Tuesday, November 23, 2010
"That's Jack London's Place"
"That's Jack London's Place"
The house at 1340 Sunnyside Drive sat on a lot in the maze of forest roads above the Upper Levels Highway in the Capilano area of the District of North Vancouver. The hum of the cars could be heard in the front yard. According to one of the neighbors the maze was the results of the 1958 development of the Upper Levels Highway and for that reason he had developed his own map laying out just how the streets were cut up in that area. The same neighbor said of the house at 1340, "that's Jack London's Place".
Front and west side of house
But the house at 1340 didn't start out as "Jack London's Place". It was first constructed as a $1500 commercial building in 1926 by S. Fraser. The second structure was a $1000 house in 1933 by J. Stally. E. Thomas added a $150 house alteration in 1939. Then in 1950 the present house was built for $4500 by D. Broderick. All this information was found in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives. However City Directories 1926 to 1945 did not list the 1340 address or any of the owners from the Building Permit Book as being on Sunnyside Dr. Martin P. and Jean Stally were listed on the 1200 West 26th Street block in 1935 and 1945. That street is nearby and could possibly been a street changed by the building of the Upper Levels Highway in 1958.
Back of house
Much more is known about the 1340 Sunnyside Drive house after 1950 thanks to Michael Kinnie. "At 1340 Sunnyside Drive there was a small house built by a Mr. Don Broderick. The Broderick family was well known in North and West Vancouver. Don had just got married to his wife Esther, this would have been about 1950 and bought the lot from the people at 1330 Sunnyside Dr. (Mr. and Mrs. Paul Morgan) He built his honeymoon home and then moved Esther and their two cats in. Soon Esther had a baby girl whom they named Norma. I was a very frequent visitor at their house. In the summer of 1951 I had failed grade three and was suppose to go to summer school; I did not like school at all and was devastated. Esther Broderick had been a school teacher so my parents made arrangements for me to get some extra help from Mrs. Broderick each weekday morning throughout the summer from 10:00 to noon. This went very well, I was on a one to one basis with somebody I was very fond of and would do my best for.
Back yard out building
"Don and Esther had another baby about 1952, a boy named Daniel, the house only had two bedrooms and they sold the little house and bought a large house in the 1100 block West 21st. Street that had belonged to their friends the Franklin's. Don Broderick was the model husband, he worked in a mill full time and then would come home and help Esther with the housework and put the children to bed.
Backyard green house structure
"The house was then bought by a Mr. and Mrs. Leckie, (Lorne and Doreen.) They had a little girl and later a little boy with flaming red hair. I do not remember these children's names. Mr. Lome Leckie was named Lome after a well known steam tugboat that was called "The Lome". They lived there for many years and then moved out to Lynn Valley. Doreen Leckie and my mother were great friends and saw each other everyday. The Leckie's were nice, kindly people. Shortly after the move to Lynn Valley Lorne Leckie died very suddenly. He was a lot older then his wife. He was a veteran of world war two and had served with the eighth army in Africa.
Back-side yard in ground bathtub
"The house was then purchased by a childless couple named London, his first name was Jack, hers was Zelda. They had cats which all had 'Z' names. My brother Allan became very fond of them and they likewise of him. My brother Allan was born in 1954, when I was just going on 12. I did not know the London's very well because by the time they moved into the neighbourhood I had left home. I did however do business with Jack London some because he use to bring his saws into my shop for sharpening. I do not know if they are still there at this writing in 2006, but they were there in 1995 when I called them to tell them that my brother had died the year before." (See Link.)
Front yard shed
Jack London was listed in the 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory. It seems his interests were evident throughout the property and as can be seen in the included photos.
Demolition: Permit applied for November 2010.
Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.
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