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.

Monday, July 5, 2010
Perhaps Two Families

Perhaps only two families ever lived at 402 East Keith Road. The first family was that of Hector A. and Katherine M. Rossetti. There is no entry for 402 East Keith Road in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives. And there is no entry for that address in either the 1950 or 1952 City Directories. However the Rossetti's are listed as the owners in the 1960 and 1971 City Directories. During all that time Hector Rossetti was employed as a teacher in the North Vancouver School District. In 1980 there was "no return" to inquiries by the City Directory staff.

The second family that lived in the house was that of R. and Darlene Bayne. They were listed as the owners in 1991. R. Bayne worked at United Refrigeration. In the 1995/96 City Directory the owner Darlene Bayne reported that she had lived there over 9 years. So she and R. Bayne had moved in at least by 1986. Another Bayne is reported in the 1995/96 City Directory, Tiffany Bayne, a student. The Bayne family is also reported as being at 402 East Keith address in the 1999/2000 and 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories.

The house sits on the north east corner of East Keith Road and Ridgeway Avenue. It was painted the aubergine color just in the past few years. For months before, samples of the three colors being considered were dabbed on the front of the house. Along with the aubergine sample was on of a gold color and one of a taupe tone.

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

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Happy Canada Day

Flag Flying on East Keith Road

This home at 502 East Keith Road had its Canadian Flag flying on Canada Day in the year 2000. It is appropriate that it flies its Canadian Flag today, 10 years later, to again celebrate Canada Day.

There is no listing of the 502 East Keith Road address in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives or in the 1940 or 1945 City Directories. However, the house is in the style of a typical 1950's North Vancouver home: wide clapboard cedar siding on the bottom and stucco on the top. In 1950 John R. and Gerda H. Waghorn were reported to be living in the 502 East Keith Road home. John Waghorn was employed as a driver for Glenburn Dairy.

By 1960 Richard B. Howell was the owner of 502 East Keith Road. He reported that he owned the house and was retired in the 1980 City Directory. In 1991 the resident was listed as Ted Howell, an apprentice. In the 1995/1996 City Directory Ted Howell's job was reported as an appraiser. He also listed himself as living at 502 for over 9 years, so he must have moved in before 1986.

Neither Richard Howell nor Ted Howell are listed in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory, so it is now known who hung the Canadian Flag next to the front door for the year 2000 Canada Day. But we thank them for their patriotism and for being part of our Canada Day celebration in the Year 2010.

The photo of 502 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. This was one of the many homes that was photographed flying flags to celebrate Canada Day in the Year 2000.


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 502 East Keith Road had been demolished and a new one was under construction.


Photo: Taken on Canada Day 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.