Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Under the Green Tarp

Panorama Drive runs at the base of Mount Seymour high above the curve of the waters of Deep Cove at the very eastern end of the District of North Vancouver. Where there was once a scattering of summer cottages along the waterfront, there is now a community with a main street, its own Seymour Art Gallery and Deep Cover Shaw Theater, and a dense population of large year round homes. Panorama Drive has even had a name change. It started out being called Burns Avenue or Burns Avenue and Crescent. But on October 1, 1960 the name was changed to the present Panorama Drive. This name change makes tracing the history of a home on Panorama Drive a challenge. Although Panorama Dr. is listed in the Building Permit Book, it or any of its previous names doesn't seem to appear int he 1931, 1955, 0r 1960 City Directories. Panorama Dr. is in the 1971 City Directory.

The houses under the green tarps, and there are two, have the addresses of 2568 and 2579 Panorama Dr. The Building Permit Book lists 2568 as being built in 1930 for $900 by J. R. Robinson. However, the recent real estate ad (See Link.) lists the date of origin as 1920. The 1980 resident reported in the City Directory was Greg R. Parslow. The 1981 and 1995, 9+ year resident was Patricia L. Galbraith. So Patricia Galbraith lived there since the mid 1980's.

The real estate ad in the Link gives further information on the property:
"Price: $1,579,000. Live here in an Ocean Front Paradise! This property has, 2 DIFFERENT ADDRESSES and 2 SEPARATE HOMES, live in them and renovate or "Rebuild" an amazing opportunity, seldom available! Breathtaking views of mountains and Islands, from your own, Sandy Beach. Dock application in progress. The main cottage is 1500sf home, w/2 bdrm and a F/P. The rear cottage is a "Heritage style" original cottage, the rear of the property provides enough off road, parking for 4 cars and underneath is a large storage area. This location is only steps to the forested Quarry Rock trail, shops, live theatre, restaurants, buses, schools, Panorama Park and all else Deep Cove is famous for. Features: Waterfront." (See Link.)


Demolition Permit: Applied for in August 2010.
Photo: Taken in August 2010 by SW.
Link: http://www.dangoluboff.ca/forsale/2568---2570-panorama-drive.phpSept 1 2568/2590 Panorama Dr.

Thursday, July 29, 2010
On the Beach

The two storey house at 2420 Panorama Dr. is the most northern of the three houses owned by the District of North Vancouver to be demolished with the land being added to Panorama Park in Deep Cove. The Building Permit book's only listing for this address is for a 1962 $200 carport to be constructed at the request of G. H. Robinson. Mrs. Betty Robinson, the widow of G. H., is listed in the 1965 City Directory as still owning the house.

In 1971 the residents were Keith E. and Nancy A. Byers. Keith Byers was employed as a mechanic at Western Outboard and Equipment. In 1980 the owner was Mary Nakano. Mary Nakano worked as a receptionist for Dr's. P. K. Will and J. K. Poole.

The owner in 1991 was Joshua Stimpson, the manager at Harmony Silks and Designs. For the 1995/1996 City Directory he reported that he had lived in the house for more than 9 years. So, he had moved in during the mid 1980's. Also living in the house in 1995/1996 was Peter B. Stimpson. Joshua Stimpson was still the manager at Harmony Silks and Designs and Peter B. Stimpson was the manager at Dana Designs. The 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories list Joshua Stimpson's address as  2420 Panorama Dr. The 2006/2007 and the 2008/2010 issues list Joshua Stimpson and A. L. Stimpson as living at that address.

The photo above is the rear of the house facing Panorama Dr. The photo below is the front of the house facing the Panorama Park path and the waters of Deep Cove. For more information on the three houses on Panorama Dr. to be demolished, Panorama Park, and Deep Cove see the Blogs July 27 "Additions to Panorama Park", July 28 "Turquoise Cottage", and the Links listed below.

Demolition Permit: Applied for in July 2010.

Photos: Taken in July 2010 by SW.

Link 1: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/panorama-park-north-vancouver

Link 2: http://www.deepcovebc.com/parkspanorama.html

Link 3: http://www.deepcoveyc.com/history.php

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Turquoise Cottage

This turquoise cottage at 2412 Panorama Dr. was built in 1929 right on the beach in Deep Cove at the most eastern point of the District of North Vancouver. At this time there was no Panorama Dr. address. The listing in the 1931 City Directory for this location was "Burns Ave. North Vancouver north across 2nd St. at Deep Water B-15 on Map". In the 1940 and 1950 City Directories there is no Panorama Dr., Burns Ave., or Burns Crescent listed. In the 1960 City Directory Burns Ave. is listed but not the address 2412. The photo above is the back of the house sitting among the tall trees next to Panorama Dr. The photo below is the front of the house featuring an upper deck with a view of the waters of Deep Cove.

When C. E. Scott built the house on the beach in 1929 the construction cost $500. In 1959 the Building Permit book lists W. J. White as building a $500 addition to the house. The widow of W. J. White, Mrs. J. O. White, owned the house until at least 1971. In 1980 George Walkem was the owner of 2412 Panorama Dr. In 1991 he reported to the City Directory that he was a dyslexia tutor. R. George Walkem continued to live there until at least 1995/1996.

2412 Panorama Dr. is one of the three houses that are presently owned by North Vancouver District and will be demolished with the land added to Panorama Park. (For more information see the July 27th Blog "Additions to Panorama Park" and July 29 Blog, "On the Beach".)


Demolition Permit: Applied for in July 2010.
Photo: Taken in July 2010 by SW.

Link 1: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/panorama-park-north-vancouver
Link 2: http://www.deepcovebc.com/parkspanorama.html
Link 3: http://www.deepcoveyc.com/history.php

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Additions to Panorama Park

Three houses situated in the Panorama Park (See Link 2.) area at the bend in Panorama Dr. will be demolished and the land added to this public park. The three houses, 2398, 2412, and 2420 Panorama Dr. are presently not lived in and are owned by  North Vancouver District. This triangle of land on the north end of the park is already surrounded by Panorama Park. (See map in Link 1.) the backs of the houses are accessible by Panorama Dr. (See photo above.) The front of the houses (See photo below.) sit just behind the large hedges separating them from the path that runs along the water through Panorama Park.

The yellow house at 2398 Panorama Dr. was built in 1958 for $11,500 by E. Chute. That same year the Building Permit book shows that he had a house moved at the 2398 Panorama Dr. address. The Chute family owned the house until at least 2006 as they are reported as still living there in the 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory.

In 1965 E. Gale and Frances M. Chute were listed as the owners in the City Directory. E. Gale was employed as a skipper at Vancouver Tug Boat. In 1971 E. Gale Chute reported his job as being a master mariner at Vancouver Tug Boat. By 1980 E. Gail Chute was a captain mariner at Seaspan International. And in 1991 Edward G. and Frances M. Chute reported to the City Directory that they were retired.

Panorama Drive was not always named that. There is no listing in the 1960 City Directory under that street name. At that time the street was named Burns Ave. and Crescent or Burns Crescent. Burns Crescent is listed in the 1960 City Directory, however, there are no street numbers under that listing. Panorama Dr. with numeric addresses is listed in the 1965 City Directory.

One of the landmarks of Panorama Park is the Deep Cove Yacht Club. For its complete history starting in 1936 see Link 3.

Demolition Permit: Applied for July 2010.
Photo: Taken in July 2010 by SW.

Link 1: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/panorama-park-north-vancouver
Link 2: http://www.deepcovebc.com/parkspanorama.html
Link 3: http://www.deepcoveyc.com/history.php