End of Month Index

June 2010

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

CANADA

British Columbia

City of North Vancouver

263/265/265B East 5th Street, Multiple House Numbers, Families, Stories,

                Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

267/267B/269/269B East 5th Street, Duplex? Fourplex?,

               Wednesday, June 16, 2010.
208 East 24th Street, Women Only, June 4, 2010.

212 Brooksbank Ave., Office Building at Lynnmouth Park, Thursday,

               June 10, 2010.

1348 Chesterfield Ave., "...Put Up a Parking Lot",

               Monday, June 14, 2010.

2556 Chesterfield Ave., Two Stories, Two Paint Jobs, Tuesday, June 8, 2010.

1708 Fell Ave., Mosquito Creek Park, Wednesday, June 9, 2010.
837 Grand Boulevard, Grand Boulevard, Wednesday, June 23, 2010.
1136 Grand Boulevard, Burdett's on the Boulevard, Thursday, June 24, 2010.
1720 Grand Boulevard, North Shore Sash House, Friday, June 25, 2010.
1553 Mahon Avenue, Christmas on Mahon, Monday, June 28, 2010.
1605 Mahon Avenue, Across the Street, Tuesday, June 29, 2010.

405 West 28th Street, A View of the North Shore Mountains, Monday,

              June 7, 2010.

 North Vancouver District

3502 Dowsley Court, "Black and White", Monday, June 21, 2010.
3253 Fromme Road, "The Fromme House", Friday, June 18, 2010.

222 West Kensington, "Crescent, Ship Shape", Monday, June 14, 2010.

1938 Mountain Highway, "One of Five", Thursday, June 17, 2010.
4380 Mountain Highway, "New in 1950", Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

1096 Tall Tree Lane, "Life's a Holiday", Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

1902 Tatlow Avenue, "The End of the Road", Thursday, June 3, 2010.

954 Wentworth Ave., "Corner of Highlands and Wentworth",

               Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

2911 Woodbine Dr., "50 Years on Woodbine Drive", Friday, June 11, 2010.

ITALY

Sicily

Catania, Sicily, Saturday Travel Feature, Teatro Massimo Bellini Opera House,

                Catania, Sicily, Saturday, June 12, 2010.

Catania, Sicily, Sunday Church Feature, Cathedral of Catania, Catania,

                Sicily, Italy, Sunday June 13, 2010.

MALTA

Valletta, Malta, Saturday Travel Feature, The Court House, Valletta, Malta,

               Saturday, June 5, 2010.

Valletta, Malta, Sunday Church Feature, Our Lady of Victory Church, Valletta,

              Malta, Sunday, June 6, 2010.

Valletta, Malta Port, Saturday Travel Feature, Home on the Mediterranean,

              Saturday, June 19, 2010.

Valletta, Malta Port, Happy Father's Day, Sunday Church Feature, Costa

             Costa Chapel, Sunday, June 20, 2010.

UNITED STATES

Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday Travel Feature, Las Vegas, Nevada, Hearts, Clubs,

             Diamonds, and Spades of Golf, Saturday, June 12, 2010.

Las Vegas, Nevada, Sunday Church Feature, Las Vegas Nevada, Wedding        
             Capital of the World, Sunday, June 27, 2010.

FEATURES

Saturday Travel Features

Catania, Sicily, Saturday Travel Feature, Teatro Massimo Bellini Opera House,

             Catania, Sicily, Saturday, June 12, 2010.
Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday Travel Feature, Las Vegas, Nevada, Hearts, Clubs,
             Diamonds, and Spades of Golf, Saturday, June 12, 2010.

Valletta, Malta, Saturday Travel Feature, The Court House, Valletta, Malta, 

             Saturday, June 5, 2010.


Valletta, Malta Port, Saturday Travel Feature, Home on the Mediterranean,

             Saturday, June 19, 2010.

Sunday Church Features

Catania, Sicily, Sunday Church Feature, "Cathedral of Cattania", Sicily, Italy,

             Sunday June 13, 2010.

Las Vegas, Nevada, Sunday Church Feature, Las Vegas Nevada, "Wedding 

            Capital of the World", Sunday, June 27, 2010.

Valletta, Malta, Sunday Church Feature, "Our Lady of Victory Church",
            Valletta, Malta, Sunday, June 6, 2010.

