On October 27, 1920 Prokop Kondratiuk died. As Prokop’s sole heir, his son Simeon Kondratiuk inherited Prokop’s house at 669 Boyd Avenue in Winnipeg. In the spring of 1922 Simeon agreed to sell the house to his step-mother, Julia Macuira Kondratiuk. Julia and Simeon were both living in the house at the time. The family lawyer, Clifford Murchison, who was then the executor of Prokop’s estate, administered the sale on behalf of the family.
First Mr. Murchison had a Winnipeg real estate agent assess the market value of 669 Boyd Avenue. Court documents filed in 1920 had estimated the value at $1,100. The agent valued the property at $900, describing the house as “a two room dwelling which is out of repair.” Another court document described the house as a “shack”.
Simeon and Julia then agreed that Julia would purchase “Simeon’s interest” in the property for $600. Although Simeon was Prokop’s sole heir it appears he only inherited a partial interest in the house. A likely explanation is that Julia was entitled to 30% of Prokop’s estate under dower laws that provided women with some financial security if they were widowed. Simeon also undertook to pay Mr. Murchison’s legal fees of $100 from the proceeds of the sale.
On May 29, 1922 Mr. Murchison, as executor, petitioned the court to approve the sale of Simeon’s interest in 669 Boyd to Julia for $600 less legal fees. The petition explains that the house had fallen into disrepair, in part because Simeon had been unemployed and Julia had been working to support the family financially. Julia wanted full ownership of the property, in part, to justify paying to repair the house. On June 9 the court ordered that the sale be arranged.