End of Month Index

April 2010

Arranged by Subject and Address Country, State/Province, City, Street: numerical East, alphabetical, numerical West.

CANADA

British Columbia

City of North Vancouver

332 East 4th Street, Canary Yellow, Friday, April 2, 2010

367 East 5th Street, Stone Wall, Horseshoe Gate, Monday, April 5, 2010

658 East 5th Street, One Big Address, Wednesday, April 7, 2010

302 East 6th Street, Come Build a House, Thursday, April 1, 2010

335 East 8th Street, Victor Larson House, Monday, April 12, 2010
335A East 8th Street, "A" House, Tuesday, April 13, 2010
509 East 11th Street, Grey Stucco on East 11th, Thursday, April 22, 2010
219 and 221 East 18th Street, Two For One, Tuesday, April 20, 2010
240 East Esplanade, Gone Hiking, Tuesday, April 27, 2010
1250 Lonsdale Avenue, Shell Game, Friday, April 9, 2010
210 West 13th Street, The Chesterton, Thursday, April 15, 2010
206 West 19th Street, $250 1930 Foundation, Friday, April 23, 2010
210 West 19th Street, A Triplex is Coming, Monday, April 26, 2010

North Vancouver District

2808 Bushnell Place, "School Next Door", Friday, April 16, 2010.

482 Genoa Crescent, "Genoa North Vancouver", Not Italy, Mon., April 19, 2010.
4106 Grace Crescent, "State of Grace, Thursday", April 29, 2010.
971 Hampshire Rd., "Sold!,Wednesday", April 28, 2010.
1240 West Keith Road, "1938 Eyebrow Roof", Thursday, April 8, 2010.

3458 Mahon Avenue, "1956 Red Brick", Tuesday, April 6, 2010.

4819 Skyline Drive, "The Top of the World", Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

2427 William Avenue, "White House on William", Wednesday, April 14, 2010.

ITALY

Rome, Saturday Travel Feature, Castel Sant'Angelo, Saturday, April 24, 2010

Rome, Sunday Church Feature, St. Peter's Basilica, Sunday, April 25, 2010

UNITED STATES

California

Palm Desert, Sunday Church Feature, Palm Desert Church, Sunday, 4/11/10

Palm Desert, Saturday Travel Feature, Green in the Desert Sand, Sat., 4/10/10

Washington

Deer Park, Sunday Church Feature, Wildrose United Methodist Church,
                       Sunday, April 18, 2010

Spokane, Saturday Travel Feature, Spokane Milk Bottle, Sat., April 17, 2010

Wisconsin

Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Lutherans in Kaukauna, Easter Sunday Church

                       Feature Sunday, April 4, 2010

Kaukauna, Wisconsin, School on the Fox, Saturday Travel Feature, 4/3/2010

FEATURES

Saturday Travel Features

Kaukauna, Wisconsin, School on the Fox, Saturday Travel Feature, 4/3/2010

Palm Desert, Saturday Travel Feature, Green in the Desert Sand, Sat., 4/10/10

Spokane, Washington, Saturday Travel Feature, Spokane Milk Bottle,

                     Sat., April 17, 2010
Rome, Saturday Travel Feature, Castel Sant'Angelo, Saturday, April 24, 2010

Sunday Church Features

Deer Park, Sunday Church Feature, "Wildrose United Methodist Church",

                       Sunday, 4/18/2010.

Kaukauna, Wisconsin, "Lutherans in Kaukauna", Easter Sunday Church

                       Feature, Sunday, April 4, 2010.

Palm Desert, Sunday Church Feature, "Palm Desert Church", Sunday, 4/11/10.

Rome, Sunday Church Feature, "St. Peter's Basilica", Sunday, April 25, 2010.

Photo: The prominent North Shore mountain peaks, "The Lions", taken in

2006 by SW.

Thursday, April 29, 2010
State of Grace

A graceful pink dogwood tree greets visitors to the one storey white clapboard house at 4106 Grace Crescent.  The house sitting at a bend in the road is south of Edgewood Road and Handsworth Secondary School and west of the Mac Kay Creek area near the base of the North Shore mountains which can be seen in the the photo above. Here it is nestled with other street that are crescents, roads, drives, places and lanes. The house is built on a cement slab and similar to other homes in this area.

