Monday, July 12, 2010

Big Changes On Bewicke-1

Many of the streets in the City of North Vancouver were named in 1891 to honor major landowners. These included: Heywood Street, Lonsdale Avenue, Fell Avenue, and Mahon Avenue. Others were chosen to recognize men of business. These included: Hendry Avenue, Moody Avenue, and Bewicke Avenue. Percival Henry Bewicke was involved with the Moodyville Lands and Sawmill Company and was a major landowner.(See Reference 1.)

Bewicke Avenue, runs north and south in the western part of the City of North Vancouver. Its southern border is on Burrard Inlet at Bewicke Park on Native Lands. It then runs north to cross the commercial intersection of Marine Drive and West Keith Road and finally ends two blocks north of Larson Road. At this point it is just west of Wagg Creek and East of Mosquito Creek. The 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue is one block north of the intersection of Marine Dr. and West Keith Road.

This 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue was bush until the mid 1950's. There is no record at the North Vancouver Archives of any home at that address in the Building Permit Book or in the 1950 or 1952 City Directories. Then in 1955 six address appear: 1404, 1416, 1428, 1436, 1444, and 1456. Now all of these homes are slated for demolition and new multifamily units will be built.

The home at 1404 Bewicke Avenue is on the north east corner of Bewicke Avenue and West 14th Street. In 1955 the owners were Alfred H. and Jean E. Richardson. According to the City Directories and phone book they continued to live there until at least the Year 2000. That is 45 years for the Richardson's at 1404 Bewicke Avenue. In 1955 Alfred Richardson was employed as a machinist at M W and D. In 1960 he was a mechanic at Cummins Diesel. And in 1971 and 1980 he was employed as a mechanic at C P Air. In the 1991 and 1995/1996 City Directories Alfred Richardson reported that he was retired.

Demolition: Permit applied for in 2009.
Photo: Digital colored photo above was taken in 2010 by SW. A black and white negative and photo on a contact sheet taken in July 2009 as part of the Demolition and Construction Project 2001-2010 is on file at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 1: "The Ambitious City/A History of the City of North Vancouver" by Warren Sommer.
Reference 2: See Blog Posts July 13, 14, 15, and 16 for more information about the homes in the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue.

Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sunday Church Feature

Posthumous-Methodist Church, Lynn Valley, B.C.

The Lynn Valley Methodist church was built in 1912 at 260 Institute Road. (REF 1 and 3.) It was on the west side of Institute Road, across the lane from Lynn Valley Elementary School. In 1927 St. Clement's Anglican Church was moved to 120 Institute Road (REF 1.) It was on the east side of Institute Road and was known as "St. Clements-by-the-brook". (REF 7.) On today's maps the site of the Methodist Church would be across the street from what is now the house at 3284 Institute Road.(REF 4.)

Lynn Valley Methodist Church was originally only one floor. Then a basement was built under it to make two functioning  floors. "The bottom floor was immediately put into use as a child/daycare centre." (REF 2.) This church is seen in the photo above. "It features triangular eaves, brackets, and unusual alternating vertical and horizontal wood siding". (REF 2.) The windows along the sides and in triplicate on either side of the entrance to the upper level were and of a Gothic type. The double set of steps leading to the upper level were a stylized feature.


In 1925 the Congregational, most Presbyterian, and the Methodist Churches in Canada united to become the United Church of Canada. At this time the Knox Presbyterian Church on Lynn Valley Road became the Lynn Valley United Church. The Lynn Valley Methodist Church congregation joined with and moved to the new Lynn Valley United Church. The Lynn Valley Methodist Church building was then used by Lynn Valley Elementary School as a gym. On the 1930 Fire Insurance Map the building is labeled as having Manual Training in the basement.

1930 Fire Insurance Map

 From 1945 to 1962 the lower floor of the old Methodist Church was the home of Lynn Valley Parent Participation Playschool. When the top part was moved across Mountain Highway, "The lower 1/2 of the building became a Metal Arts School and was eventually demolished."(REF 5.) It was used as "...the manual arts branch of Queen Mary School teaching local students carpentry and house building."(REF 2.) It was also used as a community center. (REF 3.)

In 1962, according to the October 11, 1962 Citizen newspaper, the Lynn Valley Arts Guild purchased the old Methodist Church Building from the School Board for $50. And According to Clare Lakes' "History of LVPPP" it was the top half of the building that was purchased and they "...moved it across the playing field to the west side of Mt. Highway..." The Citizen said further that "to move the top floor of the church to 3355 Mountain Highway cost about $1000." The actual move took place in the spring of 1963.

In 2004 new playground equipment was donated by Home Depot for the north east corner of the new Lynn Valley Elementary School grounds. Charis Kalesnikoff, the school principal, said that when the workers were digging to install the equipment, hunks of concrete were uncovered. She wondered if these were remnants of the old Methodist Church.

The top floor of the old Lynn Valley Methodist Church remains part of the RNB Dance and Theatre Arts building at 3355 Mountain Highway. If you look on the back of the building you can still see the outline of the original Gothic type church windows that lined the sides of the1912 church.

Demolition: Bottom half of the Lynn Valley Methodist Church, in 1963.

Available at the North Vancouver Archives

Reference 1: 1930 Fire Insurance Map.

Reference 2: 1988 District of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory.

Reference 3: 1993 District of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory.

Reference 4: #275 North Vancouver Archives Map.

Reference 5: Clare Lakes' "History of Lynn Valley Parent Participation

Preschool".

Reference 6: October 11, 1962 "Citizen" newspaper.

Reference 7: 1005 "Sacred Sites Tour Booklet," article by Kathleen Larsen.

Photo: North Vancouver Archives Photo(26-19B-1-Draycott Fons 26, taken ca. 1920.)

Opened September 20, 2008, 120 West 14th Street

(Photo 4.)

Saturday, July 10, 2010
Saturday Special Feature
New City of N V Library a Beaut!

The new City of North Vancouver Library is a beaut! Its three stories of glass command attention from its site at 120 West 14th Street.  The library serves the 44,000 residents of the City with 900 visitors a day.  The library opening on September 20, 2008 was dotted with luminaries. Meg Till of "The Big Chill" fame and now a writer was an honored guest. (See Link 2.)

Each of the three floors of the  City Library has its own computers and study spaces and also its own specialty. On the third floor it is reference materials and nonfiction. On the second floor it is fiction, "The Media Room", "The Room" for teens, and a circular magazine display. On the first floor it is the children's area with it own outdoor children's reading garden and another circular display, this time of new books. The views from the third floor of the North Shore mountains to the north and downtown Vancouver to the south are spectacular. Next door on the first floor is Braza Library Cafe with bakery treats. The whole complex is decorated with art work. The donor trees are pressed into the concrete of the front plaza. Each floor has wall sized murals: names of writers, "Welcome" repeated in many languages, a giant moose in the forest, abstract circles and splashes. Even the underground pay parking lot greets you with a carved glass mural called "My People Will Rise Up" by Marriane Nicholson. (See photo above.)

"North Vancouver's first library service began in January 1869, but it wasn't until November 12th, 1924 that a Public Library Association was officially chartered and a small fee-for-service library opened.  For many years there after, a small group of women operated the library in various  places in the Lower Lonsdale area. (Including above a butcher shop.) Members borrowed from its stock of donated books or those purchased from the proceeds of afternoon teas and card parties. Closure often threatened due to lack of funds and inadequate premises.

"For a while, the Association received small grants from the City and the province, but during the Depression of the 1930's, these fell, and finally ceased. Sheer determination kept the library going, and by 1945, a monthly circulation of approximately 600 was achieved. The City's annual grant had been renewed, and had grown to $240 per year. This relative affluence enabled the Association to employ a few paid workers. In 1949, with the help from governments at all three levels, the old Wartime Administration Building on 2nd Street (131 East 2nd Street) became the library's new home.  By 1950, circulation had topped 20,000 and City Council was asked for increasing grants each year.

1949, 131 East 2nd Street

"As part of the 1958 British Columbia Centennial celebration, the City built the North Vancouver Centennial Library on West 8th Street (135 West 12th Street).  In a December 1964 public referendum, the library became a free, tax-supported municipal library.  In 1966, a new wing and a separate children's department doubled the size of the building. 

November 1958, 135 West 12th Street

"In 1975, the library moved to a new Civic Centre on West 14th Street, (121 West 14th Street) and became the North Vancouver City Library.  Thirty-three years later a magnificent state-of-the-art 36,000 square foot new library (120 West 14th Street) opened on the plaza across from the 1975 building.

Opened March 8, 1975, 121 West 14th Street

(Photo 3.)

"After 84 years of constant effort by several generations of dedicated people, the City of North Vancouver opened a wonderful new library on September 20, 2008, reflecting the City's continued growth and aspirations." (See Link 1.)

Present Status of Old Library Buildings

In Use: 131 East 2nd Street-Occupied by Lower Lonsdale Planning Centre and Women's Resource Centre.
Demolition: 135 West 12th Street, after 1995-Condominium complex built.
Boarded Up: 121 West 14th Street-Possibly to be used for City Hall office space.

Photos

Photo 1: Taken of the 1949 City Library on East 2nd Street in 2010 by SW.

Photo 2: Copy of the 1958 City Library at 135 West 12th Street, Archives photo #13663.

Photo 3: Digital copy of North Vancouver Archives photo 9060. Cropped by SW.

Photo 4: Taken of the 2008 City Library in 2009 by SW.

Photo 5: Taken of "My People Will Rise Up" in 2009 by SW.

Photo 6: From Archives pamphlet, "A Little History of the City of North Vancouver Public Library", 1971.

Reference: "The Ambitious City" A History of the City of North Vancouver by Warren Sommer.

Link 1: http://www.cnv.org/nvcl/

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_Tilly
Thank You: To James Reimer and Laura Nauman at the North Vancouver City Library for their information search.

Friday, July 9, 2010
The House Behind the Gate

The house at 417 West 15th Street is in the City of North Vancouver. The front yard is a beautiful garden with a rustic gate to the sidewalk. Although you can't see much of the dark green house from the West 15th Street sidewalk, you can't miss the house because the number 417 is on this gate. (See photo below.) The rear of the house looks like there have been additions to the original building. French doors open out to the back garden.

There is no listing of 417 West 15th Street at the North Vancouver Archives in the Building Permit Book, the 1940, or the 1950 City Directories. However in 1955 Seigfrid and Gunnel Haller were listed as the residents. Seigfrid Haller worked as a laborer at Allan and Borrie Construction Ltd. which was at 3095 Woodbine Ave. in North Vancouver. In 1960 Mrs. Edith R. Vandenbergh, a widow, was the owner.

In 1971 Mrs. Ruth Kasher lived in the house at 417 West 15th Street. Mrs. Ruth Kasher was employed in the laboratory at Lion's Gate Hospital. In the 1991 and 1995/1996 City Directories she is listed as retired and still living in the house. Mrs. Ruth Kasher is also listed at the 417 West 15th Street in the 2008/2010 Telus phone book. Mrs. Ruth Kasher seems to have lived there for about 30 years, so she must be credited with the beautiful garden.

Demolition: Application applied for in June 2010.

Photos: Taken in June 2010 by SW.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Address Around For 87 Years

Research at the North Vancouver Archives shows that the house at 322 West 21st Street was built by at least 1913.  This information does not come from the Building Permit Book, since there is no listing there for the 322 address. (Listings in the City of North Vancouver Building Permit Book start with the year 1911.) And there is no listing in the 1911 City Directory.  The first listing in the City Directory seems to be in 1913 with Alex McPherson a laborer for the "City".  He is also listed as the owner in 1914 and 1915.  But by 1925 the only listing is Mrs. E. McPherson, a widow.  She continued to live there until 1950.

In 1960 the owners were William and Mary D. Burton.  William Burton was an engine fitter at Burrard Dry Dock. (See Link.)  In 1971 only Mrs. Mary Burton, retired, is listed as owning the house.  Then by 1980 David H. and Gloria Lewis owned the house.  The Lewis's continued to own the house at least through the year 2000 because they participated in the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home.  In 1980 David Lewis reported that he was an electrician.  In 1991 and 1995 he was working as an electrician at Canem Systems Ltd. In the 1995/1996 City Directory Clifton J. Lewis was also reported as living at 322 West 21st Street. At this time he was working as a sales clerk at Lewis Handson.

In the year 2000 David Lewis contributed the history of the house as he knew it to the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. He also included some of his family history. (See below.)

The photo of 322 West 21st 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 from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs. This was true in the case of 322 West 21st Street.


In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to 1000 home owners copies of  photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 322 West 21st Street had been demolished and a grand new home had been built.


Photo: 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.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrard_Dry_Dock

Wednesday, July 7, 2010
St. Andrew

This house at 1624 St. Andrew's Avenue was two blocks north of Lions Gate Hospital in the City of North Vancouver. It was built for $3,000 in 1947 by N. Tomlinson. There is no listing in the 1950 City Directory of any house on the 1600 block of St. Andrew's Avenue. But by 1952 Graham H. and Lilly L. Hossack are listed as owners. The Graham H. Hossacks reported that they were retired. Three years later, in 1955, 1624 St. Andrew's Avenue had a new owner, Mrs. J. Hunter. She was the widow of F. G. Hunter.

By 1960 Mrs. J. Hunter was working as a clerk at The Boulevard. At that time there was a grocery store at 2453 Lonsdale Avenue named The Boulevard. Mrs. Jean Hunter reported to the City Directory that she also owned the house in 1971 and 1980. However, in those years she did not report any place of employment. In 1991 Tina and Cameron Fox were the residents who lived at 1614 St. Andrew's Avenue. In the 1995/1996 City Directory they are listed as having lived there more than 9 years. So they were living there at least in 1985. However, in all of these records they are not listed as owners. Cameron Fox is also listed as living at 1624 St. Andrew's Avenue in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory.

The photo of 1624 St. Andrew's Avenue 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 1000 home owners copies of photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 1624 St. Andrew's Avenue had been demolished and a there was new construction on the site.


Photo: 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.

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.