Friday, December 17, 2010
Grand Double Lot

The home on the double lot at 1420 Grand Boulevard was owned by the Millars for at least 58 years. The  white house stretches across the the expanse of the two lots.  It sits on the east side of the Boulevard.  Large  front windows with a view of Grand Boulevard are split by a wide brick fireplace.  Wrought iron work
decorates the front facade. 

John J. and Gladys I Millar owned the  home from 1950 to at least 1995/1996. At this time John Millar was the secretary-treasurer at Tahsis Co.  In 1960 John Millar was the secretary-treasurer at Gibson Brothers.  In 1971 John Millar was the sales manager for the Maui Lu Resort.  And in 1980 he reported that he was retired.  In 1991 only one owner was reported in the City Directory, and that was Mrs. Gladys Millar, retired.  Gladys I. Millar was not living alone in the house in 1995/1996, Susan Harvey was a resident.  Susan Harvey was an employee at Earl's Restaurant.

The web site of REMAX Realtors reports that the house was sold for $999,000.  The Rezoning Application Information Meeting Sign in front of  the house Grand Boulevard indicates  subdivision of land into 2 lots with a single unit with an accessory secondary suite to be built on each.


Photo: Taken in December 2010 by SW.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Grand Boulevard

Grand Boulevard "was developed by the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company as a high class residential enclave.  A number of grand houses were built, mostly on key corner lots, before the 1913 Depression halted further construction.  A number of more modest infill houses were built during the 1920's." (See Reference.) 

The  green strip boulevard  extends from East Keith Road to East 19th Street.   And from approximately 1908 to 1947 a street car traveled up the center of this boulevard carrying passengers from the foot of Lonsdale Avenue to Lynn Valley.

The house at 817  Grand Boulevard was built after the time of the streetcar.  There is no listing in the Building Permit book, but by 1955 it was listed in the City Directory. The owners of the home at that time were Roy H. L. and Dency M. Arnold.  Roy Arnold was the proprietor at Kiddies Shoeland.  In 1960  and 1971 the owners were Vernon R. and Kathleen R. Hill.  During these years Vernon Hill worked at solicitors Macrae, Montgomery, Macrae, Hill, and Cunnningham.

Rear of 817 Grand Boulevard

In 1980 the owners were Walter H. and Chao-Hwa Shui.  Walter Shui was employed as an engineer at Crippen Engineering.  Angela Shui, a student, was also a resident of the house.  The Walter Shui family also lived in the house in 1991.  Te and Joyce Wong bought the house in 1991 and were still listed as the owners in the City Directory in 1995/1996.

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 817 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and a stately new single family home new had been built.  See below and the Link for more photo of this new home.

Link: http://realpro.ca/realestate/listings/show/+/817+GRAND+BV,+North+Vancouver,+Vancouver/291041

Photos: Top and middle photos taken for the Y2K Photography Project, Your House/Our
                 Home by SW and available for viewing at the North Vancouver
                 Archives. Bottom photo from Link.
Reference: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Let The World Hear Music

1707 Grand Boulevard is on the corner of Grand Blvd. and East 17th St. Across the street to the east and to the south are the green lawns of Grand Boulevard and  Boulevard Park. Grand Boulevard to the east is dotted with specialty trees, rhododendron bushes, and a walking path up the centre.  Boulevard Park to the south features a children's playground, a soccer field, tennis courts, and slopes for winter sled riding. This high spot is also the best place in the City of North Vancouver to sit on the grass and watch the summer fireworks festival fired off from a barge in Vancouver's English Bay.

There is no listing in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives for this house with its park views. In 1955 there is a listing in the City Directory. In that year Doug H. and Ivy Mathieson owned the house. Douglas Mathieson was a driver for Vancouver Supply. In 1960 Mrs. C. J. Westall was the owner. Mrs. Westall ran Westall's Hairdresing Salon at 577 Granville Street in Vancouver.

Then by 1971 Edwin and E. May Lowe were living in the house at 1707 Grand Boulevard. Edwin was a piano teacher. Edwin and E. May Lowe were the owners in 1980 when Edwin was not only a piano teacher but also the organist at St. Andrew's United Church in North Vancouver. Edwin Lowe is listed as a piano teacher and organist at St. Andrew's United Church in the 1995/1996 City Directory. Edwin Lowe is also listed at 1707 Grand Boulevard in the year 2000 phone book and was living in the house when it was photographed for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by Suzanne Wilson. Edwin Lowe was well know by his many North Vancouver piano students and the congregation of St. Andrew's United Church.

For more information on Grand Boulevard see Blog Post published on June 23, 2010.

Demolition: Permit applied for June 2010.
Photos: Taken in June 2010 by SW. Black and White negative and contact sheet photo on Roll #113 of the Demolition and Construction Project 2001 to 2010 by SW. On file at the North Vancouver Archives in the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by SW.

Friday, June 25, 2010
North Shore Sash House

"Reginald Davis - Established North Shore Sash and Door Co. North Vancouver early 1940s and Allied Woodworks as manufacturing arm; married to Remmette Davis; commentator, editor and technician for Stairway to Stardom Sunday evenings CKWX 1947-early 1950s and CJOR Vancouver early 1950s-58. Died 1995." ("Vancouver Broadcasters" website.)

That is the history of North Shore Sash who was the builder of the 1947 house at 1720 Grand Boulevard. And the owner of the house in 1950 was no other than Reginald Davis himself and his wife Chrissie R. (Remmette) Davis. Reginald Davis reported to the City Directory that he was the president of North Shore Sash.

By 1960 Thomas H. and Lillian Sterling were the owners. Thomas Sterling was a sales representative for Western Canada Imports. In 1971 Dallas M. and Jeanette Boyd owned the house. Dallas Boyd was the president of Advance Carpet Cleaners which reported 1720 Grand Blvd. as its business address. Then by 1980 John and Helen Eickhoff had bought the house. In 1991 John reported to the City Directory that he was an employee of the B. C. Highway Patrol. The Eickhoff family continued to live in the house until 2006, the year it was demolished. Bruce and J. C. Eickhoff were listed in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory. J. C. Eickhoff was listed as living at 1720 Grand Boulevard in the year 2006/2007 issue.

The above photo was taken as part of Suzanne Wilson's Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. 2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed.


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 1720 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and two homes had been built on the property by Noort Homes.


Demolition: Permit applied for in 2006.
Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW. Black and white negative and contact sheet print available on Roll #64 of the Demolition and Construction Project at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference: See Blog Post June 23 for more information on Grand Boulevard.
Reference: See Blog Post June 21 for more information on the Demolition and Construction Project by SW.

Thursday, June 24, 2010
Burdett's on the Boulevard

This house with its bright red maple tree and driveway leading to the front door sat on the east side of Grand Boulevard at 1136. There is no entry in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives as to when it was built. However, building permits are only listed in the book up to 1947. In 1950 there is also no entry in the City Directory. However in 1960 there is an entry and it is for the Burdett's. All listing to the present in both the City Directories and the North Vancouver phone books continue to be for the Burdett's.

In 1960 Richard F. and Audrey L. Burdett were recorded as the owners of the long house that stretched across the lot at 1136 Grand Boulevard. Richard Burdett was the president of Burdett Construction building contractors. Burdett Construction was also listed as a resident of 1136 Grand Boulevard. Richard F. and Audrey L. Burdett and Burdett Construction were listed as being at 1136 in 1971 and 1980. In 1980 Audrey was  employed as the secretary for Burdett Construction. In 1991 and 1995 three Burdett's were reported as living in the house: Audrey-the owner, and Michael A. and Christine. In 1991 Michael A. was working as a carpenter for Burdett Construction. The 2008/2010 North Vancouver phone book lists the address of Michael Burdett as 1136 Grand Boulevard.

1136 Grand Boulevard was one of the homes included in Suzanne Wilson's Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. 2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed. Because of the prominence of Grand Boulevard in the City of North Vancouver all of the homes on Grand Boulevard were photographed for the Y2K Project.

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 1136 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and two new homes had been built.

Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW. Black and white negative and contact sheet print available on Roll #48 of the Demolition and Construction Project at the North Vancouver Archives.
Demolition: Permit applied for in 2004.
Reference: See June 23rd, 2010 Blog Post for more information on Grand Boulevard.
Reference: See Blog Post June 21 for more information on Demolition and Construction Project by SW.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Grand Boulevard

Grand Boulevard is in the eastern part of the City of North Vancouver. It extends from East Keith Road to East 19th Street, almost a mile in length and 346 feet wide. Clearing for the Boulevard and lots for homes on both the east and west sides began in 1906. "According to its developers, the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company, the Grand Boulevard would be to North Vancouver "what the Champs Elysees is to Paris..." (See Reference 1.) Stately homes fronting the Boulevard and with views of Burrard Inlet and the city of Vancouver started to be built in 1910 and can be seen in the "City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994".(Reference 4.) In 1907 a street car line ran up the center of the Boulevard to East 19th Street. And in 1920 smaller infill homes began to be built.

837 Grand Boulevard was one of the smaller infill homes, but the date it was built was not listed in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives. However, this book only records building permits through 1947. The owners in 1950 were Thomas C. W. and Gertrude Fox. Thomas C. W. Fox was employed as a lino operator at the North Shore Press. Thomas C. Fox, a student, was also listed as a resident. Thomas C. W. and Gertrude Fox continued to own the house until 1991. Thomas C. W. worked as a printer at Pacific Press in 1960 and in 1971 reported that he was retired. In the 1995/96 City Directory Michael D. and Brenda Reid reported that they had owned the house for four years.

The photo of 837 Grand Boulevard 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.


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 837 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and a stately new home had been built.


Demolition: Permit applied for in 2004.

Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW. Black and white negative and contact sheet print available on Roll #45 of the Demolition and Construction Project at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 1: "The Ambitious City, a History of the City of North Vancouver" by Warren Sommer, page 93.
Reference 2: See Blog Post June 23 for more information on Grand Boulevard.
Reference 3: See Blog Post June 21 for more information on Demolition and Construction Project by SW.
Reference 4: "City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994" available at the City of North Vancouver library and the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 5: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.