Although there is no listing of the original construction of 4106 Grace Crescent in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives the present owner states the age of the home is 56 years. That would make the date it was built as 1954. There is no listing of even the street name Grace Crescent in either the 1948 or in 1950 City Directories. However in 1955 the owners are listed as Eric H. and M. Patricia DeWitt. Eric worked as a salesman at Reliance Imports. And in 1958 a building permit for a $1000 addition was applied for by the then owner G. Aylward. Also the April 28th Blog Post lists a similar house in the general area being built in 1953. So 1954 does seem like it would be in the ball park of when the house was originally built. The 1958 addition was possibly the extra room that appears at the end of the house on the left hand side, outside the area in the photo.

In 1960 the owners were Marjorie E. and George T. Ayward, the builders of the 1958 addition. George was a branch manager at Western Assurance at 980 Pender St. But by 1971 there were new owners, Elizabeth J. and A. Stewart McKenzie. Stewart was a branch manager at the Royal Bank. After that, in 1980, 1991, and 1995/96 the City Directory inquiries were not returned or not verified. However, the present owner states that he has lived in the house at 4106 for 21 years. So it seems he must have moved in about 1979. The present owner has not only lived on Grace Crescent for 21 years but has fond memories of his home there.

Thank you: To the present owner of 4106 Grace Crescent for information about his home.  We wish this gracious man well in his new endeavour.
Demolition: Permit applied for in April 2010.
Photo: Taken in April 2010 by SW.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sold!

The grey stucco house with the white shutters at 971 Hampshire Road has been sold to a developer and a Demolition Permit applied for. As with many houses off Highland Blvd. in the area of Forest Hills in North Vancouver District, it is one storey and built on a cement slab. Also, typical of many of these homes, the carport garage originally on the east side of the house has probably been filled in to make an extra room. The open carport can be seen on several of the other homes on this street. The multi paneled glass front door adds a welcoming feature.

The building permit for the original house was applied for in 1953. P. Bergen the owner of the lot had a $10,000 premises constructed. Two years later, in 1955, S.N.L. and Jean M. Andrews were the owners. S. N. L. was employed as a parts salesman at Vancouver Motors. But after that the whole story of the house is the "Morrison Story". Doug and Margaret E. were owners by 1960. Doug was the vice president of the London Shop. By 1970 he was president of the London Shop Ltd. with its address of 801 West Georgia Street. There are records in the City Directory of him continuing to be president of The London Shop through 1996. In this year, 1996, James and Jane Beveridge were also living in the house. James S. worked as an engineer at Yoneda and Associates, and Jane was a teachers aide at Maplewood Elementary School.

Demolition: Permit applied for in April 2010.
Photo: Taken in April 2010 by SW.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Gone Hiking

Occupancy on the north side of the 200 block of East Esplanade in the City of North Vancouver goes way back. This prime property with its panoramic view of Vancouver was first occupied by tents and "camps". The Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives lists applications:
          in 1911 for a camp at 218 by Mr. Dubberley,
          in 1912 for cabins costing $600 to build at 222 by J. V. Nimmo
                   with the builder being A.G. Mill,
          in 1911 for a tent at 252 by C.W. Vanstone,
          in 1911 for a camp at 262 by G. H. Watts,
          and in 1912 for a 14x24 camp at 296 by J. L. Hampton.

It seems from the Building Permit book that the first business to apply for an application on the 200 block of East Esplanade was in 1929 at 206 by Home Oil Distributors for a Gas Station. It was built for $3000 by W. F. Gardiner. (The address was possibly 260 for an addition to the gas station by Home Oil was applied for in 1938 at this address.) In 1941 Coleman E. Evans applied for building of a Coal Bunker at 200 East Esplanade. The builder was F. Gosse and the cost of construction was $1200.

In the mid 1940's several other businesses were added to the street:
      in 1946 W. K. McKay applied to build a foundry at 234,
      in 1947 E. J. Bonk applied to build a machine shop at 236,
      and in 1948 Allied Woodwork applied to build a woodworking shop
               at 242.

By 1948 the 200 block of East Esplanade seemed to be showing signs of establishing itself as an automotive service center. For although 234 is listed as North Shore Brass and 240 as still Allied Woodworking Ltd. now 236 is Howarth Bros. truckers and 260 in North Vancouver Tire Service. The properties at 212, 214, and 228 seem to remain homes at this time:
      Mrs. V. Kwasnicki is listed at 212 as is W. H. Forsyth,
      P. T. Laffey is listed at 214,
      and 228 is listed as vacant.

