Demolition Mama

2011-01-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

DORMERS and DOORWAYS

For nearly a decade, Suzanne Wilson has snapped off photos of North Vancouver houses slated for demolition. It's a passion that started in 2000 when Wilson, a retired school teacher, photographed 2,000 houses in the City of North Vancouver as part of her "Year 2000 Photography Project: Your House/Our Home". The houses that she shot came in all different shapes and sizes and ages, and Wilson mounted every one of them on a card and made them available to the homeowners. In 2002 she began scanning the demolition permits and documenting disappearing houses in the City and the District for her North Vancouver Museum and archives project, "Demolition and Construction".

In 2007 she distributed copies of 1,000 of the photos from her Year 2000 project in celebration of the City of North Vancouver's Centennial Anniversary. She's shot another 112 rolls of film of about-to-be demolished houses and figures that over nine years that's more than 3, 300 photos!

Wilson checks out building permits, city directories and often talks to the homeowners to compile a fascinating architectural and social history of many of the houses. The pictures and information are documented and available to researchers at the Community History Centre in Lynn Valley.

"I don't like it if I miss a picture," she says. "I think there should be a photographic record in the archives."

Wilson, now 71, will hang up her MZ-10 SLR Pentax camera at the end of this year. " figure 10 year should give a good documentary record of what has gone on in North Vancouver," she says, add that that she's lived in the same house in the Cloverley area since 1972.

Pre 1911 Cloverley area home

To celebrate the last year of the 10 year project Suzanne Wilson is writing a daily Blog, http://www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com/ , inspired by the 2009 movie Julie and Julia. Each day Wilson features a picture of a different house, church or commercial building along with a detailed history of the building and the surrounding area.

"These blog entries are meant to be a tribute to the people who called these houses 'home', she says. "I'll go to the archives and research and I get so that I'm part of that person's life. Someone will start off as a labourer and then he has a carpenter job, then he as a construction company, then he's president of the construction company, and then only his wife's name is listed. So whole lives are told in the city directories."

Both Wilson and June Thompson, a retired archivist from the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, and now herself a volunteer, would love to see someone else take over Wilson's legacy. "It's very valuable. Once these building go, often all that's left is the photographs," says Thompson, adding that the job requires a multifaceted approach. "It's not just photography, it's not just history, it's not just personal skills-it's a combination of all those things."

Courtesy of Eve Lazarus

Member, Community Heritage Commission

Dormers and Doorways is a publication of the Community Heritage Commission of North Vancouver, B.C., Canada

2011-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Demolition Mama

By Greg Hoekstra - North Shore Outlook

Suzanne Wilson received a heritage advocacy award on Monday from the District of North Vancouver. In 2010, Wilson wrote daily about buildings that had been demolished on her blog ‘Demolition Mama.’

Greg Hoekstra photo
Buy North Shore Outlook Photos Online

Published: February 23, 2011 2:00 PM
Updated: February 24, 2011 8:39 PM

Some people collect stamps. Others gather coins, trading cards, comic books, or antiques.

North Vancouver’s Suzanne Wilson, however, prefers collecting something a little more unique —demolished houses.

Throughout the past decade, the local history buff has photographed more than 3,000 buildings slated for destruction across the city and district.

As a volunteer at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, Wilson says she believes every building holds a story about our past. And those tales, she adds, are too important to be lost forever in a pile of dust and rubble.

So, in 2001, Wilson and her camera got to work. Any time a building in North Vancouver was slated for demolition, municipal staff would notify Wilson.

With a small allowance to cover the cost of film, Wilson captured snapshots of the buildings, then developed black-and-white prints in a makeshift darkroom in her home. (When the lights are on, it’s called the laundry room).

The resulting images became part of the museum’s permanent collection, accessible to anyone who visited the archives.

Wilson continued on that path until sometime in 2009, when she saw the film Julie and Julia and was struck with a new idea.

In the movie the lead character, Julie Powell, attempts to cook all of the 524 recipes in Julia Child’s famous book “Master the Art of French Cooking” over the course of a year.

Each day, Powell records her experiences in an online journal.

The idea of keeping a blog excited Wilson, a former freelance writer and unpublished novelist, who retired from her job as a teacher in the 1990s.

“I like things that are for a limited period of time and are really a challenge,” she says. “So in 2010 I started my blog and called it ‘Demolition Mama.’”

Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, Wilson set to work on a project that would keep her busy for the next 365 days.
From Monday to Friday she wrote daily about a building that had been torn down. On the weekends, meanwhile, she would blog about travel (on Saturdays) and churches (on Sundays).

Using building permit records and city directories, Wilson was often able to piece together the stories of homes in North Van — watching many balloon in value from $2,000 to $600,000 in only a few generations.

“It was fascinating. You’d see people’s lives develop,” says Wilson.

“It would mention someone as a student, then as a labourer, then as a president of a construction company, and then you’d just see their wife’s name,” she adds. “You’d follow their whole lives. You’d get to know this person, and then they’d die.”

The project, she says, took a great deal of effort and work, but in the end it was worth it, because it’s led to something that will be of use to the museum for years to come.

“I like doing things that are permanent. Things that are going to stick around when I’m done,” says Wilson with a smile. “This project is my tribute to the people who lived in those houses.”

This is not the first time that Wilson — who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin — has embarked on such an ambitious project for the museum.

In the year 2000, she set about photographing 2,000 homes in the city to celebrate the new millennium, culminating with an art show at the Presentation House gallery.

“It was my way of celebrating,” she recalls fondly.

Seven years later, Wilson used 1,000 of her doubles to make decorative cards, which she then bundled in small gift bags and hung from doorknobs.

“That was a huge feat,” she laughs. “It was sort of like leaving a present, then running away and hiding behind a tree.”

When asked what motivates her to invest so much time in such projects, Wilson says it’s simple: she wants to give something back to the community where she’s raised her family.

“This entire community is our home,” she says. “This is our history, and it needs to be shared.”

On Monday, Feb. 21, the District of North Vancouver presented a heritage advocacy award to Suzanne Wilson for her various projects for the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, including the blog ‘Demolition Mama.’ To view Wilson’s work, visit www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com.ghoekstra@gmail.com
twitter.com/greghoekstra

2011-01-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Suzanne Wilson
Posted on February 8, 2011 by Eve Lazarus

Suzanne Wilson spent 10 years shooting photographs of North Vancouver houses either about to be torn down or in the throes of construction. Her project “Demolition and Construction” consists of 4,500 black and white photos and is available at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.

She finished up Demolition Mama at the end of 2010 and started her second blog Churches on Sunday in January 2011. Her photos of North Vancouver churches are also in the Archives permanent collection.

I asked Suzanne about her blogs:
I was looking for a way to celebrate the last year of my 10 year volunteer photography project for the North Vancouver Archives when I saw the movie "Julie and Julia". A daily blog just like Julie published was the answer.

Suzanne Wilson 2009

My 10 year project was titled "Demolition and Construction" and it was photographs of just that. Over the 10 years I took approximately 4500 black and white photographs of homes to be demolished and buildings being constructed. In my basement darkroom I prepared contact sheets for each roll of film. The contact sheets, negatives, and a record sheet for each roll are on file at the North Vancouver Archives.

I designed the blog to run every day of 2010 and be a tribute to the families who lived in the houses demolished, that made these houses their home and contributed to the community life of North Vancouver. I named the blog, "Demolition Mama". Monday through Friday featured demolished North Vancouver homes; photos, architectural descriptions, and histories researched at the North Vancouver Archives. On Saturday I added a Travel Feature and on Sunday a Church Feature. These were a way of sharing other collections of my personal photography.

                                                 1640 Dempsey Rd., 1938 to 2010

During the 2010 Demolition Mama blog I published histories of  255 homes on my blog. Since I was out of town from 1 to 3 weeks each month the automatic publishing feature of Blogspot was essential. Having all these blogs ready to be published before I left town was demanding. I figure for ever day I was in town I spent 4.5 hours working on the blog. This challenge also brought its reward.

"Demolition Mama" received hits from all over the world: Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, Russia, all across Canada and the US. Comments included those from the car salesman in Egypt and the student in India. The most important and rewarding comments and e mails came from families who had lived in the North Vancouver homes featured in blog. The information they shared was then included in the blog. That is the strength of the blog, it can be changed at any time, even after it is published.

It is still being changed.  It seems the blog hangs around in cyber space indefinitely.  Even though Dec. 31, 2010 marked the end of publishing "Demolition Mama" families are still accessing it and sending me thank yous for getting them in contact with other family members and adding their own bit of history to the blog.

1879 St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Port Gambel, Washington

2011 has brought a new blog "Churches On Sundays". I have always attended church and photographed churches where ever I traveled since the year 2000. I have also photographed all the churches of North Vancouver for the permanent collection at the North Vancouver Archives. Some of these were part of the Sunday Church Feature in the "Demolition Mama" 2010 blog. Starting in 2011 my new blog "Churches On Sundays" will be published each and every and only on Sundays. Churches as a place of beauty and inspiration are in every community. The blog is a tribute to the congregations that built and maintain these churches.

http://www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com/
http://www.churchesonsundays.blogspot.com/

Posted in Researching your home's history
Tagged Churches on Sundays, Demolition and Construction, Demolition Mama, North Vancouver Museum and Archives, Suzanne Wilson
Leave a comment

2011-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Heritage Award
2011
Suzanne Wilson

During the last 10 years I have taken approximately 6000 photos of mainly homes in North Vancouver. These photos plus in some cases histories of the home or residents are now all part of the permanent collection at the North Vancouver Archives.

Most of these photographs are from the project "Demolition and Construction" 2001 to 2010. The main body of these photographs is homes in North Vancouver District and City that have been demolished during that time. To pay honor to the residents of these homes, the families that have contributed to life in our community, in 2010 I published the daily blog "Demolition Mama". Each weekday a post showed a photo of the home, gave details of the location and architecture, and relayed a brief history of the families who made the house their home. Starting in 2011 is my blog "Churches On Sundays" that will be published each Sunday and will include all the church buildings in North Vancouver, past and present. This tribute to the congregations that built and support these churches will include interior and exterior photos, give details of the architecture, and relay a brief history of the building. In the year 2011 I received an award for Heritage Advocacy from the District of North Vancouver.

Other photographs housed at the North Vancouver Archives are from my "Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home" where I photographed over 2000 homes in the City of North Vancouver to celebrate the Year 2000. Over 800 are accompanied by additional information. This project was on exhibit January to June 2001 at the North Vancouver Archives in Presentation House. In the year 2002 I received a Queen Elizabeth II Medal for this work. To celebrate North Vancouver City's 100 birthday in 2007 I distributed 1000 copies of the "Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/ Our Home" photos to the residents of these homes. North Vancouver has been our home since 1972.

Blogs:http://www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com/

http://www.churchesonsundays.blogspot.com/

2011-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

BLOG

SUZANNE WILSON

"CHURCHES ON SUNDAYS"

http://www.churchesonsundays.blogspot.com/

My Sunday blog features a church I have

photographed accompanied by a brief history and

architectural description.

this is my worship; this is my witness.

Please join me.

churchesonsundays@gmail.com

St. Peter's Basilica Vatican

2010-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

End of Month Index
December 2010

CANADA

British Columbia

North Vancouver City

245 East 3rd Street, "ANAVETS on Third", Friday, December 3, 2010.

549 East 4th Street,, "Wartime Home on 4th Street", Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010.

121 East 12th Street, "Presbyterians and Black Sheep", Wed., Dec. 22, 2010.

211 East 18th Street, "At Least Since 1925", Monday, December 20, 2010.

1420 Grand Boulevard, "Grand Double Lot", Friday, December 17, 2010.

823 East Keith Road, "The McPherson's Forever", Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010.

1911 West Keith Road, "1911 West Keith Road Home", Monday, Dec. 6, 2010.
1644/1640 St. Georges Avenue, "St. George's Duplex", Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.

2048 St. George's Avenue, "St. George's Stately Home", Thursday, 12/9/10.
648 West 15th Street, "98 Years Old", Thursday, December 23, 2010.

654 West 15th Street, "Demolished and Raised", Tuesday, December 21, 2010.

North Vancouver District

270 Carisbrooke Crescent, "Many Levels on Carisbrooke", Tuesday,12/7/20.

1210 Dempsey Road, "At the edge of the Forest", Wednesday, 12/8/20.
3203 Institute Road, Boxing Day, "Happy Boxing Day, The North Vancouver
Archives", Dec. 25, 2010.

1690 Main Street, "Swedish Canadian Rest Home", Friday, December 10, 2010.

Mill Bay

"St. Francis Xavior Catholic Church", Sunday, December 12, 2010.

Victoria

Saturday Travel Feature, "B.C. Parliament Buildings", Victoria, B. C. Saturday,

December 4, 2010.

Sunday Church Feature, "St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church", Victoria, B.C.,

Sunday, December 5, 2010.

Yale

Sunday Church Feature, "St. John the Divine Historic Church, Sunday, December 19, 2010.

THAILAND

Bangkok

Saturday Travel Feature, "The Jim Thompson House", Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010.

UNITED STATES

California

6817 Franklin Avenue, "First Methodist Church of Hollywood", Hollywood California, "Happy 43rd Wedding Anniversary Alan and Suzanne", Wednesday December 1, 2010.

Nevada

Las Vegas, Saturday Travel Feature, "The Strip", Saturday, December 18, 2010.

Wisconsin

Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Christmas Eve Special Feature, "Juergenmeyers on Taylor Street", 225 Taylor Street, Friday, December 24, 2010.

SATURDAY TRAVEL FEATURES

"B.C. Parliament Buildings", Victoria, B. C. Saturday, December 4, 2010.

Bangkok, Thailand, "The Jim Thompson House", Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010.

Las Vegas, Saturday Travel Feature, "The Strip", Saturday, December 18, 2010.

SUNDAY CHURCH FEATURES

Mill Bay, B.C., "St. Francis Xavior Catholic Church", Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010.
North Vancouver, 121 East 12th Street, "Presbyterians and Black Sheep",
Wed., Dec. 22, 2010.

Victoria, B.C., "St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church", Sunday, December 5, 2010.
Yale, B.C., "St. John the Divine Historic Church, Sunday, December 19, 2010.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Holidays

"Happy 43rd Wedding Anniversary Alan and Suzanne", 6817 Franklin Avenue,

"First Methodist Church of Hollywood", Hollywood California,

Wednesday December 1, 2010.
Christmas Eve Special Feature, "Juergenmeyers on Taylor Street", 225 Taylor Street, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Friday, December 24, 2010.

Christmas, "Merry Christmas, The First Christmas", December 24, 2010.

Boxing Day, "Happy Boxing Day, The North Vancouver Archives", Dec. 25, 2010.

Summaries

"Year End Summary, City of North Vancouver", Wed., December 27, 2010.

"Year End Summary, North Vancouver District", Thurs., December 28, 2010.

"Year End Summary, Saturday Travel Features/Speical Features/Indexes",

Wednesday, December 29, 2010.

"Year End Summary, Sunday Church Features", Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010.

Photo: Taken of the Grand Canyon by Suzanne Wilson on her 60th birthday, September 16, 1998.

THANK YOU

Thank you for following my blog, Demolition Mama, a tribute to the home owners of North Vancouver. A hard copy of North Vancouver posts will be on file at the North Vancouver Archives in 2011. Although there will be no further posts after December 31, 2010 the Blog will continue to be available at this URL.

PLEASE JOIN ME

My new Blog is starting Sunday, January 1, 2011 and will be published each Sunday. The Blog is "Churches on Sundays" and will feature a photo I have taken when visiting and a brief history and description of the architecture. I hope you will join me.

2010-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

END OF YEAR INDEX

SUNDAY CHURCH FEATURES

Alaska, Savoonga, "Savoonga Presbyterian Church", 2/7/2010.

B.C., Courtenay4778 Island Highway, "Sunday Church Special, St. Andrew's

Pioneer Church", Sunday, October 10, 2010.

B.C., Methchosin, 4354 Metchosin Road, Sunday Church Feature, "Saint Mary

the Virgin", Sunday, March 7, 2010.

B.C., Mill Bay, "St. Francis Xavior Catholic Church", Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010.

B.C., North Vancouver, 121 East 12th Street, "Presbyterians and Black Sheep",

Wed., Dec. 22, 2010.

B.C., North Vancouver, 530 East 12th Street," St. Agnes Anglican

Church", 2/14/2010.

B.C., North Vancouver, 3380 Lonsdale Avenue, "Sunday Church Feature, The
Church on the Hill,
North Lonsdale United Church", Oct. 3, 2010.

B.C., North Vancouver, 260 Institute Road, Sunday Church Feature,"

Posthumous-Methodist Church Lynn Valley", B.C., Sunday,
July 11, 2010.
B.C., North Vancouver, 600 block Mountain Highway, "Lynnmour United

Church", 1/17/2010.

B.C., North Vancouver, 1550 Phillips Avenue, "Jehovah Witness's on Phillips",
                  1/10/2010.
B.C., North Vancouver, "1958 Ridgewood Drive, "St. Catherine's Anglican
                  Church", 10/24/10.
B.C., North Vancouver, 1044 St. Georges Avenue, "St. Andrew's United Church",
                   1/24/2010.

B.C., North Vancouver, 1398 West 15th Street, Sunday Church Feature, "St.
                   Richard's Anglican, Church," "St. Richard's of Norgate" , 1/3/2010.
B.C., Tofino, Sunday Church Feature, "St. Columba Church", Tofino, B. C.,
                   Sunday, August 22, 2010.
B.C., Ucluelet, 1663 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet, Sunday Church Feature, "St.
                   Aiden's on the Hill, Sunday", March 28, 2010.

B.C., Victoria, "St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church", Sunday, December 5, 2010.

B.C., Yale, "St. John the Divine Historic Church, Sunday, December 19, 2010.
California, Hollywood, "Happy 43rd Wedding Anniversary, Suzanne and Alan,
Hollywood First Methodist Church" 12/1/10.

California, Palm Desert, Sunday Church Feature, "Palm Desert Church",
Sunday, 4/11/10.
California, San Francisco, 1520 Green Street, Happy July 4th, Sunday Church
Feature, "Holy Trinity Cathedral", Sunday, July 4, 2010.

California, Stanford Campus, California, "Stanford Memorial Church",
Sunday, August 15, 2010.
France, Paris, Sunday Church Feature, "Notre-Dame Cathedral", Sunday,

November 21, 2010.
Israel, Israel, Sea of Galilee, Sunday Church Feature, "Church of the
Beatitudes", Sunday, July 25, 2010.

Italy, Rome, "Trinita dei Monti", Rome, Happy Mother's Day, Sunday Church
                Feature, May 9, 2010.
Italy, Sicily, Sunday Church Feature, "Cathedral of Cattania", Sunday
              June 13, 2010.
Italy, Vatican, Sunday Church Feature, "St. Peter's Basilica", Sunday,
                  April 25, 2010. Korea,   Korea, Sunday Church Feature, "Young Nak Presbyterian Church" in
                Seoul, Sunday, July 18, 2010.
Malta, Valletta, Sunday Church Feature, "Our Lady of Victory
                Church", Sunday, June 6, 2010.
Malta    Port, Valletta, Happy Father's Day, Sunday Church Feature, "Costa

                Costa Chapel", Sunday, June 20, 2010.
Monaco,  "St. Nicholas Cathedral", Sunday Church Feature, Sunday,
                May 2, 2010.

Nevada, Las Vegas, Sunday Church Feature, "Wedding

Capital of the World", Sunday, June 27, 2010.
Spain, Barcelona, "Sangrada Familia", Sunday Church Feature, May 16, 2010.

Spain, Palma Mallorca, "Le Seu Cathedral", Sunday Church Feature,
Sunday, May 2010.
Tunisia, Tunis/Carthage, Cathedral of St. Louis, Tunisia, "Cathedral of St.
Louis", May 30, 2010.
Washington, Concrete, Sunday Church Feature, "Mount Baker Presbyterian

Church", Sunday, September 19, 2010.

Washington, Deer Park, Sunday Church Feature, "Wildrose United Methodist
                Church", Sunday, 4/18/2010.
Washington, Port Gambel, "Sunday Church Feature, "1879 St. Paul's Episcopal
                Church", October 17, 2010.
Washington, Rockford, 217 South 1st St., Sunday Church Feature,
              "Rockford United Methodist Church", Sunday, September 26, 2010.

Washington, Leavenworth, 418 Evans Street, Sunday Church Feature,
"Community United Methodist Church", Sunday,

November 14, 2010.

Washington, Leavenworth,  Below Front Street, "St. Joseph Catholic
              Church", Sunday, November 7, 2010.
Washington, Spokane, 127 Twelfth Avenue, Sunday Church Feature, "St.
                John's Episcopal  Cathedral", Sunday, November 28, 2010.

Washington, Spokane, 330 Boone Avenue, Sunday Church Feature, "St.

Aloysius at Gonzaga", Sunday 3/14/10.
Washington, Spokane, 3220 S. Grand Blvd., "Manito United Methodist
Church", Sunday, August 1, 2010
Wisconsin, Green Bay, Sunday Church Feature, "1898 Divine Temple, Church

of God in Christ", Sunday, August 2010.
Wisconsin, Green Bay, 413 St. John's St., Sunday Church Feature, "St. John's
the Evangeslist Catholic Church", September 5, 2010.
Wisconsin, Kaukauna, "Lutherans in Kaukauna", Easter Sunday Church

Feature, Sunday, April 4, 2010.
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 2772 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, "Trinity

Methodist Church", 2/21/10.

Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1023 Russell Avenue, Sunday Church Feature,
"Immaculate Conception Catholic Church", Sept. 12, 2010.

Wisconsin, Port Washington, Sunday Church Feature, "St. Mary's Catholic

Church", Sunday, August 8, 2010.

Wisconsin, Seymour, 349 North Main Street, Sunday Church Feature,

"Emmanuel Lutheran Church", Sunday, March 21, 2010.

Photo: Taken in rose garden at Park and Tilford Gardens in 2008 by SW.

THANK YOU

PLEASE JOIN ME

2010-12-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

END OF YEAR INDEX

SATURDAY TRAVEL FEATURES

AND

SPECIAL FEATURES

Saturday Travel Features

Bangkok, Thailand, "The Jim Thompson House", Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010.
B.C., Bowen Island, "Take the Ferry to Bowen", 2/27/10.
B.C., "Britannia Beach B.C.", Canada 2/6/2010.

B.C., "Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.", 2/13/2010.
B.C., 1775 Connie Road, Sooke, Saturday Special Travel Feature, "Sooke

Markham House", Saturday, March 13, 2010.

B. C., 4193 Lynn Valley Road, "Saturday Special Feature, The End of the Line",

North Vancouver, B.C.. Saturday, October 2, 2010.

B.C., 7480 Island Highway, "Saturday Travel Feature, FBI, Fanny Bay, B.C.",

Saturday, October 9, 2010.

B.C., Vancouver Island, Saturday Travel Feature, "Happy Birthday Laura!"
Long Beach, B.C., Saturday, August 21, 2010.
"B.C. Parliament Buildings", Victoria, B. C. Saturday, December 4, 2010.

California, Balboa Island, "Balboa Island Cottage", 1/30/2010

California, Catalina Island, "Catalina Casino", 1/9/2010.
California, Palm Desert, Saturday Travel Feature, "Green in the Desert Sand",
Sat., 4/10/10.
California, San Diego, "Old Town San Diego", 1/16/2010.
California, 540 Alabama Street, San Francisco, California, Saturday Travel
Feature, "Developing Environments", SF, Saturday, July 3, 2010.

California, San Francisco, "San Francisco Cathedral, Cathedral Hill Hotel",
1/23/2010.

California, 550 Geary Street, San Francisco, Saturday Travel Feature, "Adagio
in San Francisco", Saturday, March 6, 2010.

California, 800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, Saturday Travel Feature,
"SFAI", San Francisco, California, Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Italy, Saturday Travel Feature, "Teatro Massimo Bellini Opera House"
Italy, Rome, Saturday Travel Feature, "Castel Sant'Angelo", Saturday,
April 24, 2010.
Israel, Bet She'an, Sunday Church Feature, "Bet She'an, Israel", Saturday
Travel Feature, Saturday, July 24, 2010.

Korea, 1988 Seoul, Korea, Olympic Site, Saturday Travel Feature, "Seoul
Olympic Park", Seoul Korea, Saturday, July 17, 2010.

Malta, Saturday Travel Feature, "The Court House, Valletta, Malta", Monaco,
                       Saturday, June 5, 2010.
Monaco, Saturday Travel Feature, "Royal Palace, Monaco", Saturday, May 1,
                        2010.
Monaco, Saturday Travel Feature, "The Ni Box, Monte-Carlo", Monaco,
                        Saturday, May 8, 2010.
Nevada,  Saturday Travel Feature, Las Vegas, Nevada, "Hearts, Clubs,

Diamonds, and Spades of Golf", Saturday, June 12, 2010.
Las Vegas, Saturday Travel Feature, "The Strip", Saturday, December 18, 2010.
Oregon, Ashland, Oregon, "Saturday Travel Feature, Shakespeare Festival",

October 30, 2010.

Spain, Saturday Travel Feature, "Customs and Columbus", Barcelona, Spain,
                       Saturday, May 15, 2010.
Spain, Saturday Travel Feature, "Ayuntamiento of Palma de Mallorca",
                       Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, May 22, 2010.
Tunisia, Saturday Travel Feature, "Narrow Streets of Tunis", Tunisia,
                        May 29, 2010.

Washington, Saturday Travel Feature, "Concrete Grade School", Concrete,
Washington, Saturday, September 18, 2010.

Washington, Port Angeles, " Saturday Travel Feature, 1914 Clallam County

Courthouse", October 31, 2010.

Washington, Port Gambel, Washington, "Saturday Travel Feature, Best

Friends Antiques", Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010.

Washington, South 1st Street, Saturday Travel Feature, "1916 Pump House",
Rockford, Washington, Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Washington, Spokane Washington, "Spokane Railroad Tower", 1/2/2010.

Washington, Spokane, Washington, Saturday Travel Feature, "Spokane Milk
Bottle", Sat., April 17, 2010.
Wisconsin, Saturday Travel Feature, "Lambeau Field", Green Bay, Wisconsin,
Saturday, August 28, 2010.

Wisconsin, 720 Bay Beach Road, Saturday Travel Feature, "Heat Your Home

With Corn", Green Bay, Wisconsin September 4, 2010.

Wisconsin, 2590 South Superior Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

"Brinton in Milwaukee", 2/20/10.

Wisconsin, Highway 54 at the corner with C Road, Seymour, Wisconsin,

Saturday Travel Feature, "Phillips 66 in Seymour", Saturday, March

20, 2010.
Wisconsin, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Saturday Travel Feature, "School on the
Fox", 4/3/2010.

Wisconsin, Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, Saturday Travel Feature, "Terry's

shack is a thing of beauty", Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Wisconsin, Lakefront, Saturday Travel Feature, "Milwaukee Art Museum by

Calatrava", Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 11, 2010.

Wisconsin, Saturday Travel Feature, "1860 Light Station", Port Washington,

Wisconsin, Saturday, August 7, 2010.

Special Features

Events

Olympics, Georgia and Howe, Special Feature, "Wrapped in the

Canadian Flag", 1/1/10.

Olympics, 674 Granville Street, "The Hudson Bay, Let the Olympics Begin",

2/12/2010.

Olympics, 100 South Renfrew St., Pacific Coliseum, "Pacific Coliseum Banner",

2/19/10.

Olympics, 939 Shavington Street, "Paint the Town Red", 2/26/10.

Olympics, 999 Canada Place, Friday Special Feature, Olympic Special Feature,

"The Sails of Canada Place", Friday, March 12, 2010.

B.C., Vancouver, Georgia and Hornby, Special Feature, "Georgia Medical

Dental Building", 1/22/2010.

California, Saturday Travel Feature, "The Getty Center", Brentwood,

Los Angeles, California.

England, Thames River, Saturday Travel Feature, "Henley-on-Thames",

Saturday, November 20, 2010.

Washington, Thanksgiving, "Celebrating With Jefferson," Spokane,

Washington, Thursday, November 25, 2010.

Washington, Front Street, Saturday Travel Feature, "The Gazebo",
Leavenworth, Washington, Saturday, November 5, 2010.

Washington, East End of Front Street, Saturday Travel Feature, "Festhalle",
Leavenworth, Washington, Saturday, November 12, 2010.

Holidays

New Year's Day, Special Feature, 2010 Olympics Feature, "Wrapped in the

Canadian Flag".

Valentine's Day, Sunday Church Feature, Valentine's Day,

"Happy 100th Birthday".

Easter, Easter Sunday Church Feature, "Lutherans in Kaukauna".

July 1st, Happy Canada Day, "Flag Flying on East Keith Road".July 4th

Halloween, "End of the Month Summary, October 2010". Remembrance Day, "The Wall", Thursday, November 11, 2010.

Thanksgiving, "Celebrating With Jefferson," Spokane, Washington, Thursday,

November 25, 2010.
Christmas, "Merry Christmas, The First Christmas".
Boxing Day, "Happy Boxing Day, The North Vancouver Archives".

Summaries

Monthly, last day of each month.

"Year End Summary, City of North Vancouver", Wed., December 27, 2010.
"Year End Summary, North Vancouver District", Thurs., December 28, 2010.
"Year End Summary, Saturday Travel Features/Speical Features/Indexes",
Wednesday, December 29, 2010.
"Year End Summary, Sunday Church Features", Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010.

Photo: Taken of Park and Tilford Christmas light display Dec. 2008 by SW.

THANK YOU

PLEASE JOIN ME

2010-12-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

YEAR END INDEX

NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT

761 East 12th Street, "Oliver, Smith, Forbes, Wetzler", Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.

866 East 13th Street, "On the Way to School", 2/8/2010.

910 Beaumount Dr., "A Week of Black and Whie, Capilano Highland's Stucco",

Tuesday, September 7, 2010.

944 Beaumont Dr., "East Side of Beaumont Dr.", Thursday, August 5, 2010.

957 Beaumont Dr., "West Side of Beaumont Dr.", Friday, August 6, 2010.

913 Belmont Avenue, "Fifty-five Years in the Capilano Highlands",

May 27, 2010.

1526 Bruce Street, "Seylynn Cottage", 1/18/2010.

2808 Bushnell Place, "School Next Door", Friday, April 16, 2010.

1098 Canyon Blvd., "Blue at the Mountain's Base", Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010.

2832 Capilano Road, "To the Bridge, To the Mountain", 2/15/2010.

2832 Capilano Road, "14 Town Houses", Thursday, October 7, 2010.

2840 Capilano Road, "Capilano Road Oldie", 2/16/2010.

2840 Capilano Road, "Enter on the Side", Friday, October 8, 2010.

3065 Capilano Road, "More Black and White, Compound on Capilano",

October 25, 2010.

270 Carisbrooke Crescent, "Many Levels on Carisbrooke", Tuesday,12/7/20.

4373 Cheviot Rd., "$10,000 Buys the Cheviot Rd. Home", 2/9/2010.
877 Clements Avenue, "Under the House", Friday, March 19, 2010.

2580 Colwood Dr., "The Hughes Home for 35 Years", Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

3150 Colewood Drive, "The Day They Tore the School House Down, Highlands

School", 2/3/2010.

2888 Crescentview Drive, "Round 4 Pane Window", 1/28/2010.
1210 Dempsey Road, "At the edge of the Forest", Wednesday, 12/8/20.
1414 Dempsey Road, "Only the Clark's", Tuesday, August 10, 2010.
1640 Dempsey Road, "Shake Clad House on Dempsey", Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010.
2455 Dollarton Highway, "More Black and White, The Crab Shack", 10/27/10.
527 North Dollarton Highway, "Naas Family-40 Years", Monday, Nov. 22, 2010.
2284 Old Dollarton Road, "The Dollar Mill", 2/24/2010.

2290 Old Dollarton Road, "In the Pink", 2/25/2010.

3502 Dowsley Court, "Black and White", Monday, June 21, 2010.
1426 Draycott Road, "Pink Cottage at the End of the Lane", Tuesday, 3/9/10.

2790 Edgemont Boulevard, "To Demo or Not to Demo", Wednesday, 3/17/2010.
2895 Edgemont Blvd., "The Reverend's House", Tuesday, November 16, 2010.
1675 Edgewater Lane, "At the Water's Edge", 2/4/2010.

720 Edgewood Road, "The Manton Mansion", Thursday, March 11, 2010.
627 Elstree Place, "The Sun Shires Bright on Elstree", Thursday, 3/18/10.
1502 Fern Street, "Seylynn at Fern", 1/20/2010.
3253 Fromme Road, "The Fromme House", Friday, June 18, 2010.

468 Genoa Crescent, "A Mountain Behind", Friday, March 26, 2010.
482 Genoa Crescent, "Genoa North Vancouver, Not Italy", Mon., April 19, 2010.

3636 Glenview Crescent, "1949 Post and Beam", Monday, August 16, 2010.

4020 Glenview Crescent, "A Mountain and a River", 2/11/2010.

925 Glenora Avenue, "Glenora in the Capilano Highlands", Wednesday,

September 15, 2010.
3570 Glenview Cr., "The Red Door", May 4, 2010.

4106 Grace Crescent, "State of Grace", Thursday, April 29, 2010.

564 Granada Court, "The Facer House", 2/23/10.

954 Hampshire Road, "The Street It Is A Changing", Monday, Sept. 27, 2010.

971 Hampshire Rd., "Sold!,Wednesday", April 28, 2010.
3790 Hoskins Road, "Lilacs and Roses", Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

260 Institute Road, Sunday Church Feature, "Posthumous-Methodist Church",

Lynn Valley, B.C., Sunday, July 11, 2010.

3203 Institute Road, Boxing Day, "Happy Boxing Day, The North Vancouver

Archives", Dec. 25, 2010

1240 West Keith Road, "1938 Eyebrow Roof", Thursday, April 8, 2010.

911 Kennedy Avenue, "A Great Home to Grow Up In", Thurs., Oct. 14, 2010.

222 West Kensington Crescent, "Ship Shape", 1/29/2010.

1605 Kilmer Rd., "In the Rainforest", Monday, August 9, 2010.

548 Kings Road, "The English on King's Road", Monday, July 19, 2010.
891 Leovista Avenue, "The James Residence", 1/26/2010.
3945 Lynn Valley Road, "One Block From Lynn Canyon Park", Wed., 11/3/ 2010.
2015 Lloyd Ave., "Lloyd on Lloyd", 2/5/2010.

2651 Lloyd Avenue, "Circa 1912 Farm House", Tuesday, October 12, 2010.

2670 Lloyd Avenue, "Lloyd Avenue Compound", Wednesday, October 13, 2010.

3380 Lonsdale Avenue, "Sunday Church Feature, The Church on the Hill",

North Lonsdale United Church, North Vancouver, B.C., Sunday,

October 3, 2010.

3890 Loraine Avenue, "Lorraine on Loraine", Tuesday, March 16, 2010.

3945 Lynn Valley Road, "One Block From Lynn Canyon Park", Wed., 11/3/ 2010.

4193 Lynn Valley Road, "Saturday Special Feature, The End of the Line",

North Vancouver, B.C.. Saturday, October 2, 2010.

3458 Mahon Avenue, "1956 Red Brick", Tuesday, April 6, 2010.

1690 Main Street, "Swedish Canadian Rest Home", Friday, December 10, 2010.

300 block Marine Drive, "Marine Drive Strip Mall", 1/13/2010.

1120 Marine Drive, "Montreal on Marine", Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

4742 Marineview Crescent, "Typical Double Decker", Wednesday, 3/3/10.

3615 McGinnis Avenue, "How many ways are there to spell Maginnis?",2/10/10.

390 Monteray Avenue, "A View of the World", Friday, July 20, 2010.
854 Montroyal Boulevard, "Trilevel on Montroyal", Tuesday, March 2, 2010.

600 block Mountain Highway, "Lynnmour United Church", 1/17/2010.
652 Mountain Highway, "St. Denis/Mountain Highway", 1/19/2010.
690 Mountain Highway, "Mirror Images on Mountain Highway",
Tuesday, October, 5, 2010.
698 Mountain Highway, "On the Move", Wednesday, October 6, 2010.

1938 Mountain Highway, "One of Five", Thursday, June 17, 2010.

3690 Mountain Highway, "Fire in the District", Monday, March 8, 2010.

3764 Mountain Highway, "An Awning for You and An Awning for Me", 2/17/10.
3780 Mountain Highway, "Two White Pillars and a Big Addition", 2/18/10.

3690 Mountain Highway, "Fire in the District", Monday, March 8, 2010.

4380 Mountain Highway, "New in 1950", Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

3601 Mount Seymour Parkway, "Triumvirate on Mount Seymour Blvd.",

Wednesday, November 17, 2010.

3515 Mount Seymour Parkway, "The House in the Middle",

Thurs., Nov. 18/2010.
3633 Mount Seymour Parkway, "Watt on the Corner", Friday, Nov. 19, 2010.

4142 Mount Seymour Parkway, "A Week of Black and White, Since 1946 in Deep

Cove", Monday, September 6, 2010.
872 Orwell Street, "Orwell Street, Where Are You?", Tues., September 14, 2010.
2901 Paisley Road, "The Swing in the Tree", Friday, September 24, 2010.
2398 Panorama Dr., "Additions to Panorama Park", Tuesday, July 27, 2010.

2412 Panorama Dr., "Turquoise Cottage", Wednesday, July 28, 2010.
2420 Panorama Dr., "On the Beach", Thursday, July 29, 2010.

2568 and 2579 Panorama Dr., "Under the Green Tarp", Wed., Sept. 1, 2010.

2063 Parkside Lane, "Down in the Gully", Monday, October 4, 2010.

1550 Phillips Avenue, "Jehovah Witness's on Phillips", 1/10/2010.

3738 Phyllis Road, "One Block of Phyllis", July 21, 2010.
4041 Prospect Road, "A Gate in the Bush", 1/15/2010.
887 Premier Street, "On the Way to the Dump", Monday, September 13, 2010.

1101 Prospect Avenue, "An Independent Woman", Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010.
4041 Prospect Rd., "A Gate in the Bush", Friday, January 15, 2010.
1958 Ridgewood Drive, "St. Catherine's Anglican Church", 10/24/10.

706 Roslyn Blvd., "House With a Pool", Tuesday, August 3, 2010.

1089 Ruthina Avenue, "$125,000 Buys Ruthina", 1/8/2010.

615 East St. James Road, "Behind the Berm", August 30, 2010.

343 Seymour River Place, "Maplewood Farm Neighbour", Thursday, 3/25/10.
4819 Skyline Drive, "The Top of the World", Wednesday, April 21, 2010.
1340 Sunnyside Drive, "The Sunnyside", February 22, 2010.

1340 Sunnyside Drive, "That's Jack London's Place", Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010.

649 Sylvan Avenue, "Upper Mosquito Creek", 1/6/2010.
1072 Tall Tree Lane, "A Pool on Tall Tree Lane", Friday, October 1, 2010.
1096 Tall Tree Lane, "Life's a Holiday", Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

1902 Tatlow Avenue, "The End of the Road", Thursday, June 3, 2010.

3907 Trenton Place, "The Tall Cedars of Trenton", 2/2/2010.
4375 Underwood Ave., "A Week of Black and White, Westlake and Marshall",
Thursday, September 9, 2010.
4119 Virginia Crescent, "Margaret on Virginia", Tuesday, August 17, 2010.
912 Wavertree Road, "Wavertree in Spring", Monday, May 3, 2010.
735 Wellington Drive, "The Three Wellingtons", Monday, March 1, 2010.
1152 Wellington Drive, "Lynn Valley Wellington", Thursday, Sep. 2, 2010.

3476 Wellington Crescent, "Turquoise Trim", Friday, August 13, 2010.

954 Wentworth Ave., "Corner of Highlands and Wentworth", Tues. 6/1/2010.

1842 Westover Road, "High on the Westover Hill", July 20, 2010.

2911 Woodbine Dr., "50 Years on Woodbine Drive", Friday, June 11, 2010.
3015 Woodbine Drive, "Where did all the gas stations go?", 1/25/2010 .

1398 West 15th Street, "Sunday Church Feature, St. Richard's Anglican

Church", St. Richard's of Norgate, 1/3/2010.

Photo: Taken of the Japanese Garden at Park and Tilford Gardens,
333 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver in 2002 by SW.

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PLEASE JOIN ME

2010-12-27T08:00:00.001-08:00

YEAR END INDEX

CITY OF NORTH VANCOUVER

409 East 1st Street, "Y2K Project, Wartime House", Monday, March 22, 2010.
426/428 East 1st Street, "High on the Hill", Friday, November 12, 2010.

245 East 3rd Street, "ANAVETS on Third", Friday, December 3, 2010.

649 East 3rd Street, "Wartime House", Monday, March 22, 2010.

332 East 4th Street, "Canary Yellow", Friday, April 2, 2010.

332 East 4th Street, "A Week of Black and White, 1928 Canary Yellow", Friday

September 10, 2010.
549 East 4th Street,, "Wartime Home on 4th Street", Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010.

263/265/265B East 5th Street, "Multiple House Numbers, Families, Stories,"

Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

267/267B/269/269B East 5th Street, "Duplex? Fourplex?",

Wednesday, June 16, 2010.

367 East 5th Street, "Stone Wall, Horseshoe Gate", Monday, April 5, 2010.

658 East 5th Street, "One Big Address", Wednesday, April 7, 2010.

662 East 5th Street, "Decked Our for Every Holiday", Tuesday, March 23, 2010.
701 East 5th Street, "East 5th on Queensbury", Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

805 East 5th Street, "The Tiny House", Monday, 1/4/2010.

302 East 6th Street, "Come Build a House", Thursday, April 1, 2010.

719 East 6th Street, "Originally Built in 1921", Wednesday, March 24, 2010.

739 East 7th Street, "The Mathieson's Lived Here", Friday, March 5, 2010.
335 East 8th Street, "Victor Larson House," Monday, April 12, 2010.
335A East 8th Street, " 'A' House", Tuesday, April 13, 2010 .
420 East 8th Street, "Ridgeway Elementary School, Seismic Upgrading",
Thursday, May 20, 2010.
365 East 9th Street, "Turquoise on a Heritage Street", Wednesday, 1/27/2010.

230 East 10th Street, "More Black and White, Historic Street", Tuesday, Oct.

26, 2010.

258 East 11th Street, "Last House on the Block", Thursday, 1/14/2010.
264 East 11th Street, "Typical 1950's", Thursday, May 6, 2010.

309 East 11th Street, "Back As Far As 1911", Thursday", March 4, 2010.

509 East 11th Street, "Grey Stucco on East 11th", Thursday, April 22, 2010.

121 East 12th Street, "Presbyterians and Black Sheep", Wed., Dec. 22, 2010.

152 East 12th Street, "Typical Early 1900 Home", Friday, May 7, 2010.

530 East 12th Street, "North Vancouver, St. Agnes Anglican Church", Sunday,
2/14/10.
535 East 12th Street, "Built by a Shipwright, Tuesday", May 11, 2010.
332 East 13th Street, "North Shore Hospice", Friday, September 17, 2010.

359 East 13th Street, "Cotoneaster Gussy-Ups Grey Stucco", Monday, 2/1/2010.

529 East 13th Street, "They Liked to Celebrate Halloween", Wednesday,
May 12, 2010.

419 East 419 East 15th Street, "Typical 1950's", Thursday, September 23, 2010.

325 East 14th Street, "Two for One, Thursday, May 13, 2010.
419 East 15th Street, "Typical 1950's", Thursday, September 23, 2010.

424 East 14th Street, "Christmas on 14th Street", Friday, May 14, 2010.

744 East 15th Street, "Buchanan 744, Monday", May 17, 2010.

260 East 17th Street, Behind the Wrought Iron Fence", Tuesday, May 18, 2010.
619 East 17th Street, Front Yard Plums, Friday, August 27, 2010.

211 East 18th Street, Bay Window Shingled Home", Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
211 East 18th Street, "At Least Since 1925", Monday, December 20, 2010.
219 and 221 East 18th Street, "Two For One", Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

225 East 18th Street, "Street Undergoing Change", Tuesday, March 30, 2010.

318 East 18th Street, "The Blue House With the Rock Wall", Fri., May 8, 2010.

252/254 East 19th Street, "Tire Swing", Monday, November 1, 2010.
261 East 19th Street, "Historic 200 Block of East 19th Street",
Friday, May 21, 2010.
647 East 22nd Street, "Victoria Day, House of Multipaned Windows",
Monday, May 24, 2010.
306 East 23rd Street, "The Galon's Formal Garden", Tuesday, May 25, 2010.

208 East 24th Street, "Women Only", Friday, June 4, 2010.
303 East 26th Street, "Red Maple Leaves", Monday, November 7, 2010.
311 East 28th Street, Cathedral Entrance, Tuesday, August 12, 2010.

1404 Bewicke Avenue, "Big Changes on Bewicke-1", Monday, July 12, 2010.

1416 Bewicke Avenue, "Big Changes on Bewicke-2", Tuesday, July 13, 2010.
1428 Bewicke Avenue, "Big Changes on Bewicke-3", Wednesday, July 14, 2010.
1436 Bewicke Avenue, "Big Changes on Bewicke-4", Thursday, July 15, 2010.
1456 Bewicke Avenue, "Big Changes on Bewicke-5", Friday, July 16, 2010.

212 Brooksbank Ave., "Office Building at Lynnmouth Park", Thursday,

June 10, 2010.
83 Chesterfield Avenue, "1904 Gross House", Wednesday, November 24, 2010.
1348 Chesterfield Ave., "...Put Up a Parking Lot",

Monday, June 14, 2010.

338 East 12th Street, "White Horizontal Clapboard", Monday, May 10, 2010.

362 East 12th Street, "Pumpkin on the Porch", Monday, November 29, 2010.

1805 Chesterfield Avenue, "Pink Posies on Chesterfield", Thursday, 1/21/2010.
2556 Chesterfield Ave., "Two Stories, Two Paint Jobs", Tuesday, June 8, 2010.
788 Copping Street, "No Demolition Necessary", Friday, November 26, 2010.

219 and 221, 240 East Esplanade, "Gone Hiking", Tuesday, April 27, 2010.

1708 Fell Ave., Mosquito Creek Park, Wednesday, June 9, 2010.

817 Grand Boulevard, "Grand Boulevard", Tuesday, December 14, 2010.

837 Grand Boulevard, "Grand Boulevard", Wednesday, June 23, 2010.

1136 Grand Boulevard,"Burdett's on the Boulevard", Thursday, June 24, 2010.

1420 Grand Boulevard, "Grand Double Lot", Friday, December 17, 2010.

1707 Grand Boulevard, "Let the World Hear Music", Tuesday, July 6, 2010.

1720 Grand Boulevard,"North Shore Sash House", Friday, June 25, 2010.

384 East Keith Road, "Mirror Image", Tuesday, 1/5/2010.

402 East Keith Road, "Perhaps Two Families", Monday, July 5, 2010.

502 East Keith Road, "Happy Canada Day, Flag Flying on East Keith Road",

Thursday, July 1, 2010.

823 East Keith Road, "The McPherson's Forever", Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010.

219 West Keith Road, "1927 Heritage Style Home", Monday, December 13, 2010.

420 West Keith Road, "1911 West Keith Road Home", Monday, Dec. 6, 2010.

1849 Larson Road, "Two Streets for One", Tuesday, November 2, 2010.

440 Hendry Avenue, "Moved Not Demolished", Tuesday, 1/12/2010.

Foot of Lonsdale, "Happy Boxing Day, The North Vancouver Archives", Sunday,

December 26, 2010.

Foot of Lonsdale, "More Black and White, Number 5 Ferry/Seven Seas

Restaurant", Thursday, October 28, 2010.

Foot of Lonsdale Ave., "Burrard Dry Dock #4 and #10", Friday, Nov. 5, 2010.

East of Foot of Lonsdale, "More Black and White, The Flamborough Head

Victory Ship", Friday, October 29, 2010.

1250 Lonsdale Avenue," Shell Game", Friday, April 9, 2010.

1553 Mahon Avenue, "Christmas on Mahon", Monday, June 28, 2010.

1605 Mahon Avenue, "Across the Street", Tuesday, June 29, 2010.

1920 Mahon Avenue, "Start the Demolition", Monday, 1/11/2010.

1624 St. Andrew's Avenue, "St. Andrew", Wednesday, July 7, 2010.

1033 St. Georges Avenue, "104 Fires in the City", Thursday, 1/7/2010.

1044 St. Georges Avenue, "St. Andrew's United Church", Sunday, 1/24/2010.
1644/1640 St. Georges Avenue, "St. George's Duplex", Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.

2048 St. George's Avenue, "St. George's Stately Home", Thursday, 12/9/10.

240 St. Patrick's Street, "Early St. Patrick's", Thursday, August 19, 2010.
939 Shavington Street, "Friday Special Feature, Special Olympic Feature,

Paint the Town Red", Friday, 2/26/2010.

388 Tempe Crescent, "71 Years of Pink Azaleas and Purple Rhodos", Monday,

July 26, 2010.

452 Tempe Crescent, "53 Years on Temp Cr.," Wednesday, September 22, 2010.

560 Tempe Crescent, "New Home on Tempe Crescent", Wednesday, 8/25/2010.
2621 Western Avenue, "Longest building Permit Pedigree, Greenhouses on
Western, 66 Years of Marten Family Living", Wednesday, October 20, 2010.

2725 Western Avenue, "1911 Johnston House", Thursday, October 21, 2010.

2733 Western Avenue, "Parish Property", Friday, October 22, 2010.

739 Westmoreland Crescent, "A View of the World", Friday, September 3, 2010.

1533 William Ave., "Christmas on William Ave.", Thursday, August 26, 2010.

2427 William Ave., "White House on William", Wednesday, April 14, 2010.
243 West 6th Street, "Demolished or Moved", Monday, March 29, 2010.430/432 West 6th Street, "Doors of Green and Brown", Wed., Nov. 10, 2010.

454 West 6th Street, "A Week of Black and White, Cement on West 6th",
Wednesday, September 8, 2010.
210 West 13th Street, "The Chesterton", Thursday, April 15, 2010.
252 West 13th Street, "A Long History", Friday, August 20, 2010.

120 West 14th Street, "Saturday Special Feature, New City NV Library a Beaut!"

Saturday, July 10, 2010.
342 West 14th Street, "Palm Tree on West 14th Street", Monday, Aug. 23, 2010.

417 West 15th Street, "The House Behind the Gate", Friday, July 9, 2010.

428 West 15th Street, "Tudor Trim on West 15th Street", Tuesday,

August 24, 2010.
648 West 15th Street, "98 Years Old", Thursday, December 23, 2010.

654 West 15th Street, "Demolished and Raised", Tuesday, December 21, 2010.

415 West 16th Street, "The Spence House", Tuesday, November 9, 2010.

735 West 15th Street, "Certiwood", Monday, November 15, 2010.

343 West 17th Street, "Grey Stucco Near Mahon", Monday, August 2, 2010.

353 West 17th Street, "Old and New Dental Detailing", Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010.

206 West 19th Street, "$250 1930 Foundation", Friday, April 23, 2010.
210 West 19th Street, "A Triplex is Coming", Monday, April 26, 2010.
741 West 20th Street, "West of Fell", Tuesday, September 21, 2010.

322 West 21st Street, "Address Around f0r 87 Years", Thursday, July 8, 2010.

133 West 23rd Street, "1921 Home", Wednesday, August 18, 2010.

309 West 27th Street, "1911 Wallace Home", Friday, July 2, 2010.

404 West 27th Street, "Harbottle's Jersey Products Salesman," Monday,

October 18, 2010.

235 West 28th Street, "Just in the City of NV", Friday, July 23, 2010.

238 West 28th Street, "House in the Back", Friday, October 15, 2010.

405 West 28th Street, "A View of the North Shore Mountains", Monday,

June 7, 2010.

Photo: Taken of entrance to Park and Tilford Gardens, 333 Brooksbank

Avenue, North Vancouver in 2002 by SW.

THANK YOU

PLEASE JOIN ME

2010-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

PGE Station, back at foot of Lonsdale, 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010
Happy Boxing Day
The North Vancouver Archives

The origin of the North Vancouver Archives began on October 24, 1968 when a public meeting was held to discuss the possibility of its formation. In 1971 the Centennial Committee established to form a museum and archives under the direction of Bill Baker. (REF 1.)

July 22, 1972 was the official opening of the Museum and Archives in North Vancouver. It was originally housed in the old Pacific Great Eastern Train Station that had been moved from the foot of Lonsdale up to Mahon Park. Its name at this time was the North Shore Museum and Archives. The PGE museum and archives site had little space available for the archives and no research space. (REF 2.) The Archivist when the archives opened was Don Bourdon. He had been working on the archives as a volunteer since the 1970's.(REF 2.)

During this time the City Hall of North Vancouver City was at 204 West 4th Street, 1915 to 1975. (REF 4.) The building was originally built as the North Vancouver School circa 1902. In 1907 there were alterations and additions and the name changed to Central School. (REF 4.) While it served as the North Vancouver City Hall it also housed the jail for the Provincial Police who did the policing in the City during that time. (REF 2.) The jail had its own entrance on the south west side of the building. There were two holding cells and the bull pen/exercise room with a window with bars on it. The window had a wooden sill in which the inmates carved their names. One name was "Cecil Mark". The bars and carved wooden sill can still be seen in 2010. (REF 3.) The jail was not needed after 1961 when the RCMP building opened on East 13th Street in 1962. (REF 2.)

Presentation House 2010

In 1976 the museum and archives moved to the old City Hall building that by this time had become Presentation House. The Archives was housed in what had been the bull pen area of the jail and officially opened in 1978. The Archivist Don Bourdon moved to Calgary in 1980 and June Thompson was appointed to that position. She had been volunteering since 1979. She continued as Archivist until 1994 when Francis Mansbridge was hired for that position. June Thompson then became a part time assistant Archivist until 2003. Francis Mansbridge retired in August of 2006. (REF 2.)

North Vancouver Community History Centre 2010

In 2006 the Museum and Archives moved to a brand new state of the art facility in Lynn Valley. The exterior of the building was the 1920 Lynn Valley Elementary School at 3203  Institute Rd. It had been pared down to its original building, gutted and refitted, and a rounded storage area added to the north end of the building. The wood of the school's gym floor addition had been saved and used for the first floor of the new facility. This facility was named the Community History Centre and the Archives occupies the second floor. The new Archivist is Janet Turner.

Note:  After the Museum and Archives moved to Presentation House in 1976, "additional exhibit space was retained in the station museum for many years." June Thompson.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Demolition: Of 1950's additions to 1920 Lynn Valley Elementary School building and interior of 1920 building completed with opening of Community History Centre in 2006.
References: 1.North Vancouver Museum and Archives Fonds 38
                         2. June Thompson
                         3. Cecil Halsey-NVMA Photographer-Technician
                        4. City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994-pages 88, 89.
Photos: Taken in 2000 and 2010 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.northvanmuseum.ca/about.htm

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PLEASE JOIN ME

2010-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

"And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around the, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among men

with whom he is pleased!"

(The Christmas story from the Bible, Luke 2:4-14.)

Photo: The manger scene in the photo above was a wedding gift to Suzanne and Alan Wilson in 1967. (See December 1, 2010 Blog Post, Happy 43rd Wedding Anniversary Alan and Suzanne.) It has been part of the Wilson family's Christmas display ever since: when they lived in Hollywood, when they lived in Burquitlam, when they lived on Long Beach B.C., when they lived in Duncan, and the 38 years they have lived on Shavington St. in North Vancouver.

2010-12-24T08:00:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve Special Feature
Juergenmeyers on Taylor Street
225 Taylor Street
Kaukauna, Wisconsin

This two storey home with the basement and broad front porch was the home of Martin, Marie, and Hazel Juergenmeyer in the 1920's and early 1930's.
Martin Juergenmeyer ran a small bus company between Kaukauna and Appleton. After their daughter Hazel was married in 1934, Martin and Marie Juergenmeyer rented out the house and moved to Seymour, Wisconsin. Here Martin bought a Phillip's 66 Gas Station (See Blog Post Saturday Travel Feature, "Phillips 66 in Seymour", Saturday, March 20, 2010) and built a house attached to the back. Marie and Martin planted statice on part of the acreage behind the house and sold it to the local funeral parlor for floral presentations.

When Martin died in 1948 his wife Marie moved back to the house at 225 Taylor Street in Kaukauna. The house was modified for her to live upstairs and she continued to rent out the downstairs. An enclosed stairway and entrance porch was added to the back of the house to protect her from climbing the stairs in the snowy Wisconsin winter. The upstairs apartment had a large square hall leading to the living room that looked out to Taylor street and a kitchen, to a bedroom, and to a bathroom.

The downstairs was rented to Bill and Betty Roerig. Here is Bill's description of their time on 225 Taylor Street. "225 Taylor Street is the source of many fond memories. It was our first home... We arrived in Kaukauna very newly married--August 22, 1948--and the promise of a house to rent from a local dry cleaner. In going in to get the key, etc., we were informed that they had changed their mind. Now what? On leaving the store we bumped into a local police officer who told us that your grandmother in Seymour was planning to move back to Kaukauna. So, off we went to Seymour, introduced ourselves to your grandma who told us that there had already been 14 folks ahead of us. Oh boy! She did not seem very friendly but asked us what church we intended to join. Knowing that Kaukauna was mostly Catholic we quietly said we were Lutheran. She asked if we would be willing to take her to church [Trinity] from time to time and of course we said, certainly. The rest is 7 years of a very good relationship, especially for Betty as your grandmother acted as a mother figure for a young girl 220 miles from home for the first time---

"At first we shared the bath upstairs for a year, or so, and after a couple of awkward incidents I put a toilet and a shower in the basement. Your grandma bought a TV, wonder of wonders, and she would invite us up there for a 30 minute program, much to our delight... In 1955 we began building our own home on the South Side of Kaukauna and our relationship with your grandma was coming to the end. She had lost her health and , I believe, was hospitalized for a short period. After being discharged from the hospital she went to stay with her old friend, a Mrs. Clough (sic). She then wanted to return to her own home and with the help of a friend of mine we managed to bring her up the outside stairs to her own bed. Betty helped care for her, read to her, prayed with her almost to the end. I do not recall the details of that period since I was busy building and teaching. We treasured those years with your grandma who was a "no nonsense", lovable lady...

"The house faced North and the lower rooms were oriented as follows; The kitchen was in the southeast corner with the rear entrance on the south side. Entry was at ground level with maybe 3 steps up to the kitchen and several steps down into the basement. ( I was in charge of keeping the furnace going where I once blew the furnace door off , not knowing how to handle Pocahontas(sic) coal----also, if grandma needed heat upstairs in the morning there were several thumps on the floor to rouse me out of my slug-a-bed laziness---one night, due to my lack of knowledge about coal, we burned coke at home, I found myself on the roof stamping out sparks from a chimney fire).---The northeast room was designed for a dining area but was used for a living room since there was no suitably large room for a master bedroom which , in turn, was the northwest corner with access through French doors. The stairway to the upstairs was in the south center off the "master bedroom" and a smaller southwest bedroom which became the boy's room.

"The basement consisted of a cistern to the right of the stairs, the furnace was the octopus style in the center of the basement, the coal bin was in the northwest corner and a small room in the northeast corner served later as a shower and toilet..." (Bill Roerig 2010.)

In 2010 Zestimate (See Link.) reported that the 2009 tax assessor's value of the house was $94,000. The lot size was listed as 7,405 sq. ft.

The house at 225 Taylor Street was the home of Suzanne Wilson's grandparents and her mother Hazel. Suzanne has vivid memories of her grandmother, Marie, living in the upstairs apartment and the Roerigs. Marie is the middle name of both Suzanne Wilson and her granddaughter Holly Misner.

Thank You: To Bill Roerig for his memories of 225 Taylor Street.

Photo: Taken in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in 2006 by SW.
Link: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/225-Taylor-St-Kaukauna-WI-54130/69784528_zpid/

2010-12-23T08:00:00.002-08:00

Thursday, December 23, 2010

98 Years Old

The symmetrical house at 648 West 15^th Street was built in 1910 by Mr. Syver Christenson and Mr. Standal. Mr. Standal also built the second house from the north-east corner of 15^th and Bewicke. The Vance House that was at the east end of the 600 West 15th Street block was built in the same year. George W. Vance was North Vancouver Mayor 1917 to 1921.

Mr. Christenson came to Canada from a small town outside of Oslo, Norway before 1903. He first worked at Pete Larson’s Hotel on Esplanade, then as a logger, and finally as a laborer for North Vancouver City. He retired from the City in 1948 and died in 1951. Martha Hanson arrived in North Vancouver from the same town in Norway in 1903. She and Syver married on July 24, 1907. Martha worked for Reeve Keely. She died in 1945. Syver and Martha lived at 648 West 15^th until their deaths.

Gladys with her mother, father, and a friend on the front porch

of 648 West 15^th Street, North Vancouver, 1925.

Gladys Christenson was born in the bedroom of the 15^th Street house on September 27, 1916. The midwife Mrs. Ellingson (who lived at West 18th and Lonsdale) not only delivered her but also became her Godmother and gave her a silver spoon. Gladys’ brother, George Martin was born in 1912, but died from meningitis in January 15^th 1915 . He was named after George Martin the doctor that delivered him with the assistance of Mrs. Ellingson. Gladys' sister, Helene, was born in a house next to the Palace Hotel on 2^nd Street in 1908. She lived until May 14^th, 1992.

Gladys went to Queen Mary School and North Vancouver High School. Gladys walked and played on the wooden sidewalks of the 15^th Street area. She roller skated on the paved road to Ambleside Beach or the Capilano River to swim and coming back would sometimes walk along the PGE tracks. She and her sister went to Napolean St. Pierre, the man with the snake, to have their fortunes told. Almost everything he predicted for her sister came true. Gladys attended Girl Guides in a building near St. John’s Anglican Church.

Because her home was on West 15^th, Gladys was also the neighbor of the George Washington Vance family. Gladys’ little brother would give Mr. Vance flowers for his button-hole. He would always accept them, even if it was only a dandelion. George Vance and his wife Catherine had two daughters, Leila and Thelma. Gladys played with Leila’s daughter Thelma. They remained friends throughout their lives. When Thelma died, her nephew gave Gladys a painting from Hong Kong that hung in their home and he remembered Gladys admiring.

On August 3, 1940 Gladys married William Downie Jr. William was born on Helmcken Street in Vancouver July 14^th, 1912. When he was nine months old his family moved to the house on West 15th St. and Bewicke Avenue that had been built by Mr. Standal.

Gladys and William Downie first met while he was playing baseball on the grounds of Queen Mary School and when riding the ferry from North Vancouver to Vancouver. They first lived at 438 East 5^th St. in North Vancouver. The house was owned by Capt. Renollf who worked on the ferry to Vancouver. It was where the Ridgeway School Annex now stands. They moved back to 648 West 15^th Street in 1946 following the death of Gladys’ mother. William worked for Houlden Transfer for thirty five years. He also worked at Burrard Shipyards until 1977. He died on May 19, 1990 at his West 15^th Street home.

May 15, 1941 Gladys gave birth to twins at the old Lion’s Gate Hospital. William donated three pints of blood to her during the difficult births. There was no blood bank in North Vancouver at that time. Her son, Ray, was seven pounds and six ounces. Her daughter, Patricia Lynn was smaller and sadly did not survive.

Gladys lived at 648 West 15^th street for 78 of her 84 years. Her son Ray, grandsons Chris and Daryl, and great-granddaughter Raina, born July 21, 1998, all live in North Vancouver as well. They call her “Bama” and she makes them “Everyday Cookies”. Gladys traded stamps with Zena O’Neil of Christ Church New Zealand since 1950. The life long pen pals never met.

Gladys’ remarkable memory for dates pepper the account of her life on West 15^th Street in the City of North Vancouver. (This interview was conducted for the Year 2000 Project by Suzanne Wilson.)

Glady's Downie's home was demolished in 2008 and two new houses have been built. 648 West 15th Street in on the front part of the lot and 650 West 15th Street is in back of it.

For more about the Downie's see Blog Post December 22, "Presbyterians and Black Sheep".

Demolition: House demolished in 2008.

Photos: Top photo taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your
                House/Our Home by SW.
                 Donated by Glady's Downie: Gladys with her mother, father, and a
                             friend on the front porch of 648 West 15^th Street,
                              North Vancouver, 1925.

2010-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Presbyterians and Black Sheep

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was given a permit to be built on this site at 121 East 12th Street in 1933. The architect was O. Ormrod. The cost of the building was projected to be $2,500. The first listing of the church in the City Directory was 1934. On October 20, 1944 John Gibson and Dorothy Bissett were married there. In 1950 the Pastor was the Rev. H. A. Berlis.

In 1955 it became a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall and remained so until it was run as the Black Sheep Restaurant from 1976 to 2000. The site is now that of a twelve unit apartment complex.

West side of Black Sheep Restaurant

August 3, 1940 Gladys Christianson and William Downie Jr. (See Blog Post December 22, 2010.) were married in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Their's was a wedding with a very special guest.

Around the time of the wedding William's best friend, Dave Richie, had been part of the crew on the ship Ontario Light. The ship was in Perambucal, Brazil when he became ill. The captain called for a doctor to come from shore, but by the time he arrived on board Dave had died from a kidney ailment.

The day of the wedding William did not yet know of the death of his friend. But he did know that the last time he had seen him Dave had said, "I'll have to dance at your wedding."

Dave's mother, dad, sister Grace, and Dave's dog Punch lived at 17 or 18^th and Grand Boulevard. Punch was mostly spaniel, black with a bit of white. Before they left to go to the wedding the family put Punch in the basement.

While Gladys and William were in front of the church at the alter they could hear a scuffling. Then the pastor, Rev. McLean-Bell said, "What do we have here?"

Gladys and William Downie, 1940

Gladys and William looked down and there was Punch between them.

Grace left the wedding and took the dog home, but Punch had done his best to help Dave keep his word. (From research at the North Vancouver Archives and interview with Gladys Downie for the Year 2000 Project, Your House/Our Home.)

Demolition: The building was demolished in the year 2000.
Note: An apartment building was constructed on this site.

Photo: Top photo of the Black Sheep Restaurant taken in 2000 by SW.

Wedding photo of Gladys and William Downie Jr.

2010-12-21T08:00:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Demolished and Raised

It seems that the house at 654 West 15th Street has been demolished at least to the bare bones. (See photo below.) The front steps and roof entrance have been demolished and moved. The house has been raised and the lower floor windows seem to indicate the possibility of a basement suite. The old structural wood seems possibly part of the original home. The City web site (See Link 1.) indicates that a $310,000 alteration was approved in 2009.

December 2010

There is no listing in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives of the 654 West 15th Street address. There is also no listing in the 1945 City Directory. However, in the 1950 issue Alfred E. and Katharine Mason are listed as the owners. They are also listed as the owners in 1960, 1971, and 1980. In 1960 Alfred Mason was employed at Burrard Dry Dock. Alfred Mason was also employed there in 1971 when he was working as a shipwright. And by 1980 he was an assistant dock master at BDD.

In 1991 the owner of 654 West 15th Street was P. Townsley. And in 1995 D. MacArthur reported that he had owned the house for 4 years. D.H. MacArthur was also listed at that address in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory.

The web site BChomez.com indicates there is a second home on the 654 West 15th Street property. This new 1231 square foot home located at the back of the lot is for sale for $579,000. The two storey home has 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a double garage. (See Link 2.)

Photos: Top photo taken as part of the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your

House/Our Home by SW. Bottom photo taken in December 2010 by SW.

Link 1:http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/2/88/2009%20DECEMBER%20ISSUED%20BUILDING%20PERMITS.PDF

Link 2:http://bchomez.com/654-west-15th-street-north-vancouver-hamilton-v857357-homes-for-sale-vancouver-real-estate/

2010-12-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 20, 2010
At Least Since 1925

The two storey house at 211 East 18th Street was built by 1925. Although the address is not listed in the Building Permit Book, there is a listing in the 1925 City Directory. In 1925 Johan and Alberta Johanson were listed at the 211 East 18th Street address. Johan Johanson worked as a carpenter. Alberta Johanson worked as a stenographer at Rankin and Chirell.

In 1931 the owners were John and Jean Kirkness. John C. Kirkness worked as a meat cutter. Jean Kirkness worked as a clerk at Woodwards. The owners in 1941 were John C. and Ann R. Kirkness. John C. Kirkness was a ticket collector for the North Vancouver Ferries. Marion A. Kirkness, a B.C. Tel operator, was also a resident, as was Robert B. Kirkness, an apprentice at North Shore Press.

In 1950 the owners of 211 East 18th Street were Fredrick H. and Gertrude F. Smith. Fredrick Smith was employed as an accountant at the Bank of Montreal. By 1960 the owners were Alan G. and Dora Harrison. Alan Harrison was employed as a packer at Eaton's Department Store. In 1971 the owner was Johann M. Olson, a student. By 1980 both Johann M. and Beryle E. Olson, retired, were the owners.

By 1991 C. Wong was the owner of 211 East 18th Street. C. Wong reported to the City Directory in 1995 that he had owned the property for five years.

211 East 18th Street was demolished in 2006 for $9,000 by D and S Bulldozing Ltd. (See Link.)

Demolition: 2006.
Photo: Black and white photo taken in 2006 by SW as part of the Demolition and Construction Project, Roll #69 Negative #20, available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link: http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/2/88/2006%20JUNE%20ISSUED%20BUILDING%20PERMITS%20REPORT.PDF

2010-12-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday Church Feature
St. John the Divine Historic Church
Yale, B.C.

"Located at the southern entrance to the spectacular Fraser Canyon, the town of Yale is one of southwestern British Columbia's oldest and most historic communities, having been the bustling steamship navigation capital during the Gold Rush. (Link 1.)

"Founded as a Hudson's Bay fort in 1848, Yale rose to prominence as the inland terminus of the Fraser River sternwheelers and a waystation for those travelling up and down the Fraser River.

"Like many towns in British Columbia, Yale's fortunes followed that of the Gold Rush. In 1858 gold was discovered on a gravel bar just 2 miles south of Yale on the Fraser River. This place was soon known as Hill's Bar named after the prospector who found gold there. The discovery of gold caused a massive influx of people to pour into the region from all over the world, the majority of which came from the California Gold Rush of 1849. At the height of Gold Fever in 1858, this town boasted 20,000 residents.

"During the period of railway construction in the 1880's Yale became the main supply centre for all the work in the Cascade Division of British Columbia. The railway that now passes right through the middle of Yale in front of the museum and church is the Canadian Pacific Railway.

"Today the residents of Yale number only 200. Though the gold ran out, Yale continued prospering, as it still does today as a forestry and service centre."(See Link 4.)

"St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Yale, BC. built in 1863 is one of the oldest churches in the province. Much of the church is still original, including the bell tower steeple and the pews. The Church was associated with the All Hallows Anglican girls school, which operated in Yale from 1884 to 1920. The Church is now de-sanctified and designated as a Provincial Heritage Site.
An exhibition entitled "Enduring Threads" was prepared by Jennifer Iredale in 2003. It included handmade liturgical textiles from St. John the Divine Church dating back to the time of its origins in the 1860s. The catalogue is available from the Yale Museum." (See Link 1.)

"While it is still not possible to attribute each piece from the Enduring Threads exhibit to its individual creators, it is now clear that they were made by First Nations and European students together with the nuns at All Hallows Anglican girls' school, which operated in Yale from 1884-1920. Three nuns from All Hallows convent in Ditchingham, England (an order known for its fine ecclesiastical embroidery) arrived in British Columbia in 1884 to establish a school for First Nations girls from Lytton, Spuzzum and Yale, with a stun of money First Nations people had earned on construction of the railway, which they turned over to the Anglican church, says Ms. Iredale, quoting from newspaper articles of the time. A school for European girls was soon established next door at the request of settlers." (See Link 2.)

For original architectural plans and details see Link 3.

Photo: Taken in Yale, B.C. in 2005 by SW.
Link1:http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/cura/projects/liturgical_textiles/home.html
Link2:http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Housekeeping+task+turns+up+treasures.-a0112244682
Link 3:http://www.bcheritage.ca/yale/tour/drstjhn.htm
Link 4: http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=3380

2010-12-18T08:00:00.001-08:00

Saturday Travel Feature
The Strip
Las Vegas, Nevada

Neon signs define Las Vegas, the entertainment capitol of the world. And the most dense areas of neon signs in Las Vegas are the old and the new "strips". The old strip is on Fremont Street with its Gold Nugget Casino, anchored by the Plaza Hotel and roofed by the light show "The Fremont Experience". The new strip has now assumed the name and is just called "The Strip". It is Las Vegas Boulevard. Both old and new strips ooze neon. But what happens to the neon signs when a casino is demolished or a sign is obsolete? They go to the Neon Museum Boneyard, of course.

"These are exciting times at the Neon Museum!

"First, we are happy to report that the Bow and Arrow, the Binion’s Horseshoe, and the Silver Slipper have all been restored to their original condition and are now located on medians along Las Vegas Blvd. North. The restoration of these signs is just the first phase of what will be a series of signs restored for placement along the downtown Las Vegas Scenic Byway. It is a thrill to experience the signs as they were meant to be seen-floating lights dancing in the sky along the boulevard. Here’s to making the downtown Las Vegas skyline that much brighter!

"In other exciting news, construction on the city of Las Vegas’ Neon Boneyard Park began on February 8. The park will sit adjacent to the La Concha on Las Vegas Blvd. North and will complement the campus of the Neon Museum Boneyard and visitor’s center...The Neon Boneyard Park project signals the first phase of the development of the beautiful Neon Museum and Boneyard campus.

"Finally, we are pleased to report the acquisition of two new signs: the Apache Motel and the Queen of Hearts. The Queen of Hearts and The Apache Motel previously sat downtown on the site of the future City Hall. Anne Meyers’ Queen of Hearts opened in the mid-70s, but the building originally opened in 1964 as The Casbah with Moroccan-themed architecture. The Apache Motel is a fantastic example of classic roadside signage." (Link.)

Photo: Taken in Las Vegas in 1998 by SW.
Link : http://www.neonmuseum.org/news.html

2010-12-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Friday, December 17, 2010
Grand Double Lot

The home on the double lot at 1420 Grand Boulevard was owned by the Millars for at least 58 years. The white house stretches across the the expanse of the two lots. It sits on the east side of the Boulevard. Large front windows with a view of Grand Boulevard are split by a wide brick fireplace. Wrought iron work
decorates the front facade.

John J. and Gladys I Millar owned the home from 1950 to at least 1995/1996. At this time John Millar was the secretary-treasurer at Tahsis Co. In 1960 John Millar was the secretary-treasurer at Gibson Brothers. In 1971 John Millar was the sales manager for the Maui Lu Resort. And in 1980 he reported that he was retired. In 1991 only one owner was reported in the City Directory, and that was Mrs. Gladys Millar, retired. Gladys I. Millar was not living alone in the house in 1995/1996, Susan Harvey was a resident. Susan Harvey was an employee at Earl's Restaurant.

The web site of REMAX Realtors reports that the house was sold for $999,000. The Rezoning Application Information Meeting Sign in front of the house Grand Boulevard indicates subdivision of land into 2 lots with a single unit with an accessory secondary suite to be built on each.

Photo: Taken in December 2010 by SW.

2010-12-16T08:00:00.001-08:00

Thursday, December 16, 2010

St. Georges Duplex

The one storey duplex at St. Georges Avenue sat on the corner with East 17th Street in the City of North Vancouver. Tall maple trees shaded the front and north sides of the home. There is no listing for the duplex in either the Building Permit Book or the 1945 City Directory at the North Vancouver Archives. However, by 1950 residents are listed at 1644 St. Georges Avenue which was the north end unit. The residents were George W. and Lida A. Morgan. George Morgan worked as a manufacturers agent at #24 441 Seymour St. in Vancouver.

In 1960 the north 1644 unit was reported "Vacant". However the owner lived in the 1640 St. Georges Avenue which was the south unit. The owner was Mrs. A. L. Tussudowner. She was the widow of G. B. Tussundowner. In 1971 the 1644 residents were William J. and Mary E. Gannon. William Gannon was an accountant at Canadian International Commercial. At that time the residents at 1640 were Gemma J. and Peter Renardy. Gemma Renardy was employed as a kitchen helper at Lion's Gate Hospital. Peter Renardy was an iron worker at Riverside Iron Works.

In 1980 the 1664 resident was Mrs. Marg Trainer. Marge Trainer was employed as a sales clerk at Grouse Mountain. There was "No Return" to inquiries by the City Directory at the 1640 address. Again in 1991 there was "No Return" to inquiries by the City Directory at the 1640 address. However, the owners lived at 1644 St. Georges. They were Jon and Christina Robertson. Jon Robertson was the broadcaster for Post Haste. Jon and Christina Robertson continued to own the 1644 duplex in 1995/1996, and Jon continued broadcasting for Post Haste. The resident at the 1640 unit from 1991 to 1995/1996 was D. S. Kinar.

The photo of 1644 St. Georges 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. Approximately 800 of these were accompanied by some history from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs. This was true in the case of 1644 St. Georges Avenue.

Scheila MahManish and Hossein Behrooziniz moved into 1644 St. Georges Avenue in 1998 and this is the story they told for the Year 2000 Photo Project, Your House/Our Home.

"Scheila MahManish, Hossein Behrooziniz , and their two children, Bita and Houman, moved int 1644 St. Georges Avenue when they came from Tehran, Iran two years ago. The whole family is musical."Hossein (See Link.) is a professional flutist. His most recent CD is "Midnight Sun". Although Scheila doesn't play she made a traditional Iranian string instrument from wood. Brita has played the piano and now plays the trombone. Houman sings with the B.C. Boy's Choir 2000.

"Scheila is an artist who makes beautiful pictures of flowers and people with wood inlay. Bita attends Sutherland Secondary School and is a medal winner for the Chena Swim Club. Houman attends school at Queensbury Elementary."

In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 1644 St. Georges Avenue had been demolished and a new series of row houses had been built.

Photo: Taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by
SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61480406890

2010-12-15T08:00:00.001-08:00

Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The McPherson's Forever

The house with the enclosed entrance porch and the side picket fence was built at 823 East Keith Road in 1939. The owner at that time was A. McPherson and the cost of the house $235. In 1941 A. McPherson added a $75 garage. He continued to live there for at least 56 years, at least until 1995/1996.

In 1945 Andrew M. and Mary M. McPherson were the owners. At that time Andrew McPherson worked as a molder for W. McPhail and Sons. In 1960 Andrew McPherson reported to the City Directory that he was working as a shipper at Canadian Pittsburgh Industry. In 1971 his employment was that of a dock warehouse man at the same company. And in 1980, 1991, and 1995/1996 Andrew and Mary reported that they were retired.

The photo of 823 East Keith Road 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.

Demolition: Demolition Permit applied for in 2003.
Photo: Taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Note: In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 823 East Keith Road had been demolished and a new craftsman style home had been built.

2010-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Grand Boulevard

Grand Boulevard "was developed by the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company as a high class residential enclave. A number of grand houses were built, mostly on key corner lots, before the 1913 Depression halted further construction. A number of more modest infill houses were built during the 1920's." (See Reference.)

The green strip boulevard extends from East Keith Road to East 19th Street. And from approximately 1908 to 1947 a street car traveled up the center of this boulevard carrying passengers from the foot of Lonsdale Avenue to Lynn Valley.

The house at 817 Grand Boulevard was built after the time of the streetcar. There is no listing in the Building Permit book, but by 1955 it was listed in the City Directory. The owners of the home at that time were Roy H. L. and Dency M. Arnold. Roy Arnold was the proprietor at Kiddies Shoeland. In 1960 and 1971 the owners were Vernon R. and Kathleen R. Hill. During these years Vernon Hill worked at solicitors Macrae, Montgomery, Macrae, Hill, and Cunnningham.

Rear of 817 Grand Boulevard

In 1980 the owners were Walter H. and Chao-Hwa Shui. Walter Shui was employed as an engineer at Crippen Engineering. Angela Shui, a student, was also a resident of the house. The Walter Shui family also lived in the house in 1991. Te and Joyce Wong bought the house in 1991 and were still listed as the owners in the City Directory in 1995/1996.

In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 817 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and a stately new single family home new had been built. See below and the Link for more photo of this new home.

Link: http://realpro.ca/realestate/listings/show/+/817+GRAND+BV,+North+Vancouver,+Vancouver/291041

Photos: Top and middle photos taken for the Y2K Photography Project, Your House/Our
Home by SW and available for viewing at the North Vancouver
Archives. Bottom photo from Link.
Reference: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.

2010-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 13, 2010
1927 Heritage Style Home

This heritage style home was built for $3000 in 1927 by C. G. Cooper. By 1931 Gilbert W. Armstrong, a shipper at G. B. Gregg, was living in the house. By 1940 Norah S. Armstrong was also a resident and Gilbert was working as a salesman at G. R. Gregg.  In 1945 and 1950 Gilbert Armstrong was the owner and was now working as a warehouse man at G. R. Gregg and Co.

There were new owners of 219 West Keith by 1960, Frank N. and Juliane Ofner. Frank Ofner worked as a laborer for North Vancouver City. In 1971 a student, Miss A. Zimmer was the only resident. In 1980 there were again owners, this time Herbert G. and Doreen Toms. Herbert also worked as a laborer at North Vancouver City, as had Frank Ofner.

In 1990 Jacoueline A. Wheelwright bought the house. She owned it at least until 1999/2000. In 1995/1996 Eva Conner also lived at 219 West Keith Road.

The heritage style house on the south side of Keith Road and across the street from Queen Mary Elementary School was sold in about 2003 for $439,000.  The real estate ad (See Link.) further describes the house as: having 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a wood fireplace, a new wood shingle roof, original wood windows, an open staircase and view of the city. The total square footage of the 2 storeys and the basement was 2,100 square feet. Views of the interior can be seen on the Link. In addition the ad indicates that the property could used for a triplex.

In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 219 West Keith Road had been demolished and a new side by side duplex  had been built.

Photo: Taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home
                      by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link:http://www.iloveheritage.com/my_listings_219W_Keith.htm (Year unknown.)

2010-12-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday Church Feature
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Mill Bay, B.C.

"St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, built in 1887 and consecrated in 1889, is the oldest building in Mill Bay. It was built to serve the French Canadian workers at the mill in Mill Bay on land donated by Mr. Gabereau. The church was consecrated in 1889 by Bishop John Lemmens, bishop for the west coast from Oregon to Alaska. Travel was difficult so visits by the Bishop were infrequent. The oldest gravestone dates to 1891." (Link 1.)

"Mill Bay is a commuter town of about 3,200 people located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada about 30 km (19 mi) north of Victoria, British Columbia, the capital.

"Mill Bay was founded in the 1860s with lumber and milling as its primary industries, done at the mill on the bay. It is known for its ferry to Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula and the historic Malahat Drive, which is also a source of criticism due to frequent closures from either automobile accidents or weather conditions.^{[citation needed]} Numerous suggestions have been made by various groups regarding a 'bypass' route (possibly a bridge), though as of 2007, the Brentwood-Mill Bay Ferry and the Malahat remain the only routes to Greater Victoria from the rest of Vancouver Island. The MV Mill Bay that has served the ferry route since 1956 is named for the town." (Link 2.)

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is at 790 Kilmalu Rd., just off Highway #1 leading north from Victoria, the capital of B.C. It is also near the town of Shawnigan Lake.

Photos: Taken in 2005 by SW.
Link1:http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM697X_St_Francis_Xavier_Church__Mill_Bay_B_C
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_Bay,_British_Columbia

2010-12-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday Travel Feature
The Jim Thompson House
Bangkok, Thailand

"Jim Thompson or James Harrison Wilson Thompson was born in Greenville, Delaware in 1906. He attended public schools in Wilmington, went on to boarding school at St. Paul's and attended Princeton University, the family university, from 1924 to 1928.

"Although Thompson had a keen interest in art, he chose to become an architect and went on to study architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a practicing architect in New York City until 1940.

"With the escalation of the war in Europe in the early 1940s, Thompson volunteered for service in the United States Army, an important turning point in his life.

"During the Second World War, Thompson was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a move which offered him an opportunity to see more of the world. Thompson as a member of an OSS group was assigned to work with French forces in North Africa. His assignments also took him into Italy, France and Asia.

To prepare for his mission, Thompson undertook rigorous training in jungle survival. He completed the course successfully. However the war ended abruptly as Thompson and the other OSS men were en route to Bangkok. A few weeks later, he assumed the duties of OSS station chief. In late 1946, he received orders to return to the States to receive his military discharge.

"Thompson was confident that with peace restored and the expansion of air travel, there would be a significant increase in leisure travel to the Far East. Upon their arrival in the capital, these travelers would need acceptable accommodation. Few hotels in Bangkok could then even be considered of international standard. Only one had an ideal location -- the old Oriental, a former palace overlooking the Chao Phraya River that flowed through the capital.

"It was a meeting place for travelers and a social center for the foreign community. Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham were just a few of its famous patrons. Excited by the prospects presented, Thompson became actively involved in the reorganization of the Oriental Hotel.

By this time, Thompson had developed a certain fondness for the country and its people. He began to seriously contemplate settling down and going into business in Thailand. He foresaw a promising future for the country and wanted to be a part of this process. He decided that upon leaving the service, he would return and take up residence in Thailand permanently. In late 1946, Thompson left for the States to get his discharge.

"In the twenty years before his ill-fated holiday in Malaysia, he had accomplished more than most men in a full life. He had built a major industry in a remote and little known country whose language he could not speak; he had become an authority on an art that, previously, he scarcely knew existed and had assembled a collection that attracted scholars from all over the world; he had built a home that was a work of art in itself and one of the landmarks of Bangkok; and, in the process of doing all this, he had become a sort of landmark himself, a personality so widely known in his adopted homeland that a letter addressed simply 'Jim Thompson, Bangkok' found its way to him in a city of three and a half million people."(See Link.)

The house is one of the few standing all teak houses in Bangkok.

Photos: Taken of post cards purchased in Bangkok in 1996 by SW.
Link: http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com/life/index.asp

2010-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Friday, December 10, 2010
Swedish Canadian Rest Home

The original building at 1690 Main Street in North Vancouver District was a Public Building/Dance Hall built for $1500 by the Swedish Community in 1928. In 1944 A. Gjerdaleau applied for a Building Permit to construct a $1,500 house on the property. In 1947 the Swedish Rest Home applied for Building Permit to build a second home there. This one was valued at $3,500. And in 1947 there was an application was for a Public Building/Rest Home worth $40,000.

"The three Highway District buildings (the later owners of the buildings-See Link.) were originally the Canadian Rest Home, located on the north side of Main St. on Cutter Island. Here the Seymour River divided into two branches which flowed around the island, came together again, and flowed into Burrard Inlet.

"Construction of the main rest home and the two small cottages was completed in 1948. In the late 1950's the land and the buildings were expropriated to make way for the new Second Narrows Bridge. The west channel of the river was filled in in 1956. From the early 1960'a until the summer of 2000 the buildings served as offices for the provincial highways department." (See Reference.)

Over the years the B. C. Government Department of Highways offices at 1690 Main Street included numerous departments:Regional Office, Highway Patrol, Regional Bridge Maintenance, Bridge Patrol, Public Works, Regional Surfacing, Regional Soils, Regional Right-Of-Way, Regional Maintenance, and Regional Paving.

