Monday, March 22, 2010
Wartime House

"SECOND WORLD WAR HOUSES FOR WARTIME HOUSING LTD.

1941-1942

  "During the Second World War the City of North Vancouver was an important centre for shipbuilding activities.  The sudden influx of workmen for these and other defense projects necessitated the construction of a number of new homes.  As such, in 1941 two hundred new residences were built at 2nd Street and St. George's Avenue, and four hundred were constructed between Fell and Heywood Avenues, while McCarter and Nairne acted as supervising architects for all wartime housing in British Columbia.  In addition, two large buildings, each housing approximately one hundred and eighty bachelors, were built at the corner of 3rd Street and St. George's Avenue.  A number of these smaller wartime residences remain in the City of North Vancouver, however, due to their modular nature, most have been altered or added to over the years.  A recent in-depth study of wartime housing by J. Robert Faulkner has clarified its significance to the development of the North Shore, and identified those examples still remaining in the City; these are listed and described on the following pages."  City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994, page 172.

The house at 648 East 3rd Street is one of these Wartime Houses and a photo and description are shown on page 174 of the City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994. "This is another example of an H-1 single family residence. These houses were 24'x24' in plan, and also built in reverse, such as this model which has the double windows of the living room to the left of the entry."  648 was built in 1941 for $1605.  

In 1945 and 1950 the house was owned by Eric S. and Justine Dunham.  Eric worked as a burner  for the NVSR in 1945 and for the PDD in 1950.  By 1960 Justine was a widow and a factory worker at Schlage Lock.  In the 1968 City Directory the house is listed only as occupied.  And in 1975 there was no answer at all to their requests.  In 1985 the new resident was R. K. Crockett.  And in 1995/96 the occupant is listed as C. Jordan.

The photo of 648 East 3rd Street was taken by Suzanne Wilson as part of her

Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home.  2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed.  Approximately 800 of these were accompanied by some history from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs. 

In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project.  At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 648 East 3rd Street had been demolished and a new home had been built.


Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW.
Reference: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.