By 1970 240 East Esplanade is recorded as housing an automotive related business, North West Automatic Transmission Rebuilders. That business with its president being Karl W. Stefan remained listed in 1981. However, in 1982 the name of the business changed to Biss Motors (The address was listed as 242.) Biss Motors continued to be listed at 240 East Esplanade at least until 1995/96 with Janda Biss as President.

Other automotive business activity was going on in the area below 200 East Esplanade, on the Lower Level Road, the road the branches off of 300 East Esplanade to run closest to the water. At the north side of this junction is 350 Low Level Road. In 1971 it was occupied by Marine Transport, that did cargo handling, and the Yukon Service Garage with J. J. Green as president. In 1975 the occupant was Turbo Resources Ltd. And in 1978 it was reported as being vacant. The following year, in 1979, Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. was established with Paul Krystof as manager. By 1991 he is listed as president.

When Janda Biss retired his business, Biss Motors, at 240 East Esplanade, Paul Krystof and his Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. moved from its 350 Lower Level Road address to 240 East Esplanade. Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. at the Esplanade address is listed in the year 2000 phone book. It is also listed in the 2008/2010 phone book. However, that will be the last listing since Paul Krystof retired at the end of March 2010.

Today six buildings line the north side of the 200 block of East Esplanade. The first building after a large parking lot on the corner with St. George's Ave. starts with the address 218. The fourth building (See photo below.) houses the address 240 East Esplanade, the home of Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. The date this distinctive building of a series of automotive businesses with repeated colorful garage doors (square glas paines, Moodyville's green, then white, red, two grey,  red again, and then yellow) and adjacent office doors and windows on the first floor is not recorded in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives. The two storey building with its second storey veranda and office spaces seems reminiscent of buildings in Chinatown in Vancouver. The 6th building in the block extends all the way to the corner with St. Andrew's Avenue. It was at one time Performance Motorcycles. The parade of motorcycles parked in front added panache to the area. Today there are businesses side by side extending from 218 to 270 East Esplanade. Most still seem to be automotive related.

Thank you: To Paul Krystof for his years of responsible, capable, and honest service and his friendship to our family. We will think of him and his wife hiking the trails of the world and wish them well.

Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

Monday, April 26, 2010
A Triplex is Coming

The modern single storey house at 210 West 19th Street and its neighbor at 206 West 19th Street (See Blog Post Friday, April 26, 2010.) are being demolished to make way for a triplex. The triplex will extend from Chesterfield Avenue to the lane.

The 210 West 19th Street house features vertical siding on the west side of the front and on the sides of the house. The area on the east front wall surrounding the living room window is clad in cream brick. The North Vancouver Archives shows no listings for the house in the Building Permit book, or in the 1955, 1960, or 1965 City Directories. However, in the 1971 City Directory, Mrs. Esne Hayes, a widow, is listed as the owner. She is also listed as the owner in 1980, but her first name is spelled Esme.

In 1991 the City Directory reports the house to be vacant. But by 1995 it reports the Jane and Bruce I. MacDonald were the owners. Jane was a widow and worked at Inlet Metal. By 1995 she had been living at her 210 West 19th Street home for four years.

Demolition: Permit applied for in March 2010.
Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

Sunday Church Feature
Sunday Church Feature
St. Peter's Basilica, Rome Italy

"The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter (Latin: Basilica Sancti Petri), officially known in Italian as the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St. Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people.[1] It is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world"[2] and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".[3] In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession.


"Tradition and some historical evidence hold that Saint Peter's tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes have been interred at St Peter's since the Early Christian period. There has been a church on this site since the 4th century. Construction of the present basilica, over the old Constantinian basilica, began on April 18, 1506 and was completed on November 18, 1626.[4]


"St. Peter's is famous as a place of pilgrimage, for its liturgical functions and for its historical associations. It is associated with the papacy, with the Counter-reformation and with numerous artists, most significantly Michelangelo. As a work of architecture, it is regarded as the greatest building of its age.[5] Contrary to popular misconception, Saint Peter's is not a cathedral, as it is not the seat of a bishop. It is properly termed a papal basilica." Wikipedia, Link 1.

The obelisk in the right of the photo above is 90 feet of solid granite and weighs more than 300 tons.  It was originally erected in Egypt more than 2,000 years ago.  Emperor Caligula moved it to imperial Rome. (Rick Steve's "Rome".)