Valletta, Malta Port, Happy Father's Day, Sunday Church Feature, "Costa

            Costa Chapel", Sunday, June 20, 2010.

Photo: Taken near Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas, Nevada in

May 2007 by SW.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Across the Street

Across the Street from yesterday's Blog Post 1553 Mahon Avenue was another house celebrating the Christmas season. This time the decorations were traditional Christmas lights. This was the house at 1605 Mahon Avenue. It sat on the north west corner of Mahon Avenue and West 16th Street. This house was built for $4,500 in 1945 by J. W. Mottershaw. However, in the 1950 City Directory his name is spelled Mottershead. In that year John W. and Daisy Mottershead lived in the house. John Mottershead worked as a machinist at American Can. Daisy Mottershead was a clerk at the Royal Bank.

In 1960 the owner was Mrs. Elsie L. Adams. By 1971 Ernest D. and Elsie L. Moore were the owners. Ernest Moore was employed as a security officer at Pinkerton's of Canada. The Moore's continued to own the home through 1995/1996 and Ernest continued his job as a security officer at Pinkerton's of Canada during that time. In the 1995/1996 City Directory William Dennison was also reported as a resident at 1605 Mahon Avenue. The 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory lists Mrs. E. D. Moore still living at the 1605 Mahon Avenue Home.

The photo of 1605 Mahon Avenue 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.


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 1605 Mahon Avenue had been demolished and a new multifamily unit 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.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Christmas on Mahon

The icicle Christmas lights twinkled on the house at 1553 Mahon Avenue when the above photo was taken in the year 2000. There is no listing in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives for this house on the south west corner of Mahon Avenue and West 16th Street. There is no listing in the 1950 City Directory as well. However, there is a record of H. R. Ceasar living in the house in the 1952 issue.  In 1955 the residents were H. R. and Leona Ceasar. In 1960 and in every issue up to 1995/1996 the owners were listed as H. Robert and Leona M. Ceasar.

In 1952 H. Robert Ceasar worked as a laborer for North Vancouver City. Leona M. Ceasar was the proprietor at Van's Coffee Shop. And Elaine D. Ceaser was a student nurse at Vancouver General Hospital.  By 1971 Hugh Ceasar was an equipment operator for North Vancouver City. And in 1980, 1991, and 1995/1996 Hugh Ceasar reported to the City Directory that he was retired.

The house at 1553 Mahon Avenue was demolished in 2005 and multifamily housing was built.

Mahon (some pronounce it "mahn")  Avenue is two streets to the west and parallel to Lonsdale Avenue, the main drag of the City of North Vancouver. It runs from Esplanade on the south and into the District of North Vancouver up as far as Braemar Elementary School. Edward "Mahon a prime figure in the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company also owned the Cupolaing Suspension Bridge from 1910 to 1935." The avenue and a park are named in his honor.

Demolition: Permit applied for in 2005.

Photo: Taken as part of Suzanne Wilson's Year 2000 Photography Project,

Your House/Our Home.

Quote: From "The Ambitious City, A History of the City of North Vancouver", by Warren Sommer, page 52.

Sunday Church Feature

Las Vegas, Nevada

Wedding Capital of the World

"Las Vegas may be best known for its casinos and showgirls, but it is also the wedding capital of the world." According to Visit Las Vegas, the official website of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, there are more than 122,000 marriage licenses issued each year.  Wedding Chapels are big business in Las Vegas.  You can get married for as little as $40 at Las Vegas Garden of Love or as much as $20,000 at The Bellagio.  Additional fees include the marriage license, which you have to secure at the Clark County Courthouse. It costs $55. 

You don't even have to go into a wedding chapel to get married.  You can have the ceremony conducted at a drive-thru window and receive your vows curb-side.  Of course, you can be married by an Elvis impersonator/officiate, have another Elvis impersonator escort you down the aisle, while a third Elvis  sings in the background.

The wedding chapel The Little Chapel of Flowers, in the photo above, is at 1717 Las Vegas Boulevard just north of the The Stratosphere Casino Hotel.  As the sign says you can have your wedding "live on the internet FREE" so the whole world can watch.  There are three  chapels for the actual ceremony: The Victorian Chapel, The Magnolia Chapel, and the La Capella Chapel.  Then you can take photos outside: on the Veranda, on the kissing bridge, under the ivy arch, in the Glass Garden, in the gazebo, in front of the waterfall and in font of the fountains.  The cost of the weddings here range from "$195 to $3,495". (See Link 1.) One of the famous couples "married here was the Baywatch beauty Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman ." (See Link 2.)

