Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wasylishen’s Barbershop and Pool Hall (Tolstoi, Municipality of Emerson-Franklin)

This wooden building at Tolstoi, in the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin, was built in 1939 to house the barbershop business of Paul Wasylishen (1895-1984), along with two pool tables. Later, the pool tables were removed and a lunch counter was put in so Paul and his wife Fanny Nedohin Wasylishen (1910-1988) could operate a small restaurant. Their residence shared the building.

Paul retired in 1965 but he continued to give haircuts until he moved to Winnipeg in 1981. The building was used as a private residence until a few years ago when it was donated to a community non-profit, Tolstoi Historic Properties Inc. Work continues on the building with the goal of renting it to a small business.

The former Wasylishen’s Barbershop and Pool Hall

The former Wasylishen’s Barbershop and Pool Hall (January 2019)
Source: George Penner

The former Wasylishen’s Barbershop and Pool Hall

The former Wasylishen’s Barbershop and Pool Hall (January 2023)
Source: George Penner

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.07559, W96.80815
denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

Obituary [Fanny Wasylishen], Winnipeg Free Press, 1 February 1988, page 30.

Tolstoi Heritage Centre.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Gordon Goldsborough and Wayne Arseny for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by George Penner.

Page revised: 12 August 2024

Historic Sites of Manitoba

This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.

Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other

Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.

Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.

Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ

Help us keep history alive!