If you want your choir to sing as part of one of the services it can be arranged through a tour agency such as Ambassador Tours, Link 2. A Connecticut choir performed there this April. And although the planning is a bit complicated, you can even have your wedding in St. Peter's wedding chapel. The Santa Susanna web site can help that happen. (Link 3.)

Tips from Rich Steves' book "Rome"-Miss the long line ups to tour the Basilica by going at 5 pm.  At this time the crowd that waits in the line ringing St. Peter's Square is gone and you can "go right in".  To miss the three block long line ups that hug the walls of the Vatican waiting to go into the Vatican Museum buy your tickets at the Information Office next to the Basilica.  Pay the extra 4 euros for express tickets and then you can "go right in" at the Museum as well. You don't have to wait until 5 pm to take advantage of this time saver.

Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/st._Peter%27s_Basilica
Link 2: http://www.ambassador-tours.com/pilgrimage-tours.htm
Link 3: http://www.santasusanna.org/
Photo: Taken in Rome, Italy April 2010 by SW.

Saturday Travel Feature
Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy


"The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Rome, initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.


"The tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian, also called Adrian's mole,[1] was erected on the right bank of the Tiber, between 135 AD and 139 AD. Originally the mausoleum was a decorated cylinder, with a garden top and golden quadriga. Hadrian's ashes were placed here a year after his death in Baiae in 138 AD, together with those of his wife Sabina, and his first adopted son, Lucius Aelius, who also died in 138 AD. Following this, the remains of succeeding emperors were also placed here, the last recorded deposition being Caracalla in 217 AD. The urns containing these ashes were probably placed in what is now known as the Treasury room deep within the building.


"Much of the tomb contents and decoration has been lost since the building's conversion into a military fortress in 401 and inclusion by Flavius Augustus Honorius in the Aurelian Walls. The urns and ashes were scattered by Visigothic looters in Alaric's sack of Rome in 410, and the original decorative bronze and stone statuary was thrown down upon the attacking Goths when they besieged Rome in 537, as recounted by Procopius. An unusual survival, however, is the capstone of a funerary urn (most probably that of Hadrian), which made its way to Saint Peter's Basilica and was recycled in a massive Renaissance baptistery.

"Legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared atop the mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590, thus lending the castle its present name."

"The popes converted the structure into a castle, from the 14th century; Pope Nicholas III connected the castle to St. Peter's Basilica by a covered fortified corridor called the Passetto di Borgo. The fortress was the refuge of Pope Clement VII from the siege of Charles V's Landsknecht during the Sack of Rome (1527), in which Benvenuto Cellini describes strolling the ramparts and shooting enemy soldiers.


"Leo X built a chapel with a fine Madonna by Raffaello da Montelupo. In 1536 Montelupo also created a marble statue of Saint Michael holding his sword after the 590 plague... to surmount the Castel.[3] Later Paul III built a rich apartment, to ensure that in any future siege the Pope had an appropriate place to stay.


"Montelupo's statue was replaced by a bronze statue of the same subject, executed by the Flemish sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt, in 1753. Verschaffelt's is still in place, though Montelupo's can be seen in an open court in the interior of the Castle.


"The Papal state also used Sant'Angelo as a prison; Giordano Bruno, for example, was imprisoned there for six years. Executions were made in the small interior square. As a prison, it was also the setting for the third act of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca from whose ramparts the eponymous heroine of the opera leaps to her death." (Wikipedia)

                                    To view video go to YouTube-Rome Quartet
                                                                    or see Link 1.

Outside the wall of Castel Sant'Angelo, on the side opposite the Tiber River, is a brick amphitheater that is well known by singers for its acoustics. If you are lucky you might get a mini concert by tourists testing fact. Below is a quartet of young singers from the United States doing just that.

Link 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZVm3f9bplA&feature=related
Link 2: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castel_Sant%27Angelo
Photos: Taken in Rome, Italy, April 2010 by SW.

