Tuesday, March 16, 2010


Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Lorraine on Loraine

The cream colored house waving flags for the 2010 Olympic Winter games is at 3890 Loraine Avenue in the District of North Vancouver. The house was built in 1954 For $10,000 by R. G. Newman. In 1960 William Y. Stewart and his wife H. Lorraine were living in the house. William worked as an installer at B.C. Tel. H. Lorraine was the first of two Lorraines to be an owner of the house. By 1971 Sharon and Douglas Alderson had bought 3890. Douglas was a chiropractor with an office at 1372 Marine Dr. in North Vancouver. In 1980 Ishigura Shun and his wife Florence moved into the house. Ishigura was the manager of the Fisheries Association of B.C. Ishigura is listed as the last name in the 1980 City Directory. However, since Shun can also be used as a last name there is some confusion as to which last name was correct for the husband of Florence. In 1991 the second Lorraine moved into the house at 3890. This time it was Lorraine McBride and her husband D. McBride. Her husband is listed as being retired in 1995/96 and the only occupant in the house.

So the house at 3890 Loraine Avenue was the house of two Lorraines. The name Lorraine is originally taken from the French Province of Lorraine. This is where Joan of Arc was from. It was also the name of a family of French Royalty. Loraine and Lorraine are only two of the variations in the spelling of this name. Others are: Laraine, Larayne, Laurraine, Leraine, Lerayne, Lorain, Loraina, Lorayne, Lori, Lorine, Lorraina, Lorrayne, and possibly Laura. (See Link.)

Photo: Taken in February 2010 by SW.