Monday, August 30, 2010
Behind the Berm

The post and beam house behind the crescent shaped berm on 615 East St. James Road was built in 1954 for $9000 by A. J. Douglas. The 1955 City Directory reports the owners were Arthur J. and Georgina Douglas. Arthur Douglas was a collector on the First Narrows Bridge. In 1960 the owners were David C. and Julia R. Norman. David Norman was employed as a salesman at CKNW.

Then by 1971 Frank and Charlotte Grundig owned the house. The Grundig's not only bought the house, but added to it and stayed there for the rest of their lives. (See Links 1, 2, and 3.) They are listed as the owners in the 1980, 1991, 1995/1996 City Directories and Frank is even in the 2008/2010 North and West Phone Directory. In 1971 Frank Grundig reported that he was president of Century 21 Photography. In 1980, 1991, and 1995 he listed his employment as Zenith Graphics. According to his obituary, photography and mountain climbing were his passions. In the summers he would volunteer at the B.C. Mills House at the Pacific Parkland in the Lynn Valley Headwaters. (See Link 1.)

Charlotte Grundig played the harp and taught piano from her home at 615 East St. James Road. (See Link 3.) It was because of this that in 1974 the Grundig's had an architect design the peak roofed studio addition on the west side of the house. Here the piano students could enter without going through the Grundig living room. The piano was situated in the north part of the great room, under the chandelier. A space for an audience extended to the French doors on the south side of the room that opened into the backyard garden. (See the photo below, of the south side of the house and the music room.) The crescent shaped berm garden area in front of the house was a result of the excavation for this music room addition.

Frank and Charlotte Grundig contributed much to their community.  They died within a month of each other in the spring of the year 2008. 

Real Estate Listing "Provided By Hayden Ross (See Link 4 for interior photos.)

$965,000
Property Address 615 E. St. James Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7N 1L7,

Est. Property Tax $5033.99
Living Area 2,100 sq.ft.
Lot Frontage 100 ft
Lot Depth 132 ft
Lot Size Area 13,200 sq.ft.
Bedrooms 3
Bathroom 1 full
School District Carisbrooke/Argyle
Princess Park Address615 E. St. James Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7N 1L7,
Description Level 100 x 132ft lot in PRIME Princess Park neighbourhood wit huge redevelopment potential - build your dream home here! Upon this lot sits a cottage style 3 bedroom rancher with a 21 x 28ft A-Frame conservatory. Bright south facing back yard with mature trees and garden. Walk to Carisbrooke Elementary & Argyle Secondary and Princess Park trails! "

Demolition Permit: Applied for in August 2010.Photos: Taken in August 2010 by SW.

Thank You: To the neighbor to the east for information regarding the Grundig family and home.
Link 1:http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAN-BC-OBITS/2008-04/1207106417

Link 2: http://www.pacificparklands.ca/projects__/current_projects/frank_grundig_memorial_fund

Link 3: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAN-BC-OBITS/2008-05/1209701633
Link 4:http://www.haydenross.ca/Properties.php/Details/31