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While derelict now, 5002 53 St., pictured here Thursday, was once the home of the Vaydik family in the 1950s and 1960s. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
For many passersby, the dilapidated building at 5002 53 St. is known just as that shack next to Kim's Confectionery. But for Mike Vaydik, it was home for seven years of his childhood.

Mike Vaydik reminisces about the seven years he spent as a boy at 5002 53 St., Wednesday at his home on 53A Avenue. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

Of course, the house wasn't always so sad looking. For the Vaydik family, 5002 53 St. was a step up from where they were living in Old Town. The perks included running water, a prime location in what was then called New Town, and extra space for a growing family.

"You know, it looks pretty humble today, kind of falling into the permafrost, but that was the size of houses in those days. We didn't feel poor, everybody's house was about the same," said Vaydik. "The ones in the New Town all had running water and that was the attraction, because they could run pipes here, and that's why a lot of people moved uptown."

The two-bedroom house was reportedly built from found materials by prospector Frank Moyle in 1946, and was one of the first five houses erected in New Town, according to Yellowknife historian Ryan Silke.

"I was in the house about 10 years ago and wrote a brief report on the structure for the city. The interior was in fairly good shape at that time," said Silke.

Vaydik said he remembers going across the street to spend time with the Bromley family and gather for Cub and Scouts hikes, and he recalled living next to the town barber at the time, Paul Turner.

Vaydik also remembers the cold.

"Like everybody else in those kind of houses, you remember when it was 40-below and your blankets stuck to the wall," Vaydik laughed. "You know, there was a floor furnace in there that was in the dining room, and that heated the whole house. So, you know, if you got to the edges of the wall, it was a little cool and frosty."

The location also allowed Vaydik to walk to St. Patrick School, which was located approximately where the Union of Northern Workers building stands today.

Of course, during that time, Con Mine was very much active, and Vaydik remembers that, too.

"We had a little dog named Dasher and because we were sort of just (over) the Con Mine tunnels, when they set off the 4:30 a.m. round of blasting, the dog would madly try to crawl into bed with whoever was there," Vaydik laughed.

While he celebrated seven years of Christmases, birthdays and other family milestones in the house, Vaydik said he doesn't feel terribly sentimental about the building.

"I mean, it's just an old house. I'm not extremely attached to it. I know my mom, when she comes up, she says she just wishes they would just tear it down. But I don't feel one way or another about it," said Vaydik.

The Vaydik family moved out of the house in the early 1960s, and in the early 1970s Ray Decorby bought up the property for $21,000, thinking it was a good place for him to develop.

Decorby, who still owns the property, ended up living in the house for a couple of years when he was starting his life as an adult.

"Jeez, I bought it I think when I was about 20 years old," he said. "I guess about 40 years ago. I remember the beer bottles hitting the roof in the middle of the night."

Decorby said after his stint at 5002 53 St., he rented the property out for a few years, until it fell into such a state of disrepair that he couldn't rent it anymore.

He said he would like the house to be torn down, but doesn't know when that will be done.

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