Gone Hiking
Occupancy on the north side of the 200 block of East Esplanade in the City of North Vancouver goes way back. This prime property with its panoramic view of Vancouver was first occupied by tents and "camps". The Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives lists applications:
in 1911 for a camp at 218 by Mr. Dubberley,
in 1912 for cabins costing $600 to build at 222 by J. V. Nimmo
with the builder being A.G. Mill,
in 1911 for a tent at 252 by C.W. Vanstone,
in 1911 for a camp at 262 by G. H. Watts,
and in 1912 for a 14x24 camp at 296 by J. L. Hampton.
It seems from the Building Permit book that the first business to apply for an application on the 200 block of East Esplanade was in 1929 at 206 by Home Oil Distributors for a Gas Station. It was built for $3000 by W. F. Gardiner. (The address was possibly 260 for an addition to the gas station by Home Oil was applied for in 1938 at this address.) In 1941 Coleman E. Evans applied for building of a Coal Bunker at 200 East Esplanade. The builder was F. Gosse and the cost of construction was $1200.
In the mid 1940's several other businesses were added to the street:
in 1946 W. K. McKay applied to build a foundry at 234,
in 1947 E. J. Bonk applied to build a machine shop at 236,
and in 1948 Allied Woodwork applied to build a woodworking shop
at 242.
By 1948 the 200 block of East Esplanade seemed to be showing signs of establishing itself as an automotive service center. For although 234 is listed as North Shore Brass and 240 as still Allied Woodworking Ltd. now 236 is Howarth Bros. truckers and 260 in North Vancouver Tire Service. The properties at 212, 214, and 228 seem to remain homes at this time:
Mrs. V. Kwasnicki is listed at 212 as is W. H. Forsyth,
P. T. Laffey is listed at 214,
and 228 is listed as vacant.
By 1970 240 East Esplanade is recorded as housing an automotive related business, North West Automatic Transmission Rebuilders. That business with its president being Karl W. Stefan remained listed in 1981. However, in 1982 the name of the business changed to Biss Motors (The address was listed as 242.) Biss Motors continued to be listed at 240 East Esplanade at least until 1995/96 with Janda Biss as President.
Other automotive business activity was going on in the area below 200 East Esplanade, on the Lower Level Road, the road the branches off of 300 East Esplanade to run closest to the water. At the north side of this junction is 350 Low Level Road. In 1971 it was occupied by Marine Transport, that did cargo handling, and the Yukon Service Garage with J. J. Green as president. In 1975 the occupant was Turbo Resources Ltd. And in 1978 it was reported as being vacant. The following year, in 1979, Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. was established with Paul Krystof as manager. By 1991 he is listed as president.
When Janda Biss retired his business, Biss Motors, at 240 East Esplanade, Paul Krystof and his Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. moved from its 350 Lower Level Road address to 240 East Esplanade. Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. at the Esplanade address is listed in the year 2000 phone book. It is also listed in the 2008/2010 phone book. However, that will be the last listing since Paul Krystof retired at the end of March 2010.
Today six buildings line the north side of the 200 block of East Esplanade. The first building after a large parking lot on the corner with St. George's Ave. starts with the address 218. The fourth building (See photo below.) houses the address 240 East Esplanade, the home of Moodyville Auto Repair Centre Ltd. The date this distinctive building of a series of automotive businesses with repeated colorful garage doors (square glas paines, Moodyville's green, then white, red, two grey, red again, and then yellow) and adjacent office doors and windows on the first floor is not recorded in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives. The two storey building with its second storey veranda and office spaces seems reminiscent of buildings in Chinatown in Vancouver. The 6th building in the block extends all the way to the corner with St. Andrew's Avenue. It was at one time Performance Motorcycles. The parade of motorcycles parked in front added panache to the area. Today there are businesses side by side extending from 218 to 270 East Esplanade. Most still seem to be automotive related.
Thank you: To Paul Krystof for his years of responsible, capable, and honest service and his friendship to our family. We will think of him and his wife hiking the trails of the world and wish them well.
Photo: Taken in March 2010 by SW.
