Wednesday, June 2, 2010
"Life's a Holiday"

The old song goes "Life's a Holiday on Primrose Lane."  Well in the District of North Vancouver the lyrics change to "Life's a Holiday on Tall Tree Lane," and in particular 1096 Tall Tree Lane.

Tall Tree Lane sits off the ends of Sunset Boulevard and Pelly Road. 1096 Tall Tree Lane was built on this short street in 1959 for $15,000 by J. Kimbe. There is no listing of even the 1096 address in the 1960 City Directory. The last listing in that year was 1090. But in the 1965 City Directory W. Douglas and Daphne H. Crowe are listed as owners. W. Douglas was a manager at Midland-Osler Securities, Investment Dealers and Stock Brokers at 717 W. Pender in Vancouver.

This is a typical North Vancouver home with the large windows, open car port, and sundeck. The first floor large windows in both the front of the house and the back usually are those of a family room that opens with sliding glass doors into the backyard. There is a fireplace on the east wall of both the first floor family room and the second floor living room. The kitchen and bedrooms would be on the second floor as well. An open car port is all that is necessary in the Lower Mainland of B.C. because although there is an abundance of rain, there is little weather cold enough for snow. During the limited number of sunny days of life nestled against the North Shore Mountains sun decks are well used.

By 1970 Bernard A. and Janice de Verteuil were the owners of 1096 Tall Tree Lane. Bernard was a sales representative for Rutherford Thompson and McRae Ltd., Integrated Real Estate Services with a branch at 1295 Marine Drive, North Vancouver. Another de Verteuil, Frank, who lived at a different address was also a sales representative at that same company. The de Verteuil's continued to live on Tall Tree Lane until the present. That is at least 39 years. In 1980 and 1991 Bernard de Verteuil reported he was employed as a salesman at Canada Permanent that had a branch at 1604 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver. In 1995 Bernard listed himself as a real estate agent.

Let's hope that "Life (was) a holiday on Tall Tree Lane" for the Verteuil's.

Thank you: To Arne Carlson for helping me remember the lyrics to the song "Life's a Holiday on Primrose Lane."
Building Permit: Applied for in May 2010.
Photo: Taken in May 2010 by SW.