Monday, August 30, 2010
Behind the Berm

The post and beam house behind the crescent shaped berm on 615 East St. James Road was built in 1954 for $9000 by A. J. Douglas. The 1955 City Directory reports the owners were Arthur J. and Georgina Douglas. Arthur Douglas was a collector on the First Narrows Bridge. In 1960 the owners were David C. and Julia R. Norman. David Norman was employed as a salesman at CKNW.

Then by 1971 Frank and Charlotte Grundig owned the house. The Grundig's not only bought the house, but added to it and stayed there for the rest of their lives. (See Links 1, 2, and 3.) They are listed as the owners in the 1980, 1991, 1995/1996 City Directories and Frank is even in the 2008/2010 North and West Phone Directory. In 1971 Frank Grundig reported that he was president of Century 21 Photography. In 1980, 1991, and 1995 he listed his employment as Zenith Graphics. According to his obituary, photography and mountain climbing were his passions. In the summers he would volunteer at the B.C. Mills House at the Pacific Parkland in the Lynn Valley Headwaters. (See Link 1.)

Charlotte Grundig played the harp and taught piano from her home at 615 East St. James Road. (See Link 3.) It was because of this that in 1974 the Grundig's had an architect design the peak roofed studio addition on the west side of the house. Here the piano students could enter without going through the Grundig living room. The piano was situated in the north part of the great room, under the chandelier. A space for an audience extended to the French doors on the south side of the room that opened into the backyard garden. (See the photo below, of the south side of the house and the music room.) The crescent shaped berm garden area in front of the house was a result of the excavation for this music room addition.

Frank and Charlotte Grundig contributed much to their community.  They died within a month of each other in the spring of the year 2008. 

Real Estate Listing "Provided By Hayden Ross (See Link 4 for interior photos.)

$965,000
Property Address 615 E. St. James Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7N 1L7,

Est. Property Tax $5033.99
Living Area 2,100 sq.ft.
Lot Frontage 100 ft
Lot Depth 132 ft
Lot Size Area 13,200 sq.ft.
Bedrooms 3
Bathroom 1 full
School District Carisbrooke/Argyle
Princess Park Address615 E. St. James Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7N 1L7,
Description Level 100 x 132ft lot in PRIME Princess Park neighbourhood wit huge redevelopment potential - build your dream home here! Upon this lot sits a cottage style 3 bedroom rancher with a 21 x 28ft A-Frame conservatory. Bright south facing back yard with mature trees and garden. Walk to Carisbrooke Elementary & Argyle Secondary and Princess Park trails! "

Demolition Permit: Applied for in August 2010.Photos: Taken in August 2010 by SW.

Thank You: To the neighbor to the east for information regarding the Grundig family and home.
Link 1:http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAN-BC-OBITS/2008-04/1207106417

Link 2: http://www.pacificparklands.ca/projects__/current_projects/frank_grundig_memorial_fund

Link 3: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAN-BC-OBITS/2008-05/1209701633
Link 4:http://www.haydenross.ca/Properties.php/Details/31

Sunday Church Feature
1898 Divine Temple, Church of God in Christ
Green Bay, Wisconsin

"With steeply pitched roofs, pointed-arch windows and an overall look of something from the Middle Ages, Divine Temple Church of God in Christ is considered a locally significant example of Gothic Revival architecture. It has lasted much longer than two earlier churches that were built at the northwest corner of Cherry and Madison streets in downtown Green Bay. Both burned down. Limestone is dominant in the current structure, which redefines "current" a bit. The cornerstone was laid in 1898. The walls are about two feet thick...

"The steeple and side walls of the church are supported by buttresses that are smaller than the famed flying buttresses on larger Gothic structures, but function much the same. Such "ribs" in combination with arches help open spaces for stained-glass windows. The church has 15 such windows, three of which are large.
While some elements of the windows are repeated in each — the ornate tracery of the Gothic style and a design that looks like a three-leaf clover — the focal image in the stained glass is different from window to window.


