Homeowner Jessica Kaufman has an interest in historical aspects of her home in Clifford. She initiated the search into its earliest beginnings and now has a plaque designating the historical significance of the house.
Minto resident Mark McKenzie researched her property through the archives at area museums and discovered interesting tidbits of founders, builders, previous home owners, previous businesses and a shoemaker shop keeper.
An early settler, Charles Allen surveyed the lots in 1854. The property was sold in 1872 to shoemaker William Ford and the house was built. The shop closed in 1893.
The building was sold in 1903 to Sarah and Noah Eckel who raised their nine children and ran a barbershop. Their daughter Ruth (Eckel) and her husband Allister Kruspe raised their family in the house from 1947 to 1958 and ran a merchant business.
Many may remember the house as it stood nestled beside the Mansion Inn Hotel which burned down in 1993.
Some may have sampled the fare when Margita and Leo Manke renovated the home and operated the Garden Cafe from 1986 to 1997.
In 2002, Judy and Peter Birch bought the home and allowed it to be listed on the Clifford and District Historical Society walking tour of historic buildings transformed in Clifford.
Now Kaufman takes her place in the history of the community with her name etched in the heritage plaque as homeowner since 2013. She also invested in another plaque outlining the history of the house.
A heritage plaque project was initiated as a way to celebrate and highlight the importance of the past in Minto.
Six buildings of historical significance in Clifford were chosen to receive a plaque.