Friday, April 23, 2010
$250 1930 Foundation

This two storey house with the large eastern side yard sits on the first lot on the north side of  West 19th Street and Chesterfield Avenue. A large side yard with a laurel hedge separates it from the traffic on Chesterfield Ave.  It has been at 206 West 19th Street for the last 80 years. The house was owned by C. Maitland when the building permit for a $250 foundation was applied for in 1930. The actual date of the building of the house with the front bay window is not noted in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives, but in 1944 J. Bonar applied for a building permit for a $750 addition. Jason and Florence E. Bonar continued to live there in 1955. Jason was an employee at Burrard Dry Dock. By 1960 Florence is listed as widow. However, there was at least one other family that owned the house between the building of the foundation in 1930 and the addition in 1944. That family was Thomas M. and Anna L. Moon in 1940. Thomas worked as a labourer at BCER.

In 1971 Arthur A. and Lillian Howard owned the house at 206 West 19th Street. Arthur was employed as a janitor in the North Vancouver School District. He had retired by 1980. In 1991 Catherine Bauer was the owner. She must have bought the house the year earlier since in the 1995/96 City Directory she is reported as having owned the house for 6 years. Another Bauer, J. Bauer is listed in the year 2000 phone book as living at the 206 West 19th Street address. 

The house next door to the west, 210 West 19th Street is also scheduled for demolition.  A large triplex will be built on the two lots.

Note: Photo included in the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by SW that is available at the North Vancouver Archives housed in the Community History Centre at 3203 Institute Rd.
Demolition: Permit applied for in March 2010.
Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

Thursday, April 22, 2010
Grey Stucco on East 11th

The grey stucco house at 509 East 11th Street was built in 1946 for $4000 by G. Manke. In the same year he also applied for a building permit for another $4000 home in the City of North Vancouver. That one was at 743 East 5th Street. The two homes are not far from each other. 509 East 11th is just west of Grand Boulevard and four blocks north of East Keith Rd. 743 East 5th Street is just east of Queensbury Avenue, which is a southern extension of Grand Blvd., and one block south of East Keith Rd.

In 1950 Carl W. and Gladys P. Andersen owned the house on East 11th Street. Carl was employed in the office at Wendall Co. Carl and Gladys lived there for at least 10 years.  And in 1960 Gladys was working as a relief teacher in the North Vancouver School District. But by 1971 Doris and Campbell Mc Phail had bought the house. The history of the house then becomes the history of the Mc Phail family. In 1971 Campbell was employed as a janitor for the North Vancouver School District. He was retired by 1980. He and Doris continued to live in the house at least until 1995. By that time Kenneth Mc Phail also lived in the house. In the year 2000 Kenneth and Kevin Mc Phail were the residents. But in the 2008/2010 phone book only Kenneth is listed at 509 East 11th Street. The Mc Phail family had made the grey stucco house their home for at least 39 years.

Demolition: Permit applied for March 2010.
Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Top of the World

Skyline Drive is above Montroyal Blvd.in the District of North Vancouver.  It wanders snake like on the edge of the mountain and seems to be at "the top of the world" with views of Stanley Park, the Lion's Gate Bridge, the ocean, and the mountains of Vancouver Island. Here with that magnificent view sits a large white stucco house in the process of demolition.

4819 Skyline Drive was issued a building permit on April 16, 1963 making this the month of its 47th birthday. The single level wood frame home cost $17,000 to build and the owners moved into it on September 9th of that year. Two years later, in 1965, Marie L. and Wolf Dannenberg were the residents admiring the spectacular view from the home's south facing windows. In 1971 Shirley E. and William G. Maddess were the owners of the house. William worked as a fireman for Vancouver City. They continued to live there in 1980, with William still working as a fireman. However, there was no response to inquiries from the City Directory for either the 1991 or 1995/96 editions.  Soon the view from this prime spot on Skyline Drive will belong to the owners of the new home to be built there.

Thank you: To Elaine Oakes at the District Hall for her research on the building permit to 4819 Skyline Drive.
Demolition: Permit applied for in March 2010.
Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Two For One

The Blog Post for 225 East 18th Street published on March 30th, 2010 tells the story of what is possibly being planned for this area. It looks like four of the five lots in this block near St. Georges Ave. have been gathered up for a large multifamily housing complex. The multifamily complex all ready built on the corner indicates the start of this change.

But the side by side stucco duplex at 219 and 221 East 18th Street has two stories to tell, one for each address. There is no listing for the brown duplex in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives. And there is no listing for either address in the 1950 or 1953 City Directories. But there are listings in 1955.

