When David H Brown retired after 35 years in the funeral business he embarked upon a mission to build himself a house. But, not wishing to use standard building materials and "to induldge a whim of a peculiar nature" the retired undertaker decided to travel western Canada collecting embalming fluid bottles from friends in the funeral profession to add to his own collection, until he had acquired 250 tons in all. Beginning in 1952, he used 500,000 of the bottles to build his family a home known as "The Glass House".
The house was built upon solid rock in a clover-leaf pattern with three main rooms, 48 ft in length by 24 ft wide and with an upstairs room, for a total 1200 sq ft of floor space.
But the project attracted the curiosity of passers-by from the start. Finally, suffering from complete lack of privacy, they employed a staff and admitted the curious to view their masterpiece.
Today, visitors are welcomed by a mountain stream trickling over a moss-covered water wheel which brings to life the dwarf inhabitants and garden gnomes nestled around the wishing well.
Pathways entice people from the terrace to venture over a bridge also built of glass bottles. A winding path beneath the bridge leads to the rocky lakeshore and a lookout called the lighthouse which offers a spectacular view of beautiful Kootenay Lake.
So, if you are in the Boswell area (25 miles North of Creston) you can visit this rather curious tourist attraction seven days a week, May to October.
To view pictures of this unusual home click here!
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