the home out of river stone
The fire places were beautiful in their day. The wood stove you spoke of in such a clumsy manner is a copper in door barbecue and the room is a breeze way the house was very beautiful before a developer bought it for nothing and left it with no love only the thought of greed. The cut down all the beautiful trees planted by the family. My father died on New Years Eve 1990 in my Mother’s arms they were dancing at the Desert Inn. My mother took extraordinary care of the home until her last years the home was still maintained. She spent her last days in the breezeway waking every morning saying I love it here. Her gardens were stunning. She got to enjoy her hard work until her death in 2015.
The executor the Royal Bank sold the home within a very short time to 3 developers. I would really like an opportunity to clarify many things.
The wood in the bedrooms is pecan
Hi Gail,
My name is Charlotte Prouse, a professional runner from Canada & former NCAA runner at the University of New Mexico. I am a professional track athlete with the Canadian Olympic Committee. I moved to Guelph just under a year ago and live in the South End of Guelph currently. I have run past the house at 776 Gordon hundreds of times now and I simply love this house even in the current state. I would love to connect with you if you are open and willing. My email is charlotteprouse1 @ gmail.com
I adore this house every time I drove by and love its midcentury look. What I assumed was a sun room is pool!!!
I ADORE it and wish I could buy it and restore it to its original glory!
What a treasure!
This was my family home.
It is abandoned by the present owner not us it is not the 70’s it was the 60’s
The house was built in 1952 you
Solid cherry kitchen cabinets cedar walk in closets not a torture space a walk in closet lined with cedar worth a fortune. The ghost is probably my mother hoping you will get out. If you did not want to breath in the mood why are you there
closets do you even know your wood? You are insensitive and incorrect.
You should be ashamed of yourself misleading people with your commentary.