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H.M. Klassen's later home in Herbert.

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H.M. Klassen Hospital
1923
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada

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This home became the Herbert Hospital in 1923. Lois Mabbs was the only child in a family of seven to be born in this hospital.

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Holmes Castle
1986
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada

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from several sources-
In 1925 the H.M. Klassen home that had been converted to Herbert's first hospital burned down and the John F.D. Wiebe home became the hospital. Both of these first hospitals were private hospitals. During the 1930's the need for a community hospital was evident and the John Funk residence was purchased and was the community hospital until 1959.

In 1933 Tom Holmes built a home on the foundation of the H.M. Klassen home/Hospital in the style of a miniature castle, to resemble the architecture he had known as a boy in England.

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Holmes Castle Closeup
1986
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada

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It was a large square structure with turrets at each corner raised above the centre roof level, and battlements all around the perimeter of the roof. It contained a large central kitchen, dining room, a parlor with a huge fireplace, and 4 bedrooms. The large wooden doors, between the kitchen or common room area and the parlor and dining room, could be opened by pulling them back into the narrow double wall recess on each side. These huge doors were built by young Deke Kroeker to Tom's specifications.

The grounds which had first been planted by H.M. Klassen in the early years, were a small forest of trees, plants and shrubs which Tom, with all the skill and energy of an English gardener, kept in immaculate and beautiful order. It was an "oasis in the desert" for the town, with statuary, a fountain, wishing well and blessed greenery, and the grounds were always open to anyone who cared to wander through.