To most Rosedale residents, the century-old yellow farmhouse that stands across from the United Church is known as the Mercer House.

But for Roger Tweedle, the house at 51380 Yale Rd. was just called home.

Given heritage status in 1989, and now listed alongside 12 other houses on the Tourism Chilliwack website, the home has stood in the centre of Rosedale for 110 years.

But that era is about to come to an end, however. Now the question is whether the house can be moved and saved.

Tweedle was just two in 1934 when he moved to the home along with his father—an Agassiz farmer—and his mother, a daughter of the home’s builder, James Mercer.

He says his mother, Jean would entertain visitors for hours on end in the home’s living room and kitchen.

Tweedle remembers his uncle, who usually visited on long weekends, remarking on the coming-and-going.

“He said the house was like a kaleidoscope—it was a never-ending stream of visitors,� Tweedle said.

Soon after his mother died in 1959, Tweedle and his father moved out of the house. But they didn’t go far, taking up residence in a smaller house just two doors down from their own home.

Tweedle still lives in that home, sleeping just a stone’s throw of his old bedroom. His desk is filled with family photos featuring the home and pre-war Rosedale.

On July 17, council unanimously approved the rezoning of the Mercer House property, which will allow Tycrop to replace the home—which most recently functioned as a home for recovering addicts—with a parking lot.

Tweedle spoke three times at the public hearing, but he says he wasn’t surprised when council approved the rezoning.

“I knew very well they were going to pass it,� he said.

Tweedle had hoped that council would attach some conditions onto the rezoning, but that never happened.

He says it’s sad that the property will become a lot for cars.

“Parking, you know, is a trivial use for land.�

Tweedle is skeptical about whether the house can be moved. Its height would require power and phone lines up and down Yale Road to be lifted to accommodate its transportation.

But Tycrop says it will do its best to facilitate the home’s relocation.

Tycrop president Scott Mason said the company has budgeted $25,000 to help move the house.

On a website promoting the company’s Rosedale redevelopment, Tycrop says it bought the house several years ago in order to adjust the property’s border.

“We really did not, and still do not, intend to demolish the yellow house, except if needed as a final resort based on our development schedule and timelines,� an unidentified writer explains. “Despite the condition of the home and cost to fix it up . . . we hope to find a suitable charity to donate the home to so that it can be properly relocated and eventually even fixed up. If a suitable charity cannot be found then we hope that individuals or even a group of people like yourself from the community of Rosedale will come up with a new location and contribute resources to make this happen.

“On a personal level, many of us like the look of some old homes—but unfortunately, as a company that is known for innovation, charming old homes like this one are not part of our vision for creating a more modern manufacturing company at this location. With that said, we fully support and would love to participate in helping move the yellow house to a new location that does make sense and where it can be enjoyed, and hopefully that is somewhere in Rosedale for the benefit of the citizens that truly do care about this house.�

tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com