Monday, December 6, 2010
1911 West Keith Road Home
Way before the decorative cement front wall and the distinctive gate were installed the house at 420 West Keith Road was built. The year was 1911 and the owner M. Knight built it for $1200. There is no more mention of M. Knight; he is not listed in either the 1912 or 1913 City Directories. And in the 1925 and 1935 City Directories the property is listed as "Vacant".
But the house came alive again in 1940 with the owners being E. J. and Lucy Quinn. E. J. Quinn was employed as a laborer at Burrard Dry Dock. In 1950 Walter R. and Ida A. Hamilton were the residents. Walter Hamilton worked in real estate and as a notary public at 541 Pender St. in Vancouver. In 1960 the owner was the widow Mrs. G. Kerr who worked as a filler at Canadian Pittsburgh Paint International. Other residents at that time were B. F and Dorothy Spicer and Erhard and Irma Grundler. B. F. Spicer and Erhard Brundler both worked as pipefitters at Burrard Dry Dock.
In 1970 the owners of 420 West Keith Road were Ralph M. and Gwendoline Bury. Ralph Bury worked as a mate at Seaspan International. Talrinder and Sruuinder Singh were also residents in the 420 West Keith Road home. Talfinder Singh was employed at L and K Sawmill. Ralph and Gwendoline Bury continued to own the home in 1980, 1991, and 1995/1996. By 1991 Ralph Bury was a master at Seaspan International, and in 1995/1996 he is listed as an employee. There were no other residents in 1980 and 1991. Then in 1995/1996 two other residents are listed in the City Directory. One was Sheila Haggerty a food server at Lions Gate Hospital. The other was a retired man, Colin C. Adams. The 1999/2000 and 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories indicate that the Bury family continued to live at 420 West Keith at least until the 2006/2007 edition. G. Bury was listed in 1999/2000 and L. and R. Bury were listed in 2006/2007.
Rezoning Application: In November 2010 "to permit construction of two new duplex buildings, one in the front and one in the back, with the front building containing two accessory rental units. The two front units would each contain three bedrooms...the two rear units would each contain two bedroom..." North Shore News.
Photo: Taken in November, 2010 by SW.