Link1:http://www.littlechapel.com/
Link2: http://www.lovetripper.com/las-vegas-weddings/192006-littlechapelflowers.html
Photo: Taken in 2005 from the Observation Deck of  The Stratosphere Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, by SW.

Saturday Travel Feature
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, and Spades of Golf

"Golf in Las Vegas, here is your best bet! Designed by acclaimed golf course architect Arthur Hills, The Legacy Golf Club is an 18-hole, desert jewel highlighted by manicured playing conditions, multi-tiered fairways and large undulating greens.



"Stretching 7,233 yards from the professional tees, this memorable layout is a strong challenge for the scratch player, yet also accommodates the novice with well-spaced tee boxes and generous landing areas. And speaking of tee boxes, the 10th hole at The Legacy may be the most recognizable in all of Las Vegas.


"Each tee box is in the shape of playing cards suits: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades. Also notorious at this premier facility, is the "Devil's Triangle." Holes 11, 12, and 13 make for a devilish trio of exciting challenges. The Legacy has become synonymous in Las Vegas for providing country club-style services and amenities. In fact, The Legacy Golf Club was selected as one of the "Top 10 Courses You Can Play" in Nevada, by Golf Digest.


"A visit to the Legacy Golf Club Restaurant will complete your golfing experience. The Restaurant offers a wide variety of specialty and deli sandwiches, as well as made-from-scratch soups and daily specials. For those who crave a more local flavor, guests can choose from several Southwestern Culinary Classics.



"The Legacy Golf Club Restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch and offers a comfortable atmosphere complete with a panoramic view of the golf course. Enjoy a spectacular Sunrise Mountain view while relaxing indoors or from our outdoor covered patio." (Link.)


Photo: Taken in Las Vegas, Nevada in  2005 by SW. (The actually  address of the Legacy Golf Course is 130 Par Excellence Dr., Henderson, Nevada.)


Link:http://www.thelegacygc.com/sites/courses/custom.asp?id=944&page=53440

Friday, June 25, 2010
North Shore Sash House

"Reginald Davis - Established North Shore Sash and Door Co. North Vancouver early 1940s and Allied Woodworks as manufacturing arm; married to Remmette Davis; commentator, editor and technician for Stairway to Stardom Sunday evenings CKWX 1947-early 1950s and CJOR Vancouver early 1950s-58. Died 1995." ("Vancouver Broadcasters" website.)

That is the history of North Shore Sash who was the builder of the 1947 house at 1720 Grand Boulevard. And the owner of the house in 1950 was no other than Reginald Davis himself and his wife Chrissie R. (Remmette) Davis. Reginald Davis reported to the City Directory that he was the president of North Shore Sash.

By 1960 Thomas H. and Lillian Sterling were the owners. Thomas Sterling was a sales representative for Western Canada Imports. In 1971 Dallas M. and Jeanette Boyd owned the house. Dallas Boyd was the president of Advance Carpet Cleaners which reported 1720 Grand Blvd. as its business address. Then by 1980 John and Helen Eickhoff had bought the house. In 1991 John reported to the City Directory that he was an employee of the B. C. Highway Patrol. The Eickhoff family continued to live in the house until 2006, the year it was demolished. Bruce and J. C. Eickhoff were listed in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory. J. C. Eickhoff was listed as living at 1720 Grand Boulevard in the year 2006/2007 issue.

The above photo was taken as part of Suzanne Wilson's Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. 2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed.


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 1720 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and two homes had been built on the property by Noort Homes.


Demolition: Permit applied for in 2006.
Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW. Black and white negative and contact sheet print available on Roll #64 of the Demolition and Construction Project at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference: See Blog Post June 23 for more information on Grand Boulevard.
Reference: See Blog Post June 21 for more information on the Demolition and Construction Project by SW.

Thursday, June 24, 2010
Burdett's on the Boulevard

This house with its bright red maple tree and driveway leading to the front door sat on the east side of Grand Boulevard at 1136. There is no entry in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives as to when it was built. However, building permits are only listed in the book up to 1947. In 1950 there is also no entry in the City Directory. However in 1960 there is an entry and it is for the Burdett's. All listing to the present in both the City Directories and the North Vancouver phone books continue to be for the Burdett's.