Thom is the name at 219 in 1955 but not in 1960. By then Nora M. and Cecil R. Hall lived at 219. Cecil worked at the Lux Theater at 55 East Hastings Street. By 1971 Christine and Bartello Desisto were the residents. Bartello was employed as a plumbing contractor by by P. Ciambelli at 235 East 18th Street. In 1980 the 219 side of the duplex was reported as being vacant. In 1991 Grant Richards was the resident upstairs at 219 and Dorothy Ryan had just moved in as the basement resident. In the 1995/96 City Directory Grant was reported as living at that address for five year and there is no mention of Dorothy Ryan.

As for the 221 East 18th Street address, in 1955 that resident was Mrs. Roberta Hammond. Roberta was a widow and taught in the North Vancouver School District 44. In 1960 Ann S. and Cornelius M. Neiwerth lived at 221. Cornelius worked as the proprietor of Skyline Sports Center. There were two, one at 1637 Lonsdale Avenue and a second at 3066 Edgemont Avenue. In 1971 the 221 side of the duplex was reported as being vacant. But by 1980 Harry Chan was living there. In 1991 the resident was L. Emmbach who was an employee of CIL Paint. He must have moved in by 1988 since in the 1995/96 City Directory he was reported as having lived there for 7 years. Sharole S. Emmbach also lived there and worked as a clerk at The Bay. Another resident reported as living at 221, but only for four years, was N. Sylvester, an auto body repair man.

Demolition: Permit applied for February 2010.

Photo: Taken February 2010 by SW.

Monday, April 19, 2010
Genoa North Vancouver, Not Italy

The green house at 482 Genoa Crescent was built at the base of the North Shore mountains in 1958. It could have been started on a day like the one in the photograph when most of the mountain disappeared in the low cloud. D. Allan was the owner who built the $14,000 home on this short street that stems off of Vienna Crescent near the top of Delbrook Avenue.


In 1960 Charles A. and Frank M. McKenna were living in the house at 482 Genoa Crescent. Frank was employed as an assistant manager at Dennison Manufacturing. At least Frank continued to live in the house and to have the same job until 1980. In 1991 Jill and Chris A. Davies bought the house. Chris worked as a real estate agent at a company at 2360 Queens Road. By 1996 they had been living in the house for six years. During four of these years Glenn Berning was also a resident.


As the year 2010 is a time of demolition permits on the 400 block of Genoa Crescent, 1958 was a time of construction. This was also the year that the home at 468 Genoa Crescent was built. (See Blog Post March 26, 2010.)

 Note: As to the title of this post.  Yesterday morning we were in Rome Italy, although our original plan was to be home in North Vancouver by that time. Yes, we were trapped with thousands of others in Europe by the cancellation of our April 16th flight via Amsterdam back to B.C., trapped by the giant cloud from the eruption of the volcano in Iceland. Our trap was a two night 250 euro hotel room with all meals paid for by KLM. But it did delay my writing of this post. (Thank you to KLM for their generosity and diligence and for Alitalia  and Air Canada for getting us home.)

Demolition: Permit applied for in March 2010.
Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

Sunday Church Feature Wildrose United Methodist Church Wildrose United Methodist Church is over 100 years old. The church sits at 6312 West Wildrose Road. This is the corner of West Wildrose Road and Monroe Road south of the town of Deer Park, Washington. "Deer Park was settled in 1889 when a railroad siding was built for the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway." Wikipedia, see Link. Later logging became a big industry in the area. The lumber was sent south to help build the town of Spokane River which became the present city of Spokane.   As can be seen in the photo above the tiny Wildrose United Methodist Church is not near even the small town of Deer Park. It sits on the Wild Rose Prairie where farms are scattered through the tall grass. The other thing that is scattered through the tall grass is deer. At twilight as many as 50 deer might be seen grazing in the fields. Hitting a deer crossing the road is a common occurrence.  Wildrose United Methodist Church holds services every Sunday morning at 9:30. The minister in 2009 was Lee Brooks. However, the lay pastor from 1992 to 1998 was Bob Zinke and he revealed the following information. The church was formed in the late 1800's by John Yingst. At first they gathered in individual homes. But in 1892 they built a church. As the story goes, the carpenter/contractor was an alcoholic and hid his empty whiskey bottles in the steeple. When the congregation found out they were fearful. And rightly so since in 1912 lightening hit the steeple and the church was burned to the ground. The present church was built, but as you can see from the photo above no steeple was added. Inside the church is a sanctuary, two small Sunday School rooms and a bathroom. The sanctuary with its tall trinity window can hold a congregation of 60 to 70 people, but during Bob Zinke's ministry seven elderly worshipers was more likely. The bathroom is a converted back porch and did not have running water until 1994.  Above the church there is not a steeple, but a tall wooden cross.  Another cross, this time neon, is mounted above the front entrance and lets people in the area know that Christians meet to worship on the Wild Rose Prairie. Thank you: To Bob Zinke for the interesting information about the church. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer_Park,_Washington Photo: Taken in 2010 by SW.

