Molly Barra

1882 - 1952  (70 years)

• Name	Molly Barra
  Born	1882	of, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA   [1]
  Gender	Female
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80220055
  Historic Building	399 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	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. __________________ 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
  Med. Note	Molly had her right leg amputated at the knee due to gangrene caused by complications of being a diabetic.
  Name	Molly Marquette
  Residence	1922	169 Heiman St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Residence	1928	260 King St. E., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-49937
  Died	1952	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Buried	Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I49937	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family	Louis Marquette,   b. Abt 1882, of, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. Marguerite Marquette   2. Olga Marquette,   b. 1897, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Hilda Marquette,   b. 1904, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1984, Stratford, Perth Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)   4. J. Harold Marquette,   b. 1907, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1972  (Age 65 years)   5. Dora Marquette,   b. Abt 1907, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F27594	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Molly Barra's tombstone in Mount Hope Cemetery

  
  

• 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 _______________________ 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.

  
  

• Sources

  [S166] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Mount Hope CC#4508 Internet Link . [statue of young lady holding a floral wreath] In memory of/ Molly Marquette/ 1882-1952

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1882 - of, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA Historic Building - - 399 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1928 - 260 King St. E., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 1952 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth