Olga Marquette

Other Events:

• Name: Olga McKenzie
• Residence: 399 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74987
• Occupation: 1922, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; insurance clerk
• Residence: 1950, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada

Olga married Ernest William McKenzie 8 Nov 1922, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Ernest (son of William McKenzie and Amy Elizabeth Jones) was born 5 Nov 1879, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-49938

Louis — Molly Barra. Molly was born 1882, of, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA; died 1952, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80220055
• Historic Building: 399 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Name: Molly Marquette
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-49937
• Residence: 1922, 169 Heiman St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1928, 260 King St. E., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Molly Barra lived in Russia from the age of 5 until aged 15 in the castle of her uncle a government official in the old Russia regime.. She married married shortly afterwards and came to America on her honeymoon and stayed. She travelled widely and finally settled in Kitchener, Ontario. She never lost her memory of the splendid home of her childhood with its towers and turrets and well-tended park lands. She in 1930 remodelled the MacKay home and renamed it Castle Barra. It contained a number of apartments.


Kitchener Daily Record Newpaper 8 Nov 1930 (adapted from article) City's First and Only Castle Constructed By Woman Architect

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Molly defaulted a number of times on her mortgage and in 1934 her daughter Olga McKenzie took over the mortage until it was sold to Marquette Realty in 1950 who retained it until 1956.

Med. Note:
Molly had her right leg amputated at the knee due to gangrene caused by complications of being a diabetic.

Historic Building:
Built in 1930 by Molly Marquette. Many different stories about her and the building's existence exist. In the 1928 City directory Molly Marquett is listed as living at 260 King Street East Apt F., Kitchener along with Harold (a salesman), Hilda (an operator), and Dorothea (works for Mutual Life Insurance). By 1930 acccording they all have moved into Castle Barra at 399 Queen Street South, Kitchener.

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Kitchener - New life may be breathed into the historic Barra Castle on Queen Street South in Kitchener.

A local planner has received approval from Heritage Kitchener, who wants to save the original part of the structure, build in 1930. Today's Record reports, Paul Puopolo, from the IBI Group in Kitchener, plans to demolish the back of the building, which is essentially falling down, while restoring the front, which measures 36-hundred square feet.
The building has been off limits for two years, ever since inspectors deemed it unsafe due to numerous building and fire code violations. The proposal would involve adding more residences and business to the structure, which currently houses three apartments. Kitchener's Development and Technical Services Committee will take up the issue on September 14th, and it will go before council on the 22nd. The planner's offer to buy the building expires at the end of this month.

570 News Radio 2 Sep 2009