In 1960 Richard F. and Audrey L. Burdett were recorded as the owners of the long house that stretched across the lot at 1136 Grand Boulevard. Richard Burdett was the president of Burdett Construction building contractors. Burdett Construction was also listed as a resident of 1136 Grand Boulevard. Richard F. and Audrey L. Burdett and Burdett Construction were listed as being at 1136 in 1971 and 1980. In 1980 Audrey was  employed as the secretary for Burdett Construction. In 1991 and 1995 three Burdett's were reported as living in the house: Audrey-the owner, and Michael A. and Christine. In 1991 Michael A. was working as a carpenter for Burdett Construction. The 2008/2010 North Vancouver phone book lists the address of Michael Burdett as 1136 Grand Boulevard.

1136 Grand Boulevard was one of the homes included in Suzanne Wilson's Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. 2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed. Because of the prominence of Grand Boulevard in the City of North Vancouver all of the homes on Grand Boulevard were photographed for the Y2K Project.

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 1136 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and two new homes had been built.

Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW. Black and white negative and contact sheet print available on Roll #48 of the Demolition and Construction Project at the North Vancouver Archives.
Demolition: Permit applied for in 2004.
Reference: See June 23rd, 2010 Blog Post for more information on Grand Boulevard.
Reference: See Blog Post June 21 for more information on Demolition and Construction Project by SW.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Grand Boulevard

Grand Boulevard is in the eastern part of the City of North Vancouver. It extends from East Keith Road to East 19th Street, almost a mile in length and 346 feet wide. Clearing for the Boulevard and lots for homes on both the east and west sides began in 1906. "According to its developers, the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company, the Grand Boulevard would be to North Vancouver "what the Champs Elysees is to Paris..." (See Reference 1.) Stately homes fronting the Boulevard and with views of Burrard Inlet and the city of Vancouver started to be built in 1910 and can be seen in the "City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994".(Reference 4.) In 1907 a street car line ran up the center of the Boulevard to East 19th Street. And in 1920 smaller infill homes began to be built.

837 Grand Boulevard was one of the smaller infill homes, but the date it was built was not listed in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives. However, this book only records building permits through 1947. The owners in 1950 were Thomas C. W. and Gertrude Fox. Thomas C. W. Fox was employed as a lino operator at the North Shore Press. Thomas C. Fox, a student, was also listed as a resident. Thomas C. W. and Gertrude Fox continued to own the house until 1991. Thomas C. W. worked as a printer at Pacific Press in 1960 and in 1971 reported that he was retired. In the 1995/96 City Directory Michael D. and Brenda Reid reported that they had owned the house for four years.

The photo of 837 Grand Boulevard 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.


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 837 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and a stately new home had been built.


Demolition: Permit applied for in 2004.

Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW. Black and white negative and contact sheet print available on Roll #45 of the Demolition and Construction Project at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 1: "The Ambitious City, a History of the City of North Vancouver" by Warren Sommer, page 93.
Reference 2: See Blog Post June 23 for more information on Grand Boulevard.
Reference 3: See Blog Post June 21 for more information on Demolition and Construction Project by SW.
Reference 4: "City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994" available at the City of North Vancouver library and the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 5: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
New in 1950

This small house on the east side of Mountain Highway was built in 1949 for $4,500 by M. Condliff. In the 1950 City Directory no one is named as the owner of 4380 Mountain Highway but it is listed as a "New House". 4380 is near the top of Mountain Hwy., the route that used to be the foot path leading to the Grouse Mountain ski trails.

In 1960 the owner is listed as Sid C. Rockey, a pressman at Pacific Press. In 1971 the owners are recorded as Sidney C. and Nellie I. K. Rockey. Sidney Rockey continued to work as a pressman at Pacific Press. However, in 1980,  1991, and 1995 Sydney and Nellie Rockey reported to the City Directory that they were retired.

This black and white photo is another in the Demolition and Construction collection by Suzanne Wilson. The negative and contact sheet are available at the North Vancouver. (See Blog Post June 21, 2010.)

