Monday, November 15, 2010

Certiwood

Certiwood owned by the Canadian Plywood Association was at 735 West 15th Street.  "CertiWood™ is Canada's Most Experienced Engineered Wood Products Testing and Certification Agency." (See Link 2.) The buildings unique multiplaned roof sat in the center of the City of North Vancouver and juxtaposition to the greenery of Mosquito Creek Park across the street. 

Adjacent to the main building was also the Certiwood CanPly Plywood House, another building of unique design. (See photo below.)  The business  moved  on June 28, 2010 and an application for rezoning to allow for the building of 60 dwelling units housed in three three-storey buildings on the 1,026 acre lot was filed.

There is no listing of the 735 West 15th Street address in the Building Permit Book or the 1950 or 1960 City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives.  In 1971 the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. (laboratory) with A. J. McGraw as manager is listed in the City Directory.  The headquarters of the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. was at 1055 West Hastings St. in Vancouver with  the President being  G. L. Draeseke.  The 735 West 15th Street address continued to be listed under the ownership of the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. (See Link 3.) until the present time.  In 1995/1996 it was further explained to be a "B.C. plywood tech centre".  The Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. headquarters is now at 700 West Pender Street in Vancouver.

"Landmark plywood centre has had its day/City approves 60 townhouses, by Benjamin Alldritt, North Shore News July 7, 2010. 

"The CertiWood building, at 725 West 15th St., was opened in 1962 as a dedicated testing centre for plywood, a new building material at the time. The building features a unique multi-faced roof that was intended to show off the structural uses of plywood. It was designed by architect Ron Thom, who went on to build several private homes on the North Shore as well as numerous university and college buildings in Eastern Canada. He was named to the Order of Canada in 1980.

"But the Canadian Plywood Association has long since finished their tests and wants to move their offices into a more appropriate building. The CertiWood structure is not on any of the city's heritage lists, although staff had been considering it.

"The developer, Adera Equities, has taken a few stabs at a plan for the lot. In October of 2009, they brought forward a plan for a building with a floor surface ratio of 1.4 times the lot size, considerably larger than the 1 FSR settled on for the area by the recent Marine Drive planning study.

"Adera also managed to irritate several councillors by trying to drum up neighbourhood support for the larger design after it was rejected.

"The plans that were unanimously approved at city council June 28 call for three three-storey buildings with a total FSR of 1, as required by council. The developer also got approval for another 5,586 square feet of building in return for a range of environmental features. The townhouses will be the first residential building in British Columbia to be built to a LEED platinum standard. The project will include solar water heating, waste water heat recovery, and a particularly effective heating envelope.

"Although he voted in favour of the project, Coun. Rod Clark said he was unconvinced the city was getting enough in return for the density bonus. "It seems like a lot for environmental benefits," he said. "I don't see these as city benefits so much as for their marketing brochures. If we're giving up 12.5 per cent, I want to see benefits.

"This is a good project," said Coun. Craig Keating. "It adds to the neighbourhood. It's a beautiful building."
balldritt@nsnews.com

© Copyright (c) North Shore News (See Link 4.)

Demolition: Permit applied for in October 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link1:http://www.certiwood.com/

Link2:http://www.nsuc.ca/new_building/nbtf_pdf_files/canply_brochure.pdf
Link3:http://www.cofi.org/
Link4:http://www.burnabynow.com/story_print.html?id=3245608&sponsor=

Sunday Church Feature
Community United Methodist Church
Leavenworth, Washington

The  Community United Methodist Church at 418 Evans Street sits two blocks north of the Gazebo in the center square of the Bavarian style town of Leavenworth, Washington. It has been there for over 100 years.

"1907: Rev. Melvin Rumohr arrived on Memorial Day to organize a
                        Methodist church in Leavenworth.
             First service held a few weeks later with 20 people received
                        into membership.
           Sunday School began two months before his arrival, with five teachers
                       and nearly 40  children  attending.
           Annual conference held in September. Church incorporated as
                       First Methodist Episcopal  Church of Leavenworth, WA.
           Land purchased as building site for a church. Rev. Rumohr bought
                      adjacent lots and built a home for his family.
1908: Methodist Episcopal Ladies Aid Society organized.
          Choir organized by Mrs. Martel, a fine organist.
          Church built, at Evans and Whitman Streets. First services held Dec. 9.
1909: Church dedicated June 10, one of three Methodist churches in the
                     valley dedicated that day.  Others in Peshastin and Cashmere.
          Organ purchased. Bell installed in the belfry.
1912: Parsonage built.
1929: First women pastors appointed: Bertha Reich and Winifred Dove.
1946-49: Four lots purchased at Evans and Summit Streets for new, larger
                    church. Existing house on the land became the new parsonage.
         Church construction took three years; Rev. Rumohr was on the
                    building committee.
1949: First services held in new church on Easter Sunday. Rev. LaVern E.
                    Tooley was pastor; he built altar, pulpit and lectern.
1950: "Art" window installed in the sanctuary.
1954: New church dedicated, after mortgage was paid off (required before a
                    building can be dedicated).
1959: Golden Jubilee of the church celebrated (50 years after dedication of
                   first church). Rev. Rumohr participated.
1969: New parsonage purchased.
1986: Church exterior stuccoed.
1997: Celebrated 50th anniversary of laying the cornerstone of present church building.
2006: Lift installed for handicap access.
2007: Celebration of Centennial Year." (See Link.) 

