Canadian teacher's bottle house becomes quirky heritage landmark

When Ontario teacher Hank Deverell set out to build something special for his wife Myrtle in 1973, he chose an unconventional approach. Using thousands of glass bottles, mortar and more than 1,750 hours of painstaking labour, Deverell constructed a house in Redditt, Ontario, initially designed to showcase his wife's growing doll collection.

The structure's distinctive appearance—walls fashioned from repurposed glass bottles—soon caught public attention, transforming the family property into an unexpected tourist draw. What began as a personal project gradually attracted visitors from across Canada and beyond, curious to witness the unusual architectural achievement.

Over time, the bottle house and its surrounding structures became known as a heritage oddity in rural Ontario. The property's appeal rested on two key elements: the striking bottle-built construction that demonstrated resourceful building techniques, and Myrtle's curated doll collection housed within. The combination created a destination that blended domestic artistry with architectural curiosity.

The bottle house remains a notable example of folk architecture and personal expression in Canada, standing as a reminder of one teacher's commitment to creating something memorable for his family. The property has endured as a marker of mid-20th century Canadian ingenuity and unconventional craftsmanship.