Demolition: Permit applied for in 2006 from the District of North Vancouver.
Photo: Digital photo taken of Roll #69 contact sheet taken in April of 2006.

Monday, June 21, 2010
Black and White
Dowsley Court

The permanent collection of photographs at the North Vancouver Archives is preserved in black and white photos, negatives, and slides. There are over 45,000 of these available for viewing and research. Copies can be obtained of most. One part of the collection is the 2001 to 2010 Demolition and Construction project by Suzanne Wilson.There are over 3000 black and white photos recorded on negatives and contact sheets that have been taken since 2001. These photos are mostly of houses where Demolition Permits have been applied for. Others document construction, important buildings, and streetscapes. The home in the photo above is at 3502 Dowsley Court and is in that collection.

The house at 3502 Dowsley Court was built in 1956 for $11,000 by Hazel Brod Construction. This street off East Carisbrooke Road in the North Lonsdale Area of the District of North Vancouver didn't even appear in the City Directories until about that time. In 1960 the owners were Ray J. and Anne Rice. Ray Rice worked as an operator at B. C. Sugar. Mrs. Anne Rice was a foreman at Mrs. William's Cake shop. Raymond Rice continued to work at B. C. Sugar. In 1991 Raymond and Anne Rice reported that they had retired. The City Directories records them owning the home at least until 1995.

Demolition: Application applied for in 2006.
Photo: Digital copy of photo taken in April 2006 on Roll #69 of Demolition and Construction Collection by SW.

Happy Father's Day

Sunday Church Feature

Costa Chapel

The Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship includes this beautiful petite chapel for daily worship. The chapel seats 18 and is 45 square meters in size.  Christ, Mary, and Joseph and perhaps the feeding of the multitudes are depicted behind the altar. Brightly painted single Saints are painted in the side wall niches of the chapel. Framed spiritual paintings are mounted between these wall niches. The blond wood pews, gold trim, crystal chandelier, and warm overhead lights reset in circular alcoves and chandelier give the chapel a golden glow. Dark carpeting contrasts with the shiny marble center aisle with its stylized cross border. The marble pedestaled altar is covered with a scalloped linen. An urn of flowers sit in front of the altar. Daily church service times at the Chapel on the deck 4 are varied to fit in with excursion schedules.

Other church services are held on board as well. On Easter Sunday the 8:45 am Holy Mass was held on deck 5 in the Around the Clock Lounge. This facilitated a larger congregation. On Saturday night at 8:45 pm a renewal of marriage vows was held on deck 5 in the Amadeus lounge. Honeymooners and those celebrating special wedding anniversaries were invited. Again a venue larger than the chapel was needed to accommodate the many couples that attended.

For personal worship a Gideon Bible can be found in the bedside table in each state room. Since this is an Italian ship, the Bible is in Italian, of course.

For more information regarding the Costa Pacifica see Blog Post June 19, 2010.

Photos: Taken on Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship in April 2010 by SW.
Thank you: To Carol Pennington Senior Advisor, Office of the Sr. Vice President- Guest Relations on the Costa Pacifica for details regarding the chapel.

Saturday Travel Feature
Home On The Mediterranean

The Cruise Ship Costa Pacifica is a "home away from home" during its eight day cruise of the Western Mediterranean. The 3,789 passenger luxury ship built in 2009 features music as its theme. Classical music is played in the halls and music of the day's destination in played in the elevators. Entire lounges are dedicated to a single style of music: classical, jazz, swing, disco, calypso. Afternoon and nightly shows feature a single style or a the whole range including classical, rap, and pop. Decor also features music with: treble clef railings in the lounge, cello motifs on the elevator doors, paintings of musicians in the state rooms, wallpaper sketches of musicians on the hall walls.

The 112,000 tons of this cruise ship are decked out in ultra Vegas with spectacular amenities. There are: two retractable-roof swimming pools as well as an outdoor swimming pool, five hot tubs, a kiddie pool, a Formula 2 race car driving simulator, one of the largest spas at sea, a library, a music studio, and 13 bars/lounges.

The route of this floating beauty is: Civitavecchia (and hour and a half on the train from Rome), Savona (with an excursion to Monaco available), Barcellona Spain, Mallorca, Tunis Tunisia, Malta, and Catania Sicily. Passengers board at several of these ports. (See map below.)