Saturday Travel Feature
Spokane Milk Bottle

"The Benewah Milk Bottle is a landmark in Spokane, Washington. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the milk bottle was one of two constructed in the area to accompany a successful dairy operation's stores.

"The bottle was completed in 1935 and is a classic example of literalism in advertising. The bottle is stuccoed from its base to where it begins to taper to the bottle's neck. The neck and cap are sheet metal over a wooden frame. The entire bottle had an original white paint. It was Paul E. Newport who built the milk bottles. Newport owned the thriving Benewah Dairy Company. Company ads stated the bottles were "designed to build better men and women by making dairy products attractive to boys and girls. No expense will be spared to make these new stores as sturdy as fine, and as good as the products they represent." Wikipedia.

This first store was just as described, only a milk bottle shaped building. The sign put up on the stack of this building depicted a Native Indian in full feather headdress advertising Benewah Creamery, Fresh Milk and Cream. Later a rectangular store was added to the milk bottle. The first sign on the stack of this building was simply Benewah Dairy Store. Posters in the windows listed Butter 69 cents a pound and Cottage Cheese 19 cents a pound. Inside the store a sign read Lady Borden peach ice cream 20 cents. The next sign that appeared on the stack and the one that is present today is a neon oval that simply says The Milk Bottle. Above the oval is advertised the types of food that is served, such as burghers.

The color scheme inside the store has always been black and white. Photos that line the walls show the original long counter on one side and upholstered booths on the other side. The original floor was medium sized square black and white tiles. Today the sides of the long counter are covered in white tile and the upholstered booths have been replaced with small tables and chairs. The floor is covered in small white tiles grouted in black.

The Milk Bottle is located at 802 Garland Street in the heart of the Garland District of Spokane. Other neighboring buildings of the same era are the Ferguson's Fountain Cafe, the Brown Derby with it brown derby shaped sign, and the Masonic Temple on the corner. The Garland Theater, art deco in design and built in 1945, is just a block away. All these are worth a look when visiting The Milk Bottle that is only open 11 am to 4 pm and is always crowded. This is not only because it is a piece of history, but the food is fresh and reasonably priced: $7.83 for a milk shake, cheeseburgher, and fries or a salad.

A second 'Benewah Milk Bottle" is South 321 Cedar Street in Spokane, but is not thought to be presently in use.

Photo: Taken March 2010 by SW.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benewah_Milk_Bottle

Friday, April 16, 2010
School Next Door

The white split level house at 2808 Bushnell Place sits right next to Ecole Ross Road Elementary School. This short street leading to a cul de sac is south of Ross Road in the District of North Vancouver. The school was built in 1962 and the house at 2808 received a building permit on December 16th of 1964.  The construction cost of this 1390 sq. ft. house and carport was estimated at $17,000.  Occupancy of the one level wood frame home in the Westlynn area that backs onto the Hasting Creek greenbelt was granted April 30, 1965.  In July 1976 a building permit was issued for an addition to this house.

2808 Bushnell Place is listed in the 1971 City Directory. At that time J. W. Barnham owned the house. In 1980 Clifford and Joyce Smith were the owners. Clifford worked at Champlain Gulf. In approximately 1988 Margaret McDonough became the owner. She was the owner, retired and lived there until at least 1995. T.C. McDonough is also listed as a resident the year after Margaret moved in. He is listed in the 2008/10 telephone book as still living there. The only other McDonough noted as living at 2808 Bushnell Place is L. McDonough in the year 2000 telephone book.

Ecole Ross Road Elementary School features a French Immersion Program.  French Immersion Programs have been offered in specific North Vancouver Schools since the  1980's.


