Monday, September 13, 2010
On the Way to the Dump
Premier Street just east of the Upper Levels Highway and Lynn Creek and west of Capilano College used to be the street leading to the North Vancouver Dump. The dump is now Inter Riverpark and the District Disposal Grounds. Garbage is now dumped at the Transfer Station, a giant warehouse on Riverside Drive near Burrard Inlet, and then trucked north to Cache Creek.
Premier Street has been transformed into a series of picturesque row houses with paintings in Plexiglas on their front gates and upscale multifamily units. The house at 887 Premier Street in the photo above will be demolished to add to the new look. (See Link.)
The house at 887 Premier Street was built before 1931 as the Building Permit Book reports that in 1931 a Permit was applied for by G. Smith for $200 "house alterations". The 1931 City Directory lists G. Smith a poultry man as living on the "ss" of Premier. He is also reported as the "ss" owner in 1940 and 1945. In 1945 Beatrice M. Smith is also listed at the 887 Premier Street address and George Smith is listed as a rancher. There are no other listings of either George or Beatrice Smith or the 887 Premier Street address in either the 1950 or 1960 City Directories.
By 1971 Mrs. Evelyn Pearce, widow of R. Pearce, was the owner of the 887 Premier St. home. The Pearce family continued to own the home at least until 2006 as they are reported in the 1980, 1985, 1991, 1995/1996 City Directories and the 1990/2000 and 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories. However, the individuals within the family who owned or lived in the house changed. In 1971, 1980, and 1999/2000 it was reported as Evelyn Pearce. In 1985 it was listed as Revell Pearce, retired. In 1991, 1995/1996 and 2006/2007 the owner was reported as Colin Pearce, retired.
Colin Pearce and R. J. Pearce are also reported as living in a house at 872 Orwell whose yard seems to back onto the 887 Premier Street home. (See September 14th, 2010 blog post.) According to the Link, these two properties seem slated to be added to the multifamily homes now being built in the area.
It is not known when the stone wall along the front yard and path to the front door was built. (See photo below.) Was it by George Smith the patrimony and rancher or by Revell or Colin Pearce during their retirement years? But it has added charm to the house "on the way to the dump".
Demolition Permit: Applied for in August 2010.
Photos: Taken in August 2010 by SW.
Link: http://www.greatervancouvergroup.com/blog.html/new-property-listed-in-lynnmour-north-vancouver-807327