Thank you: To Jane, church historian, for reference to history of Community United Methodist Church.
Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

For more information on Leavenworth, Washington see these Blog Posts:
        Saturday Travel Feature, "The Gazebo", November 6, 2010.      
        Sunday Church Feature, "St. Joseph's Catholic Church", November 7, 2010.
       Satuday Travel Feature, "FestHalle", November 13, 2010.

Saturday Travel Feature
FestHalle

Leavenworth, Washington

"Located in the beautiful Bavarian village of Leavenworth in the Eastern Cascade Foothills of Washington State, the Leavenworth Festhalle is a multiuse facility that includes a large 10,000 square foot open event hall, restrooms, lobby, and outside patio area.  Its planned usage includes festivals including Oktoberfest, Autumn Leaf festival, Accordion Festival, Leavenworth Summer Theater Productions, Sausage Fest, Wine Fest, River Fest, Upper Valley Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce functions, Cascade School District events, Weddings, etc.  The Festhalle is also available for use by large conferences, meetings, and large gatherings that may be coming to Leavenworth.  Services including facilities rental, logistics, catering, audio visual, and more may be arranged." (See Link.)

The FestHalle is the performance home of the Summer Theater group that is presenting "Amahl and the Night Visitors" this holiday season.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link: http://www.leavenworthfesthalle.com/     

   For more information on Leavenworth, Washington see these Blog Posts:

        Saturday Travel Feature, "The Gazebo", November 6, 2010.      

        Sunday Church Feature, "St. Joseph's Catholic Church", November 7, 2010.

        Sunday Church Feature, "Community United Methodist Church", 11/13/10.

Front, 426 East 1st Street

Friday, November 12, 2010

High on the Hill

The homes on the north side of the 400 block of East 1st Street are perched high on the hill with spectacular views of the Georgia Straight and across the water to Vancouver.  To get to the front door of the home at 426 East 1st Street you need to climb up 40  steep steps.  This home is not only one home, it is two.  The front home, 426,  is accessed from the steps on East 1st Street. The back home is much easier to enter as it is on the top of the hill and off the lane; this its address is 428 East 1st Street.

There are no listings of either address in the Building Permit Book or the 1950 or 1955 City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives.  But then in 1960 Robert N. and Florence Cumming were reported as the owners of 426 East 1st Street.  Robert Cumming worked as a laborer for North Vancouver City.  In 1971 the resident at 426 was Donald Read, a representative for Burroughs Business Machines.  In 1980 Henry Funk and Jean Stuedore were the residents of 426.  In 1991 an owner was reported at 426, Blair Holme.  In 1995/1996 426 was reported as being "Vacant".

Rear, 428 East 1st Street

The rear address on the house, 428 East 1st Street reported  residents in 1960, Avid E. and Beryl A. Safstron/m.  Avid Safstron worked as a crusher foreman at Dawson Wade and Company.  In  1971 the owner of 428 was H. Funk. (Note that in 1980 he  moved to the 426 address.)  In 1980 the 428 residents were Alex and Beth Fish.  In 1991 the 428 address was not listed in the City Directory.  In 1995/1995 the 428 owner was a truck driver, Tom McCaffrey.  He reported that he had owned the home for 4 years.

In October 2010 Rupert Legge applied for a Permit for Demolition of the 426 East 1st Street property.

Demolition: Permit applied for in October 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Remembrance Day
The Wall

This is a story of my family.  My grandmother, Marie,  was born on a farm in Petasky, Michigan.  She had 5 brothers and 4 sisters.  She moved to Wisconsin as a bride and died in 1952 at age 67 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.  My mother kept in touch with several of her brothers and sisters.  One of these was her Uncle Charlie who had moved to Rapid City South Dakota. In 1956 when I graduated from high school and my brother graduated from grade school my mother took us by train and then bus to visit the Black Hills, Yellowstone Park, and her Uncle Charlie.

