Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wartime Home on 4th Street
The house at 549 East 4th Street was one of the many homes built in 1941 as Wartime Housing. "February 28, 1941, Wartime Housing Limited (WHL) was incorporated. It will build rental units across Canada for war industry workers. On the north shore 750 single family homes will be built, as well as barracks-type apartments for single workers, Westview School, a recreation centre, and a fire hall. (The houses were supposed to have been removed at the end of the War, but 135 units survive, some into the 1990s.)" (See Link 1.) The original homes were on one floor and had a living room, two bedrooms, and a kitchen. The Wartime House at 549 East 4th Street had additional rooms but survived until 2010.
In 1945 the City Directory lists the residents as R. J. and Alice E. Miller. Roy Miller was employed at NVSH. In 1950 the owners were Hugh R. and Mildred A. Gwynn. Hugh Gwynn was an engineer at C H Cates. In 1960 Mrs. Beda J. Jacobson, widow of F. Jacobson was the owner.
In 1971 Ronald G. and Gayle Y. Assaf were the owners. Ronald Assaf was an electrician at S. Glover Electric. Mrs. Gaye Y. Assaf was a secretary at Kariboo Industries. In 1980 the owners were Stan and Marguerite Patykewich. Stan Patykewich worked as a floor covering salesman.
About 1987 Mike N. Edel became the owner. He lived there until at least 1995/1996 and worked as a technician at Chubb Alarms. In 1995/1996 Lyndi Ainsworth was also a resident at 549 East 4th Street. She was the accounts manager at AD Team Marketing 1986 Inc.
A new home will be built by Blake Developments. (See Link 2.)
Reference: To see photos of other Wartime Housing see City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.
Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.
Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.
