There is no record of where the Bobowsky family lived when they returned to Winnipeg from Coleman circa 1912. They are first listed in the 1915 Winnipeg directory which records addresses collected in 1914. Between 1914 and 1929 the Bobowskys occupied a string of eight rented houses in North End, Winnipeg, moving to a new place every few years. The houses were all located in an area of about 2 square kilometers.
During this period Winnipeg was rolling out it’s municipal utilities: electric power, water mains and sewage systems. In the early years the Bobowsky homes probably relied on wells and/or rain barrels, kerosene lanterns and outhouses and were likely heated by coal fireplaces or stoves. In the later years the homes would have had running water, electricity and hot water central heating.
Most Bobowsky homes were small bungalows, 600 to 800 square feet with three or four rooms. All of the houses were wooden, detached single family dwellings. In the early years while the family was still small they rented out at least one of the rooms to boarders for extra income. The houses on Selkirk Avenue were both family homes and bookstores during the years Martin Bobowsky tried to establish himself as a bookseller. Many of the houses have since been demolished but some of the original buildings can still be found in present day Winnipeg.
By 1929 the family had saved enough money to make a down payment on their own house at 733 Boyd Avenue in the same neighbouhood of North End Winnipeg.
Brief descriptions of each home can be found at the following links: