Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Many Levels on Carisbrooke

The house with the spectacular view of Vancouver sat on the crest of Carisbrooke Crescent in the North Lonsdale area of North Vancouver District.  The  $9000 home at 270 Carisbrooke Crescent was built by J. Masterton in 1946.  Mina and James E. Masterton continued to own the house  until sometime in the 1960's.  In 1950 James Masterton worked as a salesman for Northern Electric.  And in 1960 he was working as a salesman for W. T Husband.

View of English Bay and Stanley Park

Then by 1960 another J. had bought the house.   In fact, John and Emily Kneip are listed in the Link web site as still running their Kneip Contraction Ltd., painting and decorating business from the 270 Carisbrooke Crecent address. That is more than 50 years of living at the same address. 

BBQ fireplace and flagstone type patio

BBQ fireplace and Sleepy Hallow

During that time many additions were constructed on the lot.  In the front yard there were both a wood and a stone retaining wall.  A grape arbor and bench were built on the west end of the lower level, as was a raised garden bed.  This level was enclosed with a wrought iron railing.  On the west side of the front of the house was built a carport, although the old driveway entrance to the lot remained on the east side.  The side yard was covered with decking with steps going down from the front and then up to the back patio and deck area.  Immediately behind the house was a flag stone design patio with a stone out door BBQ fireplace at the east end.  Behind that and up another level was the "U" shaped building with the sign "Sleepy Hallow".  The back part of the "U" had a metal garage type door.  Running along the east side of the lot and up a level was the fenced in deck with seating running along the side.  From here was the fantastic  view of Vancouver.  Behind "Sleepy Hallow" seemed to be a chain link dog run area.  All these specialized parking, deck, and patio areas made for lots of outdoor living for the Kneip family.

Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link:http://www.profilecanada.com/companydetail.cfm?company=2163671_Ray_Contracting_Ltd_North_Vancouver_BC

Monday, December 6, 2010

1911 West Keith Road Home

Way before the decorative cement front wall and the distinctive gate were installed the house at 420 West Keith Road was built.  The year was 1911 and the owner M. Knight built it for $1200. There is no more mention of M. Knight; he is not listed in either the 1912 or 1913 City Directories.  And in the 1925 and 1935 City Directories the property is listed as "Vacant".

But the house came alive again in 1940 with the owners being E. J. and Lucy Quinn.  E. J. Quinn was employed as a laborer at Burrard Dry Dock.    In 1950 Walter R. and Ida A.  Hamilton were the residents.  Walter Hamilton worked in real estate and as a notary public at 541 Pender St. in Vancouver.  In 1960 the owner was the widow Mrs. G. Kerr who worked as a filler at Canadian Pittsburgh Paint International. Other residents at that time were B. F and Dorothy Spicer and Erhard and Irma Grundler.  B. F. Spicer and Erhard Brundler both worked as pipefitters at Burrard Dry Dock.

In 1970 the owners of 420 West Keith Road were Ralph M. and Gwendoline Bury.  Ralph Bury worked as a mate at Seaspan International.  Talrinder and Sruuinder Singh were also residents in the 420 West Keith Road home.  Talfinder Singh was employed at L and K Sawmill.  Ralph and Gwendoline Bury continued to own the home in 1980, 1991, and 1995/1996.  By 1991 Ralph Bury was a master at Seaspan International, and in 1995/1996 he is listed as an employee. There were no other residents in 1980 and 1991.  Then in 1995/1996 two other residents are listed in the City Directory.  One was Sheila Haggerty a food server at Lions Gate Hospital.  The other was a retired man, Colin C. Adams.  The 1999/2000 and 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories indicate that the Bury family continued to live at 420 West Keith at least until the 2006/2007 edition.  G. Bury was listed in 1999/2000 and L. and R. Bury were listed in 2006/2007.

Rezoning Application: In November 2010 "to permit construction of two new duplex buildings, one in the front and one in the back, with the front building containing two accessory rental units.  The two front units would each contain three bedrooms...the two rear units would each contain two bedroom..." North Shore News.

Photo: Taken in November, 2010 by SW.

