Indian Head Walking Tour Brochure & Map.pdf - Tourism ...

36. 609 and 613 Grand Ave:
The Leach Legacy
Arthur Leach came to Indian Head at age 14 in 1886,
becoming a mail driver the same year. He also built
these beautiful brick buildings, although not in the
same year. The buff brick building at 609 Grand was
built in 1897, as the home for his family. The upper
storey features two cathedral windows with arched brick
work. The lower floor once had three street openings.
The left and right windows once served as doors. Also
note the original eave decoration. A south portico is
framed by four, well-preserved, square, white columns.
In 1906, 609 Grand opened as a law office for H. G. W.
Wilson. Lawyer Lloyd Avram purchased the building
then sold it to Sandy Rennebohm.
In 1906, when he became Indian Head’s third
postmaster, Leach built the red brick building at 613
Grand and leased it to the Government as the post office.
It was closed as a post office in 1961, when the present
post office, at 606 Dewdney, opened. A granddaughter
of Arthur Leach, Connie Willerth, and son Bobby lived
in the four-room living quarters upstairs. To this day,
the post office building still retains the original tin-tiled
ceiling.
Rennebohm sold both buildings to Jane Hogan who
opened her Agora Gallery here.
In 2007, Georges Hatem, his wife, Hind Rami, and
their three children moved into the top floor of the post
office building. Georges updated the main floor with
child-sized toilets and sinks as well as a kitchen. Hind
now uses both buildings for the Little Castle Child Care,
which is licensed to accommodate up to 40 children. LK
40