This farmstead was developed between 1897 and 1910 by Wasyl and Anna Negrych and their children. It possesses the oldest known residence in Manitoba built in the Ukrainian vernacular tradition, as well as the most complete set of original pioneer-era farm buildings.
The ten surviving log buildings were constructed almost exclusively of natural materials gathered on the homestead. The structures feature many examples of ingenious folk design and quality craftsmanship associated with the self-reliant tradition of Ukrainian peasant society, such as the hand-crafted wooden door-hinges and latches. The 1908 bunkhouse contains a rare example of a handmade clay bake-oven or peech. It also possesses the only known Manitoba example of a traditional eastern-European style roof, characterized by handsplit, metre-long wooden shingles. The Negrych family members were avid horticulturists and maintained several orchards and gardens. The primary orchard, located in the centre of the farmyard, still supports a variety of the original fruit, berry, and herb plantings.
In 1991, Gilbert Plains area residents organized to preserve and restore the Negrych Homestead as a tribute to the family and the Ukrainian pioneer experience in Manitoba.
Français
Cette ferme a été établie de 1897 à 1910 par Wasyl et Anna Negrych et leurs enfants. On y trouve la plus vieille résidence manitobaine connue, construite selon la tradition vernaculaire ukrainienne, ainsi que l’ensemble le plus complet de dépendances de l’ère des pionniers.
Les dix édifices en bois qui subsistent ont été réalisés presque exclusivement avec des matériaux naturels trouvés sur la terre. Ils sont caractérisés par de nombreux exemples d’éléments folkloriques ingénieux et d’artisanat de qualité, issus des traditions des paysans autonomes ukrainiens, notamment des charnières de portes et des loquets en bois sculpté. Dans un pavillon construit en 1908, on trouve un rare exemple de four en terre cuite, ou « peech », fait à la main. Le pavillon a également le seul toit traditionnel de style est-européen connu au Manitoba, caractérisé par des cardeaux en bois d’un mètre de longueur, coupés à la main. Les membres de la famille Negrych étaient fervents d’horticulture et avaient plusieurs vergers et jardins. Le premier verger, situé au centre de la ferme, contient encore les arbres à fruits, les baies et les plants d’herbes originaux.
En 1991, les habitants de la région de Gilbert Plains ont pris des mesures en vue de la restauration de la ferme Negrych, en l’honneur de la famille et pour commémorer l’expérience des premiers ukrainiens au Manitoba.
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Plaque text and location: Manitoba Heritage Council Commemorative Plaques, Historic Resources Branch, Government of Manitoba, as the Branch publishes them on its plaque pages. The text is the Manitoba Heritage Council’s text as the Branch publishes it; the pin on this page is ours, worked out from the location the Branch gives and marked approximate. Contains information from the Government of Manitoba, licensed under the OpenMB Information and Data Use License (Manitoba.ca/OpenMB) TreeAlive is an independent project and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Manitoba Heritage Council, the Historic Resources Branch or the Government of Manitoba. OpenMB Information and Data Use License This marker on the program's own site