An impressive two-storey, red brick veneer farmhouse, south of Rossburn in the Municipality of Rossburn, was designed and built by Arthur Franklin Nesbitt around 1905 for James Armstrong (1854-1925), an immigrant from Ontario who had arrived with his brothers Walter and William in the 1880s.
The farmhouse sat vacant for a time but, since 2004, was faithfully restored to its original external appearance by its owners. A wooden barn on the property, with corrugated metal roof, was repaired too. In 2005, the farmhouse became a municipally-designated historic building.
The house and barn were destroyed by a tornado on 28 June 2026.
Brick residence building at the Armstrong Farm, with the barn in the background (circa 1912)
Source: Bernadine and Brian Brown
Brick residence building at the Armstrong Farm prior to its restoration (April 2005)
Source: Bernadine and Brian Brown
Brick residence building at the Armstrong Farm (August 2013)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Wooden barn building at the Armstrong Farm (August 2013)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
View of the damaged roof of the wooden barn building at the Armstrong Farm (June 2002)
Source: Bernadine and Brian Brown
Refurbished barn on the Armstrong Farm (December 2015)
Source: Bernadine and Brian BrownSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.60080, W100.79081
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Armstrong Barn (RM of Yellowhead)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites
On the Sunny Slopes of the Riding Mountains: A History of Rossburn and District by Rossburn History Club, 1984, volume 2, pages 74-75.
Armstrong Farm Site, SE 6-19-24 W, Rossburn area, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.
“‘It took 10 seconds to do this’: Manitoba retirees lose home to tornado,” CBC News, 29 June 2026.
We thank Bernadine and Brian Brown for their gracious hospitality during our visit to the site, and for providing information about it.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 30 June 2026
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