Since the Costa Pacifica is an Italian ship, Italian is the main language used on board.   On the first week of April 2010 cruise only 500 of the 3,789 passengers were English speakers. Italian and French were predominant. Announcements were made taking this proportion into consideration.  Important information such as the life boat drill were repeated in every language represented.  As the 3,789 passengers stood on deck sporting their life jackets all the information was repeated in: Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, and English. Only then was the all clear horn  sounded.

Another pleasant surprise on the Costa Pacifica Cruise line is the age range.  Families with with babies, preschoolers, and teens, honeymooners, and  extended family groups dominate the roster.

Link: http://cruises.about.com/od/costapacifica/ig/Costa-Pacifica.-odC/
Photo: Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship taken in Malta in April 2010 by SW.

Friday, June 18, 2010

The Fromme House

There is more than one Fromme House in Lynn Valley. The first Fromme house is at 1466 Ross Road. It was built in the late 1890's by Julius Martin "J. M." Fromme, “The Father of Lynn Valley”.  It qualifies as the first real house built in Lynn Valley. This house is not going to be demolished.


The second Fromme House, the one in the photo above, was at 3253 Fromme Road. J. M's. son Harold  helped contractor Jake Seibald  to build this house that was completed in 1955.  He lived in it until his death at 95 in the year 2000. Harold was a renown local historian and athlete and owned and operated Harold Fromme's Lynn Valley Garage which had been the lumber shed of his father’s original Shingle Mill on Mountain Highway and Harold Road.  Lynn Valley United Church is now on this site. The house at 3253 was demolished in the winter of 2009. Three houses will be built on the site.


There is also a Fromme Block. This is on the south east corner of Mountain Highway and Lynn Valley Road. It was built by J. M. Fromme in 1912 and was one of the first commercial buildings in Lynn Vally. There were and are apartments upstairs. For many years the street level was the home of: Barker's Hardware, a soda fountain with the Lynn Creek Post Office as part of it, and a shoemaker. More recently there was an antique shop, barbershop, cleaners, TV repair shop, and thrift shop.  The Fromme Block  was renovated and restored and is now the home of the Toronto Dominion Bank.


There are not only the Fromme houses and a Fromme Building,  there is also the Fromme Mountain and Fromme Elementary School. Mount Fromme, between Lynn Creek and Grouse Mountain is 3888 feet high.  Today it is a key mountain bike destination. Fromme Elementary School is at 3657 Fromme Road.


Lynn Valley located at the heart of the District of North Vancouver was a logging center in the early 1900’s. The heart of Lynn Valley is at the junction of Lynn Valley Road and Mountain Highway, previously called Centre Road.  This is where J. M. Fromme bought the Lynn Valley Lumber Co. and the Lower Shingle Mill in 1906. He later subdivided his property of 1/4 section for housing sites in the area that is now Lynn Valley Center. He gave part of his land to the Knox Presbyterian Church later called the Lynn Valley United Church in the area that is now the Maple Leaf Gardens.


As you can see the names of the Fromme family can be seen on every map of Lynn Valley. Fromme Road runs north and south from Kirkstone Park below Lynn Valley Road parallel to Mountain Highway and up to Chamberland Drive. Harold Road meets Fromme Road just above its junction with Lynn Valley Road. And Frederick Road, named for Harold’s younger brother who died before Harold was born crosses Fromme Road and Mountain Highway just north of Argyle Secondary School. So all the Fromme family roads-Fromme Road, Harold Road, and Frederick Road-are clustered in the heart of the Lynn Valley they helped to build.


Benches in the memory of Jean and Harold and Julius Martin and Martha Fromme have  been placed at the Veterans Community Plaza.  This Plaza leads from Mountain Highway to the North Vancouver Community History Centre next to Lynn Valley Elementary School on Institute Avenue.


Demolition: Permit applied for October 2009.
Photo: Taken October 24, 2009 by SW.
Research:  Thank you to the Fromme family for information, editing, and fact checking.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

One of Five

1938 Mountain Highway is one of five similar homes built in that block. The one storey houses on concrete slabs feature two windows on either side of a central front door. Some have attached carports. There are also two other similar homes on the adjacent East 20th Street and a few others in the nearby neighborhood. Several of the homes are built at an angle to the city street. The 1938 Mountain Highway home was built for $10,500 in 1956 by Pioneer Construction.

