Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Multiple House Numbers, Families, Stories

A house on the lot that now has the addresses of 263 and 265 East 5th Street dates back farther than the duplex now with those addresses. Although there isn't a listing in the Building Permit book for this present duplex, there is for the original home at that location.

In 1928 a building permit was applied for by D. J. Dixon for a $4,250 house at 263 East 5th Street. In the City Directory of 1931 there is no listing at 263, but there is at 265 East 5th Street. The owner was reported again be D. J. Dixon. D. J. Dixon at this time was employed as a boilermaker (blrmkr). Again in 1940 there is no listing in the City Directory at 263 but there is 265. The residents at that time were Harry and Emily Smith. Harry Smith was a school teacher in North Vancouver City. Harry Smith was also reported in the 1950 and 1955 City Directories as being the owner. In both of these years he was a principal in the North Vancouver School District #44.

After that there is no listing of 263 East 5th Street in the 1950, 1955, 1961, or 1971 City Directories. In 1980 J. L. Johnston is reported as being a "new resident". In 1991 the address was "vacant". And by in the 1995/96 city Directory E. and Cathy Proulx reported that they had lived at 263 East 5th St. for four years. E. Proulx was employed as a bus driver for B.C. Transit.

After Harry Smith owned the 265 East 5th Street home in 1955 it was reported as being "Vacant" in 1961 and "no return" in 1971. Then in 1980 when there was a listing for a new resident at the 263 East 5th Street address there was also a new resident listing at the 265 East 5th Street address. This resident was D. R. Mclean. In 1991 the resident at 265 was M. Eck who was employed as a contractor at Dorle International Ltd. In 1995 M. Eck reported that he had lived at that address for 8 years, so he must have moved there in 1987. In 1995 M. Eck was still working as a contractor for Dorle International Ltd.

In 1995 a new address is listed on the 263/265 East 5th Street property. The new address was 265b East 5th Street and the residents were Mark and Laura Butler. They reported living there for 6 years, so the 265b East 5th Street address seems be have been established by 1989. Mark Butler was working as a fisherman.

In brief, the history of the property at 263/265/265b East 5th Street seems to be this:
             1928 a home built at 263 East 5th Street
             1931 the address now recorded at 265 East 5th Street
             1955 the home at 265 East 5th Street still occupied
             1980 new residents reported at both 263 and 265 East 5th St. (duplex)
             1989 the address 265b East 5th Street established

The duplex to the east of 263/265/265b East 5th Street has also applied for a demolition permit. Both duplexes are now behind blue construction fence. Perhaps multifamily housing similar to that in the rest of the block will be built.

Demolition: Permit applied for June 2010.
Photo: Taken in June 2010 by SW.