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.

End of Month Index

August 2010

Arranged by Subject and Address Country, State/Province, City, Street: numerical East, alphabetical, numerical West.

CANADA

British Columbia

City of North Vancouver

619 East 17th Street, Front Yard Plums, Friday, August 27, 2010.
311 East 28th Street, Cathedral Entrance, Tuesday, August 12, 2010.

240 Saint Patrick's Street, Early St. Patrick's, Thursday, August 19, 2010.
560 Tempe Crescent, New Home on Tempe Crescent, Wednesday,
        August 25, 2010.

252 West 13th Street, A Long History, Friday, August 20, 2010.
342 West 14th Street, Palm Tree on West 14th Street, Monday, August 23, 2010.

428 West 15th Street, Tudor Trim on West 15th Street, Tuesday,

        August 24, 2010.
343 West 17th Street, Grey Stucco Near Mahon, Monday, August 2, 2010.

North Vancouver District

944 Beaumont Dr., "East Side of Beaumont Dr.", Thursday, August 5, 2010.

957 Beaumont Dr., "West Side of Beaumont Dr.", Friday, August 6, 2010.

1414 Dempsey Road, "Only the Clark's", Tuesday, August 10, 2010.
1616 Glenview Crescent, "1949 Post and Beam", Monday, August 16, 2010.

3790 Hoskins Road, "Lilacs and Roses", Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

1605 Kilmer Rd., "In the Rainforest", Monday, August 9, 2010.

706 Roslyn Blvd., "House With a Pool", Tuesday, August 3, 2010.

615 East St. James Road, "Behind the Berm", August 30, 2010.

4119 Virginia Crescent, "Margaret on Virginia", Tuesday, August 17, 2010.

3476 Wellington Crescent, "Turquoise Trim", Friday, August 13, 2010.

133 West 23rd Street, "1921 Home", Wednesday, August 18, 2010.

Long Beach

Long Beach, Saturday Travel Feature, Happy Birthday Laura! Long Beach,

         B.C., Saturday, August 21, 2010.

Tofino, Sunday Church Feature, St. Columba Church, Tofino, B. C., Sunday,

         August 22, 2010.

UNITED STATES

California

Stanford Campus, California, Sunday Church Feature, Stanford Memorial

         Church, Stanford, California, Sunday, August 15, 2010.

800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, California, Saturday Travel Feature,
         SFAI, San Francisco, California, Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Washington

3220 S. Grand Blvd., Manito United Methodist Church, Spokane, Washington,

        Sunday, August 1, 2010.

Wisconsin

Green Bay, Saturday Travel Feature, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
        Sunday, August 28, 2010.
Green Bay, Sunday Church Feature, 1898 Divine Temple, Church of God in
        Christ, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, August 29, 2010.
2839 South Logan Avenue, Special Birthday Feature, Happy Birthday Amy,

        Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wednesday, August 4, 2010.

Port Washington, Wisconsin, Saturday Travel Feature, 1860 Light Station,

        Port Washington, Wisconsin, Saturday, August 7, 2010.

Port Washington, Wisconsin, Sunday Church Feature, St. Mary's Catholic

        Church, Port Washington, Wisconsin, Sunday, August 8, 2010.

FEATURES

Saturday Travel Features

Green Bay, Saturday Travel Feature, "Lambeau Field", Green Bay, Wisconsin,
                   Saturday, August 1,  2010.
Vancouver Island,  Saturday Travel Feature, "Happy Birthday Laura!"
                  Long Beach, B.C., Saturday, August 21, 2010. Port Washington, Wisconsin, Saturday Travel Feature, "1860 Light Station", Port Washington,
                  Wisconsin, Saturday, August 7, 2010.
800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, California, Saturday Travel Feature,
                  "SFAI",  San Francisco, California, Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Sunday Church Features

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

       Christ", Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, August 29, 2010.

Port Washington, Wisconsin, Sunday Church Feature, "St. Mary's Catholic

       Church", Port Washington, Wisconsin, Sunday, August 8, 2010.

3220 S. Grand Blvd., "Manito United Methodist Church", Spokane, Washington,

       Sunday, August 1, 2010

Stanford Campus, California, "Stanford Memorial Church", Stanford, California,

       Sunday, August 15, 2010.

Tofino, Sunday Church Feature, "St. Columba Church", Tofino, B. C. Sunday,

       August 22, 2010.

Photo: Taken in Deep Cover, District of North Vancouver, in 2006 by SW.

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.