Monday, January 4, 2010
The Tiny House


This tiny distinctive two story home was in the Cloverley area of the City of North Vancouver. The City of North Vancouver is approximately four square miles bounded by the Burrard Inlet on the south, and North Vancouver District on the north, east, and west. The Cloverley area covers the south east part of the City from Queensbury Avenue and Keith Road to the eastern border.


The house at 805 East 5th Street was on the south east corner of 5th and Sutherland Avenue. It was probably built before 1911 because it does not appear in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives. (Building Permits in the City of North Vancouver were established in 1911. In the years 1907 to 1910 information can be found in the Assessment Rolls.) In 1925 Hilda Green lived in the house. And in 1926 the home owner was building contractor Robert Salkald.


By 1931 Frank Vacher had purchased the house. He previously lived on Hastings Street in Vancouver and worked as a cook at Club Lunch. In 1939 Blanch, possibly his widow by that time, gained a building permit for a $150 addition. She is definitely listed as a widow in the 1940 City Directory. The photo is the rear of the house and possibly the $150 addition which could have been the back porch area, the side punch out or perhaps the second story dormer.


By 1950 Robert Vacher, Blanch and Frank's son, a carpenter's helper at CH Cates is listed as living in the house. In 1980 Pierre Robert Vacher was working at the Lynn Valley Barber Shop. He continued to live in the house until his death in 2009.


This tiny house with bushes in the front had a large gardenless yard on the Sutherland Avenue side and a garage on the lane. From this yard is a view of Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, and Burnaby beyond. This house was a favorite of  Trick or Treaters in the 1970's. Children came from the steep stepped homes a block away on Shavington and Cloverley Street to this flatter area. They remembered this house, because most  gave out candy, popcorn or apples while Robert Vacher gave out real nickels.


The house was demolished in October 2009. The area chit chat is that a house is being built for a daughter one of  Robert Vacher's neighbors.


Photo: Taken July 18, 2009 by SW.