Monday, September 27, 2010
The Street, It Is A Changing

The 900 block of Hampshire Road, nestled at the base of the North Shore Mountains (See photo above,) is changing from a street of cosy 1950's one storey ranch style homes to a street of new large two storey palatial homes.  The house at 954 Hampshire Road is one of the 1950's homes that will be demolished to make way for a new larger home.  It is following what has already happened to several of the homes on this street.

The three bedroom rancher with a carport at 954 Hampshire Rd. was built in 1954 for $14,000 by T. Hall.  The house sits on a level 80 by 100 foot lot with views of Grouse Mountain. It features a stone planter box across the front exterior of the house and a fireplace with a broad chimney in the living room. It appears to have originally had a garage at the east end of the house. The garage area has since been filled in to provide another room.  It also has was given its own door to the exterior.  In January of 2010 the house at 954 Hampshire Rd. was listed for sale for $961,000.

There is no entry in the 1955 City Directory for the house at 954 Hampshire Rd.  But H. Roberts is listed as the owner in the 1960 and 1965 publications.  Hesketh and Ruth H. Roberts also owned the house in 1971.  During all these years Hesketh was employed as a surveyor for Vancouver City. "Another building permit was issued in December 1974, for an addition."(Elaine Oakes.) Perhaps this was the filled in garage area.  In 1980 the owners were Michael P. and Kirsten S. Smith. Michael P. Smith was an employee of the Royal Bank of Canada.

In the 1991, 1995/1996 City Directories and the year 1999/2000 and 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories David Faulkner is listed as living at 954 Hampshire Rd.  David D. and Phyllis Faulkner were the owners during this time and had been since the mid 1980's.  David Faulkner was employed as a salesman at Vancouver Auto and Phyllis Faulkner was a counselor employed by  the North Vancouver School Board.  In 1995 Peter Faulkner, a student, was also living in the house.

The year 2010 REMAX Real Estate ad said, "Move in and enjoy it (the house) as it is."  Since a Demolition Permit was applied for in September 2010, it looks like this suggestion was not taken.


Thank you: To Elaine Oakes, Records Management Clerk at the District of North Vancouver for her research on Demolition Permits.
Demolition: Permit applied for in September 2010.
Photo: Taken in September 2010 by SW.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sold!

The grey stucco house with the white shutters at 971 Hampshire Road has been sold to a developer and a Demolition Permit applied for. As with many houses off Highland Blvd. in the area of Forest Hills in North Vancouver District, it is one storey and built on a cement slab. Also, typical of many of these homes, the carport garage originally on the east side of the house has probably been filled in to make an extra room. The open carport can be seen on several of the other homes on this street. The multi paneled glass front door adds a welcoming feature.

The building permit for the original house was applied for in 1953. P. Bergen the owner of the lot had a $10,000 premises constructed. Two years later, in 1955, S.N.L. and Jean M. Andrews were the owners. S. N. L. was employed as a parts salesman at Vancouver Motors. But after that the whole story of the house is the "Morrison Story". Doug and Margaret E. were owners by 1960. Doug was the vice president of the London Shop. By 1970 he was president of the London Shop Ltd. with its address of 801 West Georgia Street. There are records in the City Directory of him continuing to be president of The London Shop through 1996. In this year, 1996, James and Jane Beveridge were also living in the house. James S. worked as an engineer at Yoneda and Associates, and Jane was a teachers aide at Maplewood Elementary School.

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