"The original style dates to the Medieval period, and some of the church's exterior elements look like they're straight off a castle in the time of knights." (See Link.)

Green Bay is the home of the foot ball team the Green Bay Packers.

Photo: Taken in Green Bay Wisconsin in 2006 by SW.
Link:http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090415/GPG04/904150685/Divine-Temple-s-exterior-illustrates-Gothic-Revival-style

Saturday Travel Feature
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

"Originally built at a cost of $960,000, an amount shared equally by the Packer Corporation and the city of Green Bay, the facility was financed by way of a bond issue that received 2-to-1 voter approval in a municipal referendum conducted April 3, 1956.

"Located in southwest Green Bay, surrounded on three sides by the village of Ashwaubenon, Lambeau Field originally was built on farmland, purchased for $73,305. The stadium's original architect, Somerville Inc., favored the current site because it was sloped, making it perfect to build a bowl.


"Lambeau Field, now in its 53rd NFL season, is the longest continuously occupied stadium in the league -- 10 years more than the next-closest venue, Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego at 43 years. In pro sports as a whole, only the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park (98 seasons) and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field (96 seasons) have longer active home field tenures.


"Including the redevelopment, eight seating additions -- all paid for by the Green Bay Packers, Inc. -- have increased capacity from its original 32,150 to 38,669 in 1961, to 42,327 in 1963, to 50,852 in 1965 and to 56,263 in 1970. Construction of 72 initial suites in 1985 moved capacity to 56,926, and a 1990 addition of 36 boxes and 1,920 theatre-style club seats changed the number to 59,543. The seventh seating addition, a $4.7-million project in 1995, put 90 more suites in the previously open north end zone, for the first time giving the stadium the feel of a complete bowl and upping capacity to 60,890. ...the structure has been transformed from a football stadium that fans could use only 10 days during the season to a Packers cultural center that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Ultimately, the eighth addition bumped stadium seating capacity to 72,928. During the 2002 campaign, with work ongoing, capacity fluctuated between 65,290 and 66,110 as the season progressed.


"Not forgetting the Packers' rich tradition and history at Lambeau Field, then-GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman requested three slabs of concrete that were located in the team's former field tunnel at the north end -- which were walked over by many of the greatest players in club history -- to be moved to the new tunnel in the southeast corner; the players began using it during the 2002 season. A nearby plaque recognizes the presence of the concrete from the old tunnel.


"In 2007, the Packers installed an entirely new play playing surface, including a completely new drainage and heating system, bringing the latest technology in field management to the famous stadium. Also prominent within the stadium are the names of the 21 Packers players and coaches elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.


"Lambeau Field now is owned by the city of Green Bay and the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District; retirement of the city's original $960,000 debt was celebrated at a mortgage burning ceremony in May of 1978." (See Link.)


Photo: Taken in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2006 by SW.
Link: http://www.lambeaufield.com/stadium_info/history/

Friday, August 27, 2010
Front Yard Plums

The house at 619 East 17th Street doesn't front on East 17th Street at all. The house actually faces west toward the lane parallel to and east of Grand Boulevard. The house and backyard extend from East 17th Street to another lane, that one between East 16th Street and East 17th Street. There is no record in the Building Permit Book of the house on the two lanes. There is no record of the 619 address in the 1955 City Directory, either.

However, in 1960 the owners were John and Hendrika Koudstaal. John Koudstaal worked as an electrician. In 1971 the owners were Guiseppe and Maria Meola. Guiseppe was a construction worker. And in 1980 the resident was Hanna Clayton, an employee of Stranco Can.

The 1991 and 1995/1996 owners were James W. and Carla Aydon. During that time James Aydon was employed as a dry cleaner at the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Somewhere along the way fruit trees were planted in the front and back yards of 619 East 17th Street. A plum tree was planted next to the walk from East 17th Street to the front door. And cherry trees were planted in the large backyard extending to the lane. Along with the cherry trees a basketball net was mounted on the fence of the lane on the same side as the front door.

Demolition Permit: Applied for in May 2010.
Photo: Take in August 2010 by SW.

Thursday, August 26, 2010
Christmas on William Avenue

William Avenue is in both the City and District of North Vancouver. Its southern starting point is East 14th Street in the eastern border area of the Grand Boulevard area of the City of North Vancouver. It is interrupted by Loutet Park and the Upper Levels Highway at East 18th Street. Then it continues to the East 29th Street border with the District of North Vancouver. Here it extends north to Princess Park and Tennyson Crescent.

And at 1533 William Avenue, in the photo above, it was Christmas. A fringe of snow graced the front yard, icicle lights decked on the house, and colored Christmas lights decorated the garden tree and bushes. There is no Building Permit reported at the North Vancouver Archives for this two level house with the living room and kitchen on the upper floor. The first City Directories to list the address are in about 1960. The owner at that time was W. A. Houghton. In 1971 the owners were Donald C. and Gloria E. Smith. Donald Smith was employed as a controller at Buckerfield's. In 1980 "No Return" was the only City Directory listing. And the last owner to be verified was Barbara Hamilton, a park control worker for the City of North Vancouver. That was in 1991.


The photo of 1533 William 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 their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 1533 William Avenue had been demolished and a new home was under construction.


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.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010
New Home on Tempe Crescent

Three streets curve around the south side of the top of the steep East 29th Street hill in the City of North Vancouver. The first street down from East 29th Street is Somerset St. The second street down from East 29th Street is Brand Street. And the most southern of the three streets down from East 29th Street is Tempe Crescent. Here is nearby Tempe Heights Park.

The house at 560 Tempe Crescent is near the eastern intersection with East 29th Street. The address for the one storey house in not listed in the 1950 City Directory. But in the 1955 and 1960 City Directories the owners are listed as Peter M. and Carol. A. Bricel. In 1955 Peter Bricel was the president of Intercontinental Mercantile. In 1960 he was employed as the secretary-treasurer of B.C. Mercantile. By 1980 the owner was J. Douglas McHaughton, assistant general manager of Nahanni Helicopters Ltd. The "New Neighbor" and new owner in 1991 was Sherry Hawk. She continued to own the house in 1995.

The photo of 560 Tempe Crescent 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. In this same year a Demolition Permit was applied for. By 2008 a large home was built with two front sundecks, 3 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, and a loft space with a total of 4216 sq ft on a 6600 sq ft sun drenched lot. (See Link.)

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://vancouverrealestateblog.ca/2008/09/noort-homes-north-vancouver-current-listings/

Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tudor Trim on West 15th

The house at 428 West 15th Street with the decorative octagonal window, curved cornered entrance arch, and Tudor trim was built in 1912 for $2000 by J. Diersson. The probably owner by 1925 (There is no designation of "owner" in this issue of the City Directory.) was Mrs. S. Sparks, the widow of W. S. Sparks, who worked as a janitor at Queen Mary School. She is listed as the owner in the 1931 and 1940 City Directories. By 1940 Sarah F. Sparks was employed as a school matron in North Vancouver City.

In 1945 the owners of 428 West 15th Street were William A. and Gertrude V. Hill. William Hill was employed by North Vancouver Ship Repair.

By 1950 the Forshaw family had moved in. The City Directories report that they owned the house in 1950, 1960, 1971 and 1980. In 1950 Walter and Margaret Forshaw were reported as the owners. Walter Forshaw worked as a carpenter. In 1960, 1971, and 1980 only Margaret M., the widow of Walter Forshaw, was reported as the owner at the 428 West 15th Street address.

In 1991 and 1995 John Millen was the owner of the 1912 house. John Millen was a professional engineer at Canada Post. An additional resident, Donna McLintock was also reported as living in the house in 1995.

The photo of 428 West 15th 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.


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 428 West 15th Street had been demolished and a new family 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.