Monday, February 22, 2010

The Sunnyside

This dark deserted looking house is found on of all places, Sunnyside Drive. Perhaps the sun reflecting in the front sliding glass doors suggests happier, sunnier days for the house.

The driveway leading right up to the front door certainly would be welcoming. And the number of owners that built and built on to the house indicate that at one time it was cared for. The first building on the lot was commercial and built by S. Fraser for $1500 in 1926.  A commercial building may sound strange at this remote location at that time.   Remember, there was no Upper Levels Highway and the winding road was in the wilderness. But it is more  understandable when it is found in the 1926 City Directory to probably have been Hill's Taxi. At that time, no numeral addresses were listed on Sunnyside Dr., only ns for north side of street, and Hill's Taxi is the only commercial listing.  Later, in 1933 a new owner J. Stally ponied up a $1000 to actually build a house. In 1939, another new owner, E. Thomas made some house alterations. This time to the tune of $4500.

All this building on 1340 Sunnyside Dr. took place in the Lionsview area of the District of North Vancouver. The actually street is between the Murdo Fraser Golf Course and the Upper Levels Highway, east of Capilano Rd. Only the hum of the cars on the Upper Levels Highway lets you know that the windy road through the densely wooded area isn't in the middle of a forest.

Demolition Permit: Applied for from the District of North Vancouver in

              September 2009.

Photo: Taken  October 2009 by SW. 

Reference: Building Permits District of North Vancouver Compiled by J. R. Faulkner includes building permits from 1922 to 1952. It is available at the North Vancouver Archives in the Community History Centre in the old 1920's Lynn Valley Elementary School at 3203 Institute Rd., near the corner of Lynn Valley Rd. and Mountain Highway.