Longest Building Permit Pedigree
Greenhouses on Western
66 Years of Marten Family Living
There are so many things to say about the uniqueness of the house at 2621 Western Avenue. First is its location. The street runs north and south one block to the west of Lonsdale Avenue in the City of North Vancouver. But it does that for only 5 1/2 short blocks: one block south of the Upper Levels Highway starting at West 23rd Street, and five and one half blocks above the Highway ending at just north of West 27th Street.
The second unique thing is the number of recorded Building Permits listed for 2621 Western Avenue; there are 11. They start 1912 with a $250 building permit granted to E. A. Peers for a house addition. That same year E. A. Peers was granted a permit for a $500 stable at 115 East 4th Street. In 1916 E. Peers was given a $100 building permit for a garage at the 2621 Western Avenue address. The 1916 City Directory lists Edwin Peers, a forest guard, as living not at the 2521 Western Avenue but at 2627 Western Avenue.
1917 is the start of 8 building permits listed for J. Hastie at that same address:
in 1917 a $250 permit for glass houses
in 1920 a $500 permit for more glass houses
in 1921 a $500 permit to have glass houses moved
in 1922 a $500 permit for more glass houses
in 1924 a permit for root sheds
in 1925 a $50o permit for house repair
in 1927 a $1500 permit for a green house
in 1928 a $200 permit for a shed
The City Directory listings for J. T. Hastie living at 2621 Western Avenue seem to start in 1925. That year he reported his employment being that of a nurseryman. In 1931 he was reported as the owner of the home and the business J. T. Hastie and Son, florists, at the same address. Robert N. Hastie is listed as living at the 2621 Western Avenue address and being part of the business as well.
The third unique thing about 2621 Western Avenue was revealed in the Building Permits and employment reports of J. T. Hastie. They indicate there was an extensive nursery and florist business at this address.
The fourth unique thing about 2621 Western Avenue was the Marten family. They lived in the house from at least 1940 to 2006/2007 as verified by the City Directories and North and West Vancouver Phone Directories. Percy B. and Ada Marten were first living in the house in 1940. They reported being retired at that time. In 1950 Mrs. A. Marten was listed as the owner. Also listed at the 2621 Western Ave. address was Olive M. Marten. She was employed as a stenographer by Northern Pacific Railway. In 1960 and 1971 the owner, Ada Martin, reported that she was the widow of P. B. Marten. In 1991 and 1995/1996 Olive M. Marten, now retired, was the owner. Another resident in 1995/1996 was Margery E. Jackson, also retired.
The 2008 obituary of Olive Mary Marten appeared in the Vancouver Sun. (See Link.) "She (Olive) worked 40 years for the Burlington Northern Railway in the Vancouver Office, retiring in the early 1980's. She was a long time member of the Vancouver Women's Transportation Club, a life member of Burrard Chapter #3 Eastern Star and a member of the Order of the Amaranth. She was very active in the B.N. Veterans Group, also she was a keen golfer. She was predeceased by her father, Percy (1943) and her mother, Ada (1989)...She is lovingly remembered by her sister, Margery Jacklin..."
The photo of 2621 Western Avenue was taken by Suzanne Wilson as part of her
Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. 2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed.
The City of North Vancouver web site reports that a $4,000 demolition permit was granted for the 2621 Western Avenue home to Bestway Excavating and Demolition in 2008.
Demolition: Permit granted by City of North Vancouver in 2008.
Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW.
Reference: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.
Link: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAN-BC-OBITS/2008-08/1218776173