In 1961 Cyril and Sylvia Vickers were the owners of 1938 Mountain Highway. Cyril Vickers was an accountant at McIntosh McVicar Dinsley and Co. In 1971 Michael and Marlene Harris were the owners. Michael Harris worked as a fitter at M. B. King Lumber. In 1981 Len and Diane Wagner lived at 1938 Mountain Highway, and had lived there for at least a year before as they were not reported as "new neighbors". Len Wagner was employed at L and M Radiators. In 1991 Kathleen and Gary McLauchian were reported as "new neighbors". Gary McLauchian was an engine designer. In 1995 Kathleen and Garry McLauchian reported to the City Directory that they had lived at the 1938 Mountain Highway address for five years. At this time Kathleen was employed as the office secretary at Oscar's Woodcraft in the Lower Lonsdale area of North Vancouver and Gary was an engine designer at Hipp Engineering Ltd.

Mountain Highway was named and completed in 1927. Before that it was a path then rough road that lead up to the ski area of Grouse Mountain. (See Link.)

Link: http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/archives_grouse.htm
Demoltion: Permit applied for to North Vancouver District in June 2010.
Photo: Taken in June 2010 by SW.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Duplex? Fourplex?

The duplex with the addresses 267/267B/269/269B East 5th Street is just east of the duplex with the addresses 263/265/265B East 5th Street. (See Blog Post June 15, 2010.) Each property is presently enclosed in blue construction fencing indicating they may be combined for construction of a one complex.

There is no record in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives for the addresses at either 267 or 269 East 5th Street. This seems to indicate that they were built more recently than the 1947 time limit of the Building Permit book entries.

For  the west end units of the duplex,  267 and 267B East 5th Street,  there is a listing by 1971. In 1971 Ernest G. Mayo, a printer at Dalmac Mtl. Products, was living in 267B. There was "no return" from 267 East 5th Street. In 1980 Don A. Taylor, a chiropractor and "new neighbor", was living at 267 East 5th Street. There is no listing of 267B. In 1991 the "new neighbor" is G. Knechtel. And in 1995 Linda and Rodney A. Shier were the owners at 267 East 5th Street. Rodney Shier was an accountant and Linda Shier was a sales clerk at The Bay. They reported that they had lived there for four years.

For the east end units of the duplex, 269 and 269B East 5th, there are two listings by 1971.  In 1971 Gerald and Donna Macey lived in 269. Gerald Macey was an operator at Reliance Motors and Mechanics. In 1971 Peggy Proudlock lived in 269B. Peggy was a teller at the Bank of B.C. In 1980 G. A. Bryson was the "new resident" in 269. And in 1991 Greg Sutton was the "new neighbor" at 269. By 1995 Greg Sutton reported that he had lived at 269 for five years. D. Johnson reported that he had lived at 269B for five years as well.

With all four addresses at some time being listed as having occupants, the duplex at 267/267B/269/260B East 5th Street, may have actually at some times been a fourplex.

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

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Multiple House Numbers, Families, Stories

A house on the lot that now has the addresses of 263 and 265 East 5th Street dates back farther than the duplex now with those addresses. Although there isn't a listing in the Building Permit book for this present duplex, there is for the original home at that location.

In 1928 a building permit was applied for by D. J. Dixon for a $4,250 house at 263 East 5th Street. In the City Directory of 1931 there is no listing at 263, but there is at 265 East 5th Street. The owner was reported again be D. J. Dixon. D. J. Dixon at this time was employed as a boilermaker (blrmkr). Again in 1940 there is no listing in the City Directory at 263 but there is 265. The residents at that time were Harry and Emily Smith. Harry Smith was a school teacher in North Vancouver City. Harry Smith was also reported in the 1950 and 1955 City Directories as being the owner. In both of these years he was a principal in the North Vancouver School District #44.

After that there is no listing of 263 East 5th Street in the 1950, 1955, 1961, or 1971 City Directories. In 1980 J. L. Johnston is reported as being a "new resident". In 1991 the address was "vacant". And by in the 1995/96 city Directory E. and Cathy Proulx reported that they had lived at 263 East 5th St. for four years. E. Proulx was employed as a bus driver for B.C. Transit.