I had heard about her Uncle Charlie over the years.  He and his 1st wife Kate had never had children.  Then in his 60's they were divorced and he married his second wife, the young Kate.  Kate had been a nurse in the Korean War.  Her 1st husband had been a pilot who was killed in that war.  She had a son, Alan, from that marriage. Kate and Uncle Charlie also had a son, of course, named Charlie. Charlie had red hair and freckles, was rambunctious and looked like "What me worry?"  This great gift to Uncle Charlie so late in his life became his life.  Alan was 9 and Charlie was about 5 when my mother, brother, and I visited this family.

Many years after this visit I heard that Charlie, the great gift to my mother's Uncle Charlie, was killed in Vietnam.  My prayers went out to Uncle Charlie in his grief and Kate who had suffered such a loss in the Korean War.

When the Vietnam War Memorial was installed in Washington D. C. an accompanying "Moving Wall"  went on tour.  The replica was true to the original, a long rambling wall of black with the names of those that sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War.  A soldier stood on guard with eyes on the wall. This "Moving Wall" came to Vancouver in 1988 and was mounted in Sunset Beach Park.  It was here that I visited the "Moving Wall".  I approached the soldier on guard who took me to the spot where "Charlie Reberg" was carved into the black surface.  I touched his name and thought of the little five year old with red hair and freckles and his parents who adored him.  And I prayed for them and all the other parents who had such a loss.

In 1998 the US Government offered rubbings of the names of those on the wall on request.  I gratefully received a copy of "Charlie Reberg" as it appears on "The Wall".  It can be seen in the photo below.

Each Remembrance Day, I remember.  I remember the sparkle in Uncle Charlie's eyes as he watched his five year old Charlie play in the front yard of their Rapid City home.  I remember that quietness of 9 year old Alan that seemed to reflect the death of his father in the Korean War. I think of the grief of young Kate and her double sacrifice.  And I pray for all the other families that have made this sacrifice.  Let us remember.

Photo: Taken of Suzanne Wilson's copy of "Charlie Reberg's" name on the Vietnam Memorial, "The Wall."
Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Memorial

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Doors of Green and Brown

Perhaps the duplex with the brown and green doors was not the first home to be built at 430/432 West 6th Street.  In this area north of the Native Lands and east of St. Thomas Catholic Church and school there is evidence that a home was at 430 West 6th Street in 1931. 

There is no building permit, but in the 1931 City Directory J. C. Haines was listed as the owner.  In 1940 his widow Mrs. Clara E. Haines was the owner of the home at 430 West  6th Street.  In 1945 and 1950 Don W. Smith Jr. and Margaret Smith were the owners at 430 West 6th Street.  In 1945 Don Smith worked as a welder for Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver.  In 1950 he was the general plantman at Home Oil Distributors.  In 1960 and 1971 Ambrose and Margaret Lee owned the house at 430 West 6th Street.  They were retired.  During all these years, 1931 to 1971 there was no listings for a 432 West 6th Street address.

Then in 1980, 430 West 6th Street was listed as "No Return" and 432 West 6th Street was a listing in the City Directory with Sian Lip and Hetty Boen as the owners.  In 1991 there was a listing for the 430 West 6th Street address; Nancy Findlater of Capilano College was the owner. However, the 432 West 6th Street address was reported as "Vacant".  Perhaps, it was just previous to 1980 that the duplex was built.

In the 1995/1996 City Directory both addresses were reported as occupied.  At 430 West 6th Street the residents were Hugh L. Soko a recording engineer at Freeland; Lori A. Duggan, a student; and Leslie Bogula, a student.  At the 432 West 6th Street address the occupants were Michael Porowski, working at Horen Services, and Lois Campbell, a truck driver at Horen Services.

In October 2010 Peter Mah applied for a demolition permit for the property at  430 West  6th Street.

Demolition: Permit applied for from the City of North Vancouver Oct. 2010.
Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Spence House

The white house with an attic space and a basement at 415 West 16th Street was built before 1939 by J. Spence.  In 1939 a permit for building a $40 garage was applied for.  And in 1941 a permit for building a $25 house addition was applied for. J. Spence had built a previous home in North Vancouver at 223 East 28th.  In 1915 he built a $1500 home there. In 1922 he added a $50 garage and a $50 house addition.  The Spence family lived in their 415 West 16th Street home until this year, at least 70 years.

In 1945 and 1950 J. and Martha Spence owned the house.  J. Spence worked as a driver for North Vancouver Cartage.  By 1960 the owners were Robert W. and Valera J. Spence. Robert W. Spence worked as a salesman for Dairyland.  Robert J. Spence, a student, also lived in the house.  In 1971 and 1980  Robert W. Spence was working as a salesman for the Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association, FVMPA.  In 1991 and 1995/1996 Robert W. and Valera Spence reported to the City Directory staff that they were retired. 

The 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory lists only V. J. Spence at the 415 West 16th Street address.  The company applying for a demolition permit in November of 2010 is A-1 Group of Companies Dev. Lt.

Demolition: Permit applied for from the City of North Vancouver in Nov. 2010.
Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.