Thank you: To Elaine Oakes at the District Hall for the building permit information regarding 2808 Bushnell Place.
Demolition: Permit applied for March 2010.
Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

 

Thursday, April 15, 2010

The Chesterton

The apartment building at 210 West 13th Street started life about 50 years ago as The Chesterfield Apartments. The age of the apartment was defined by the North Shore News article dated October 24, 2008 regarding plans for its demolition. There is no information in the Building Permit book to confirm this, but the 1960 City Directory seems to have the first  listing for The Chesterfield Apartments. There are 21 apartments in two three story walk up wings of this apartment building. Some balconies are on the apartments on the east side of the building and their appears to be a roof top garden area off the apartment on the west side of the top floor. The building sits on the north west corner of West 13th Street and Chesterfield Avenue, hence its name The Chesterfield Apartments.

Although the apartment building listing isn't in the City Directory until 1960 there are listings starting by 1925 for a house at 210 West 13th Street. At this time W. C. Duncan, a clerk at Civil Defense of Canada, was the owner. In 1931 the house is reported as vacant. In 1940 John B. and Amelia Jolem were the residents. In 1950 C. E. and Alice M. Weatherhill were living there. Alice worked as a clerk at McLennan, McFeely and Prior Ltd., selling hardware at 122 Cordova Street, Vancouver. The Weatherhill's still lived at The Chesterfield Apartments in 1955. However, starting in 1958 there is no longer any listing for a house at 210 West 13th Street in the City Directories. Then in 1960 when The Chesterfield Apartment building with units 1-3, 101-108, 202-207, 302-305 and their residents appear.

In the 1995/96 City Directory the name of the building is no longer The Chesterfield Apartments. By this time it had been changed to simply The Chesterton. The October 24, 2008 North Shore News article (See Link.) states that The Chesterton was sold in June of that year for $4.25 million to the developer, The Hulbert Group. An ultramodern, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, mixed market and non-market housing complex will be built with many former residents getting first dibs on the five-to-eight affordable housing suites to be located on the basement level of the development. The demolition permit was not applied for until March 2010.

The corner of West 13th Street and Chesterfield Avenue has recently undergone dramatic changes. The houses and small apartment building on the north east side of the street have been demolished and replaced by an ultramodern apartment tower. The older three storey apartment building on the south east corner has been demolished and replace by a modern apartment building as well. After The Chesterton Apartment building is demolished and replace by the planned ultramodern design only the south west corner will pin the street to its older roots. However, even St. John's Anglican Church that occupies that block had to be rebuilt when the 1908 church was destroyed by fire in 1985 and a new church was completed in 1987.

Demolition: Permit applied for March 2010.

Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.

Link: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=b6f1baef-123e-4d9d-a8ee-9c038a1b871f

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
White House on William

The bright white house at 2427 William Avenue was built in for $11,000 in 1959 by Trail Construction. The front door seems to indicate that this home was built with what is known in North Vancouver as a "cathedral" entrance. That means that inside the front door there is one set of steps going up stairs and one set of steps going down stairs. (See March 19 Blog post for another home with a cathedral entrance.) However, unlike many of these style of homes the one at 2427 William Avenue was built with the the downstairs carport area filled in giving and extra room on that lower level.

In 1960 Don G. and Edna M. Edwards were living in the William's Street house. Don was a branch manager at one of the Dominion Stores. by 1971 the residents were W. Marshall and Coleen I. Davies. W. Marshall was an employee at A. Mitchell Motors. Then by 1980 Sergius and Tatania Kobasew bought the house and stayed for at least 26 year. During this time Sergius was retired. However, in the 1991 and the 1995/96 City Directories Tatiana is reported as working as a bookkeeper at Bryant Management. Also in 1991 another owner was reported. That was Maria Ivanov, also retired.

William Avenue is found in both the City and District of North Vancouver. It starts in the City at East 14th Street, south and one block west of Loutet Park. The street here breaks at the Sutherland Secondary School campus and then the Upper Levels Highway. It then continues north to cross Lynn Valley Road and into the District at the East 29th Street border. William Street ends in the District at Princess Park. To students at Sutherland Secondary School in the 1970's to the year 2001 the most important building on William Avenue was the corner store at 1604, just south of the school. William's Confectionery opened in 1978. Jim Jordon rebuilt the store with its large distinctive round window in the 1980's. By the time it was demolished in the year 2001 it was named Williams Food Market. See 2001 photo below.

Demolition: Permit applied for Williams Food Market in 2001. Permit applied for 2427 William Avenue in March 2010.
Photos: Taken in 2001 of Williams Food Market by SW. Taken in March 2010 of 2427 William Avenue by SW.