THE CONDEMDED HOUSE

THE CONDEMDED HOUSE

The year 1977

We lived in a house off Panet Rd – East Kildonan when I was around 7-11 years old. Three houses away from us was a couple who were a little odd. They had around 13 cats- or so, no kids just cats. One day the whole block was not so surprised to see a condemned sign and eviction notice on their front door. This was a rental house and we found out later – the couple just up and left. I never did find out if they took their cats with them or not. One of the neighbours happened to check the front door and found it unlocked. It then became the neighbourhood tourist attraction – free admission. I went in with my dad. The first thing I noticed when I got in was the overwhelming stench of cat pee.  The second thing I noticed was piles of cat shit everywhere – and I mean everywhere. I did not see any litter boxes. The stairs had just enough space to walk up the middle- cat shit was on both sides of each stair. They left all their furniture, food – everything.  People were helping themselves to salvageable items in the house. I happened to salvage a comic collection which was safely stored away in a bedroom dresser. I knew the husband (I can’t remember his name – her name was Sue) always chewed tobacco. I always saw his horking and spitting outside. What I didn’t know was that he chewed and spit inside as well. The lazy boy recliner in the living room in front of the TV looked like his favourite chew spot. There were spit mounds on both sides of the chair – the floor was black. I guess he just sat there chewed and let the spit fly wherever it landed. It was disgusting. The rest of the house was an equal disaster. Bugs were flying around, roaches, rotten food on the floor with maggots crawling around. Today when everybody has seen HOARDERS on TLC it may not seem so shocking – but in 1977 it was quite the spectacle.