Friday, May 14, 2010
Christmas on 14th Street

The stucco and brick clad house at 424 East 14th Street was at least built by 1960. No record of its construction is listed in the Building Permit book or 1925, 1940, 1950, or 1955 City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives. But in 1960 the owners are reported to be Keith M. and Magaret R. Yelland. Keith worked as a train clerk for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. By 1980 only Margaret is listed as the owner.

In 1991 Linda D. Blaine was the owner. Linda was employed by the Botanical Gardens at the University of B.C. She continued to work at UBC in 1995 and reported that by that time she had lived at 424 East 14th Street for six years.

Linda is not listed in the year 2000 phone book as living at 424 East 14th Street. But since this is the year the photo above was taken whoever was living there was celebrating Christmas with strings of Christmas lights.

The photo of 424 East 14 Street 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 of the house or a photo.


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 424 East 14th Street had been demolished and a new house had been built.


Photos: Taken in the year 2000 by SW.
Reference: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.

Thursday, May 13, 2010
Two for One

The 300 and 400 blocks of East 14th Street in the City of North Vancouver are sandwiched between St. Andrew's Avenue and Lion's Gate Hospital on the west and Moody Avenue and Grand Boulevard Park on the east. The three storey house at 325 East 14th Street was an oldie. It was built in 1911 by owner C. Duplissie for $300. The house on 14th Street had three storeys: main floor, upstairs, and basement. In 1912 Chase Duplissie was reported as being a carpenter and living on the ss of East 14th Street near St. Andrew's Avenue. Duplissie continued to be listed in the City Directories as living at 325 in the years 1913, 1914, and 1915. He is not listed in 1916. But in 1921 C. Duplissie did build a house at 323 East 13th Street for $2000.

By 1925 the house on 14th was owned by J. Millar, but now a (rear) address was also reported. Living in this (rear) residence was Fred C. Paint. Fred was employed as an iron worker. The Millar family continued to own the house at least until 1950. In 1931 John worked as a blacksmith. In 1940 Catherine J. is also listed as living in the house. John Jr. is listed as being a florist for Livingstone Floral. In 1950 an "a" address is also listed with the resident being Mrs. M. Perry, a widow.

The 325 (rear) East 14th Street address that was listed in 1925 and then again as 325 "a" East 14th Street refers to an addition on the west side of the house.( See photo below.) It had its own front door, front porch, and front steps.

In 1960 the owners of 325 East 14th Street was listed in the City Directory as being Don W. and Margaret Smith. Don was employed as a mill worker at Kill Lumber. The other residents listed at that address were Earl M. and Jewel C. Commodore. Earl was working as a longshoreman. In 1971 the 325 owner continued to be Don Smith. The 325a resident was Mrs. D. Spurrel. In 1980 the 325 owner was Denise Flemming and the 325a resident was Terry Pollock who was employed at Canada Safeway. In 1991 Norm Milsted, a retired gentleman, was living at 325. Brad Cochlin, a clerk at Canada Safeway, was living at 325a. In 1996 Norm and Liz Milstead reported they had lived at 325 for 9 years.  Brad Cochlin who was still working as a clerk at Canada Safeway also reported that he had lived at 325a for 9 years.

A Demolition Permit was applied for in 2008. Much of the 300 block of East 14th Street near the corner with St. Andrew's Avenue was now owned by Lion's Gate Hospital. The public information sign indicated that the land of several lots in that area was going to be used for the building of a 15 bed Hospice.

Demolition: Permit applied for January 2008.
Photos: Taken as part of the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by SW. (See Blog Post February 26, 2010.)