Manitoba Municipal Heritage Site No. 140

 
 

Winkler House
590 Hespeler Avenue,
Gretna

Winkler House

Designation Date: October 15, 1996
Designation Authority: The Village of Gretna
Present Owner: privately owned

The original occupants of this house, Enoch and Helen Winkler, were notable participants in the immigration of Mennonites to Canada. While working in Berlin, Ontario (now called Waterloo), Enoch came to the attention of the local immigration agents working on bringing the first group of Mennonites to Manitoba. Being fluent in German, he was persuaded to join the expedition as a translator. Enoch and Helen stayed on in Gretna and constructed this house in 1900. Architecturally, it is a modest example of the Italianate style so popular at the time. Bay windows, tall openings and eave brackets, all seen here, were hallmarks of the style.

Return to Municipal Heritage Sites List