The three buildings were a distinctive part of the North Vancouver landscape in that they sat in the center of the Exit 23A cloverleaf on the turn off to Main Street in North Vancouver. Since their demolition only the occasional deer or seasonal randomly decorated Christmas tree is seen there.

Reference: NV Archives photo description Key # 21667.
Demolition: Of all three buildings in 2001.
Photos: Black and White from Roll #9, 2001 Demolition and Construction Project by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives. Colored photo from slide #15465 at the North Vancouver Archives.

2010-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 9, 2010
St. George's Stately Home

This stately corner home at 2048 St. Georges Avenue in the City of North Vancouver was built for $6,500 in 1946 by the owner M. E. Leighton. The architect was J. Blackadder. The Blackadder name was well known in North Vancouver for being part of the architectural team with MacKay that built many homes in the early 1900's as well as the Dundarave Block on Lonsdale Avenue. Several of these can be seen on the pages of the City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory, 1994. (See Reference.) Many of these homes had the distinctive Tudor style front facade strapping, as did 2048 St. Georges Avenue. Also note the leaded glass on both the first and second storey dormer windows.

James S. and Margaret E. Leighton continued to be the owners in 1950, James Leighton worked as the manager of P. L. Christoper and Sons.
By 1960 James McB and Muriel H. Ross were the owners of 2048 St. Georges Avenue. James Ross was the manager of Ross Engineering.

By 1971 Arthur L. and Gwen H. Hardy were the owners of the Tudor style home.   They continued to own the home until at least their listing in the 1995/1996 City Directory. In 1971 Arthur Hardy was the secretary/treasurer at Hardy's Lumber. By 1980 Arthur and Gwen Hardy reported that they were retired.

The stately home at 2948 St. Georges Avenue was demolished soon after the year 2000. Two homes were built on the lot.  A larger one faces St. Georges Avenue and a smaller one faces East 21st Street.

Reference: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory, 1994 pages 61, 77, 110,
                       115, 132, 154.
Demolition: Soon after the year 2000.
Photo: Taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home
                      by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.

2010-12-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

At the Edge of the Forest

The original house at 1210 Dempsey Road sat on the edge of the forest at the crest of Dempsey Road. The little white house was at the northern border of the District of North Vancouver to the west of Mountain Highway. It was built in 1948 for $3,750 by W. D. McRae. IN 1952 D. R. Thompson made an $800 alteration. And in 1958 D. R. Thompson applied for a Building Permit for a $2000 house at that location. In 1960 Doug R. and Hazel A. L. Thompson were still the owners of the house. Doug Thompson worked as a transit operator at B.C. Electric.

By 1971 the owner was Mrs. Jessie I. Dunn. Jessie Dunn was employed by General Paint as a computer typer supervisor. In 1980 the owners were John R. and Janet L. Mee. John was employed as a manager at P. Lawson Travel.

By the mid 1980's the Paul and Janine Crocock had bought the 1210 Dempsey Road home. Janine Crocock was also listed as living at the 1210 Dempsey Road address in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory. Both in 1991 and 1995/1996 Paul Crocock stated that he worked as an adjuster at ICBC. During that time Janine stated that she worked as a travel agent at No 1.

The real estate ad in the Link below listed the house for sale for $698,000. The house sat on a 9,230 sq. ft. lot with a partial view of the city. The 2144 sq. ft. home had three bedrooms and one bedroom. The lot is located in the east end of the Braemar subdivision, backed by the greenbelt. The Link shows interior photos of this Dempsey Road home.

Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link http://www.realestatenorthshore.com/property-3102.php

2010-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Many Levels on Carisbrooke

The house with the spectacular view of Vancouver sat on the crest of Carisbrooke Crescent in the North Lonsdale area of North Vancouver District. The $9000 home at 270 Carisbrooke Crescent was built by J. Masterton in 1946. Mina and James E. Masterton continued to own the house until sometime in the 1960's. In 1950 James Masterton worked as a salesman for Northern Electric. And in 1960 he was working as a salesman for W. T Husband.

View of English Bay and Stanley Park

Then by 1960 another J. had bought the house. In fact, John and Emily Kneip are listed in the Link web site as still running their Kneip Contraction Ltd., painting and decorating business from the 270 Carisbrooke Crecent address. That is more than 50 years of living at the same address.

BBQ fireplace and flagstone type patio

BBQ fireplace and Sleepy Hallow

During that time many additions were constructed on the lot. In the front yard there were both a wood and a stone retaining wall. A grape arbor and bench were built on the west end of the lower level, as was a raised garden bed. This level was enclosed with a wrought iron railing. On the west side of the front of the house was built a carport, although the old driveway entrance to the lot remained on the east side. The side yard was covered with decking with steps going down from the front and then up to the back patio and deck area. Immediately behind the house was a flag stone design patio with a stone out door BBQ fireplace at the east end. Behind that and up another level was the "U" shaped building with the sign "Sleepy Hallow". The back part of the "U" had a metal garage type door. Running along the east side of the lot and up a level was the fenced in deck with seating running along the side. From here was the fantastic view of Vancouver. Behind "Sleepy Hallow" seemed to be a chain link dog run area. All these specialized parking, deck, and patio areas made for lots of outdoor living for the Kneip family.

Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link:http://www.profilecanada.com/companydetail.cfm?company=2163671_Ray_Contracting_Ltd_North_Vancouver_BC

2010-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Link http://www.cnv.org/attach/2010%2010%2025%20item%2009%20attach%2007.pdf

2010-12-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday Church Feature
St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Victoria, B.C.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is located in downtown Victoria B.C. at the corner of Douglas and Broughton Streets, not far from the Inner Harbour. It is the oldest continuing Presbyterian Church (1889) and congregation (1866) in Victoria. "The architect was Leonard Buttress Trimen. The architecture is said to be of Castellated Scottish Baronial style. With its stepped gables, massive tower and sturdy doors (See photo below.) it is easy to agree with the castellated designation ." (See Link 2.)

Front doors

"The first organ installed for the Congregation of St. Andrew’s dates back to 1879, and that organ was installed by the S. R. Warren and Son organ builders from Toronto, Ontario. That organ had to be shipped to Victoria by sea around the Cape Horn and was reported to be the finest and largest in the Province at that time. From its earliest home to the present, the organ has undergone a number of revisions, rebuilds and upgrades. Those revisions and upgrades saw the transformation of the original organ, wind powered by a water-engine and with a disposition of 21 stops to its current version of 72 speaking stops of which 37 are pipes and the remainder digital, all available through a beautiful Rogers Organ console installed in 2001.

"The organ contains 2190 pipes, and the latest rank installed was the Trumpet 8′ built by Casavant Organ builders in Quebec, Canada. The pipe work still uses 3 ranks from the original Warren organ and was built by the Walker organ company in 1872.

Altar and pipe organ

"St Andrew’s was fortunate to be able to obtain a number of ranks of pipes from Christ Church Cathedral as the Cathedral replaced their organ with a new tracker instrument. Those ranks were from the English organ builder Hill Norman and Baird and added greatly to the current ensemble.

"The organ is cared for and maintained by Grant Smalley. The current organist and music director at St. Andrew’s is Douglas Hodgkinson." (See Link 1.)

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church sits at 680 Courtenay Street in the heart of downtown Victoria, B.C. It is an easy walk from the B.C. Parliament Buildings, The Empress Hotel, and the B.C. Provincial Museum.

Photo: Top photo of church and of church doors taken in 2004 by SW.

Photo of altar and pipe organ from Link.

Link 1: http://standrewsvictoria.ca/
Link 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zedzap/4291592520/

2010-12-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday Travel Feature

B.C. Parliament Buildings

Victoria, B.C.

"The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and serve as the seat of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia...

"The Neo-baroque buildings face north on Belleville street facing the Inner Harbour and diagonally across from The Empress Hotel. A large statue of Queen Victoria stands on the front lawn as well a statue of a soldier to commemorate the province's World War I, World War II and Korean War dead. Atop the central dome is a gold-covered statue of Captain George Vancouver. Free guided tours of the facility are offered year- round...

"From 1856 to 1860 the Legislature of the Colony of Vancouver Island sat at Bachelor's Hall at Fort Victoria.^[1] From 1860 to 1898 it was housed in the first permanent building at Legislative Hall or Birdcages (burned down 1957)...^2]

"The main block of the Parliament Buildings combines Baroque details with Romanesque Revival rustiction.

Construction of a nw Parliament Building was first authorized by an act of the provincial legilature in 1893, the Parliament Buildings Construction Act.
"...the original budget was $500,000 the final amount was $923,000—the British Columbia Parliament Buildings were officially opened in 1898^[4]. The grand scale of its 500-ft (152-m) long andesite façade^[5], central dome and two end pavilions, the richness of its white marble, and combination of Baroque rigorous symmetry, use of domes and sculptural massing with the rusticated surfaces of the currently popular Romanesque Revival style contributed to its being an innovative and impressive monument for the young province. Its success garnered Rattenbury many more commissions in Victoria and other parts of the province, including the Legislative Library 1913-1915, the design of The Empress Hotel, the Crystal Gardens indoor swimming pool nearby, and the Vancouver Court House (now the Vancouver Art Gallery). The andesite of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings is from Haddington Island in the Alert Bay Volcanic Belt.^[6] The granite used to build the buildings came from Nelson Island, at the mouth of Jervis Inlet, on the Sunshine Coast." (See Link 1.)

Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Window

in the B.C. Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C.

The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50 years as monarch and an opportunity for her to officially and personally thank her people for their loyalty. (See Link 3.)

"The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (French: Médaille du jubilé de la Reine Elizabeth II) was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. The medal was physically identical in all realms where it was awarded, save for Canada, where it contained unique elements; as an internationally distributed award, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal holds a different place in each country's order of precedence for honours.

"The medal was administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall and was awarded to Canadians who made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada over the previous fifty years.^[2] Various organizations were invited to propose the names of candidates for the medal; this included all levels of Canadian government, educational and cultural organizations, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, veterans' groups, sports associations, and philanthropic and charitable bodies.^{[1]" (See Link 2.)}

Note: Suzanne Wilson received a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for her Year 2000 Project, Your House/Our Home, donated to and on view at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.

Demolished: First Legislative Hall burned down in 1957.Photos: Taken in 2003 by SW.

Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Parliament_Buildings

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_II_Golden_Jubilee_Medal

Link 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II

2010-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

245 East 3rd Street-West end of building

Friday, December 3, 2010

ANAVETS On East Third

This ANAVET sponsored building is one of three identical buildings for veterans, their spouses and seniors, just two blocks from Lonsdale Avenue in the Lower Lonsdale shopping area of North Vancouver. It proudly displays the ANAVET logo at the west entrance on the front of the building. There are 29 apartments in the 245 East 3rd Street building. It is the building farthest to the east and the only one of the three buildings presently slated for demolition. The other two buildings are 235 East 3rd Street and 225 East 3rd Street located on the corner of East 3rd and St. Georges Avenue.

"New ANAVETS Seniors’ Housing (is) proposed. Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans formed the Senior Citizens’ Housing Society in 1967 with a mandate to provide safe, clean, and affordable housing to army veterans, their spouses, and seniors on a fixed income. That same year ANAVETS opened its first project at 225 East 3rd in North Van, adding two adjacent low-rise buildings at 235 and 245, in 1968...

245 East 3rd Street-East end of building

"The aging, wood frame structures are also not up to fire code regulations... Over the past decade ANAVETS has been working with the City of North Vancouver to come up with a plan for the site. They have since partnered with local developer Intracorp and now have a formal proposal that will be presented to council next week.

"The plans call for the construction of an $11-million, 76-unit seniors’ rental building to replace the three existing buildings. ANAVETS will retain ownership of the land on which the seniors’ housing will be built, and then sell the rest of the site to Intracorp, thereby funding approximately 75 per cent of the project...

"The rents are not subsidized at the North Van ANAVETS buildings, with residents paying $412 a month for a 325- square-foot bachelor suite. A new building, however, would allow residents to qualify for the provincial government’s Shelter Aid For Elderly Residents program.

"Intracorp is also proposing to build a 104-unit, market-value condominium project on the western portion of the site. An amendment to the city’s Official Community Plan would need to be made before the five-storey building can be approved.

"The entire project would be implemented in two stages, starting with the residents of 245 East 3rd St. being moved into vacant suites in the other two buildings. The 245 building would then be demolished and construction would start on the seniors’ housing.

"Once that project is completed and the seniors have moved in, the two remaining buildings will be demolished and replaced with the new market-value building." (See Link.)

Demolition: Permit for demolition of only 245 East 3rd Street applied for in
November 2010.
Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.
Link:http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/northshoreoutlook/news/103542354.html