After Harry Smith owned the 265 East 5th Street home in 1955 it was reported as being "Vacant" in 1961 and "no return" in 1971. Then in 1980 when there was a listing for a new resident at the 263 East 5th Street address there was also a new resident listing at the 265 East 5th Street address. This resident was D. R. Mclean. In 1991 the resident at 265 was M. Eck who was employed as a contractor at Dorle International Ltd. In 1995 M. Eck reported that he had lived at that address for 8 years, so he must have moved there in 1987. In 1995 M. Eck was still working as a contractor for Dorle International Ltd.

In 1995 a new address is listed on the 263/265 East 5th Street property. The new address was 265b East 5th Street and the residents were Mark and Laura Butler. They reported living there for 6 years, so the 265b East 5th Street address seems be have been established by 1989. Mark Butler was working as a fisherman.

In brief, the history of the property at 263/265/265b East 5th Street seems to be this:
             1928 a home built at 263 East 5th Street
             1931 the address now recorded at 265 East 5th Street
             1955 the home at 265 East 5th Street still occupied
             1980 new residents reported at both 263 and 265 East 5th St. (duplex)
             1989 the address 265b East 5th Street established

The duplex to the east of 263/265/265b East 5th Street has also applied for a demolition permit. Both duplexes are now behind blue construction fence. Perhaps multifamily housing similar to that in the rest of the block will be built.

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

"...Put Up a Parking Lot"

The grey stucco house behind the white picket fence was built in 1942 for $1,700  by owner T. A. Agrellis.  Curved window arches on either side of the front door are featured on this house at 1348 Chesterfield Avenue. By 1950 Norman and Emma M. Buckler owned the house.  Norman Buckler was retired.  They continued to live there until at least 1961. 

In 1971 the owner was Elsie B. Schram.  In 1980 the new owner was Norman J. McDowell, a janitor for the City of North Vancouver. By this time the house was sitting on the same block as the City of North Vancouver City Hall. 

In 1991 the "new neighbor" (a designation by the City Directory) was B. Miles, an employee of R. Brobyn Ltd.  In the 1995/96 City Directory Zeon Graphics electric equipment was listed at the 1348 Chesterfield Avenue address.  B. Miles was also listed at that address and as continuting to work at R. Brobyn Ltd.

The photo of 1348 Chesterfield Avenue 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. At this time the house was owned by the City of North Vancouver.



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 1348 Chesterfield Avenue had been demolished. The house lot is now part of a city parking lot.


Demoliton:  Between the year 2000 and the year 2007.
Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW.
Thank you: To Arne Carlson for the lyrics to the song "Big Yellow Taxi"-"They paved paradise, put up a parking lot."

Sunday Church Feature

Cathedral of Catania

Catania, Sicily, Italy

"The Cathedral of Catania, entitled to St. Agatha, is a church in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy.The church has been destroyed and rebuilt several times due earthquakes and eruptions of the nearby volcano Etna. It was originally constructed in 1078-1093, on the ruins of the ancient Roman Achillean Baths,... At the time it had the appearance of a fortified church ...  In 1169 it was nearly entirely destroyed by an earthquake, leaving only the apse area intact. Further damage was introduced by a fire in 1169, but the most catastrophic event was the 1693 earthquake, which again left it mostly in ruins. It was subsequently rebuilt in Baroque style.

"Today, traces of the original Norman edifice include part of the transept, the two towers and the three semicircular apses, composed of large lava stones, most of them recovered from imperial Roman buildings.

"The current appearance of the church date to the 1711 century design of Gian Battista Vaccarini, who designed a new Baroque façade after the 1693 earthquake. It has three floors with Corinthian columns, in granite, perhaps taken from the Roman Theatre of the city. All the orders are decorated with marble statues of St. Agatha over the gate, St. Euplius on the right and St. Birillus on the left. The entrance door, in wood, has 32 sculpted plaques with episodes of the life and martyrdom of St. Agatha, coat of arms of popes and symbols of Christianity.

"The dome dates to 1802. The bell tower was originally erected in 1387, with a height of some 70 meters. In 1662 a watch was added, the structure reaching 90 meters; after the 1693 destruction it was rebuilt, with the addition of a 7.5 t bell, the third largest in Italy after that in the St. Peter's Basilica and in the Duomo of Milan." (See Link.)

Photo: Taken in Catonia, Sicily, Italy  in April 2010 by SW.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catania_Cathedral