Link http://www.cnv.org/attach/2010%2010%2025%20item%2009%20attach%2007.pdf

Sunday Church Feature
St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Victoria, B.C.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is located in downtown Victoria B.C. at the corner of Douglas and Broughton Streets, not far from the Inner Harbour. It is the oldest continuing Presbyterian Church (1889) and congregation (1866) in Victoria. "The architect was Leonard Buttress Trimen. The architecture is said to be of Castellated Scottish Baronial style. With its stepped gables, massive tower and sturdy doors (See photo below.) it is easy to agree with the castellated designation ." (See Link 2.) 

Front doors

 "The first organ installed for the Congregation of St. Andrew’s dates back to 1879, and that organ was installed by the S. R. Warren and Son organ builders from Toronto, Ontario. That organ had to be shipped to Victoria by sea around the Cape Horn and was reported to be the finest and largest in the Province at that time. From its earliest home to the present, the organ has undergone a number of revisions, rebuilds and upgrades. Those revisions and upgrades saw the transformation of the original organ, wind powered by a water-engine and with a disposition of 21 stops to its current version of 72 speaking stops of which 37 are pipes and the remainder digital, all available through a beautiful Rogers Organ console installed in 2001.

"The organ contains 2190 pipes, and the latest rank installed was the Trumpet 8′ built by Casavant Organ builders in Quebec, Canada. The pipe work still uses 3 ranks from the original Warren organ and was built by the Walker organ company in 1872.

                                                         Altar and pipe organ

"St Andrew’s was fortunate to be able to obtain a number of ranks of pipes from Christ Church Cathedral as the Cathedral replaced their organ with a new tracker instrument. Those ranks were from the English organ builder Hill Norman and Baird and added greatly to the current ensemble.

"The organ is cared for and maintained by Grant Smalley. The current organist and music director at St. Andrew’s is Douglas Hodgkinson." (See Link 1.)

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church sits at 680 Courtenay Street in the heart of downtown Victoria, B.C.  It is an easy walk from the B.C. Parliament Buildings, The Empress Hotel, and the B.C. Provincial Museum.

Photo: Top photo of church and of church doors taken in 2004 by SW. 

              Photo of altar and pipe organ from Link.

Link 1: http://standrewsvictoria.ca/
Link 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zedzap/4291592520/

Saturday Travel Feature

B.C. Parliament Buildings

Victoria, B.C.

"The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and serve as the seat of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia...

"The Neo-baroque buildings face north on Belleville street facing the Inner Harbour and diagonally across from The Empress Hotel. A large statue of Queen Victoria stands on the front lawn as well a statue of a soldier to commemorate the province's World War I, World War II and Korean War dead. Atop the central dome is a gold-covered statue of Captain George Vancouver. Free guided tours of the facility are offered year- round...

"From 1856 to 1860 the Legislature of the Colony of Vancouver Island sat at Bachelor's Hall at Fort Victoria.^[1] From 1860 to 1898 it was housed in the first permanent building at Legislative Hall or Birdcages (burned down 1957)...^2]

"The main block of the Parliament Buildings combines Baroque details with Romanesque Revival rustiction. 

Construction of a nw Parliament Building was first authorized by an act of the provincial legilature in 1893, the Parliament Buildings Construction Act.
"...the original budget was $500,000 the final amount was $923,000—the British Columbia Parliament Buildings were officially opened in 1898^[4]. The grand scale of its 500-ft (152-m) long andesite façade^[5], central dome and two end pavilions, the richness of its white marble, and combination of Baroque rigorous symmetry, use of domes and sculptural massing with the rusticated surfaces of the currently popular Romanesque Revival style contributed to its being an innovative and impressive monument for the young province. Its success garnered Rattenbury many more commissions in Victoria and other parts of the province, including the Legislative Library 1913-1915, the design of The Empress Hotel, the Crystal Gardens indoor swimming pool nearby, and the Vancouver Court House (now the Vancouver Art Gallery). The andesite of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings is from Haddington Island in the Alert Bay Volcanic Belt.^[6] The granite used to build the buildings came from Nelson Island, at the mouth of Jervis Inlet, on the Sunshine Coast." (See Link 1.)

Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Window

in the B.C. Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C.

The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50 years as monarch and an opportunity for her to officially and personally thank her people for their loyalty. (See Link 3.)

"The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (French: Médaille du jubilé de la Reine Elizabeth II) was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. The medal was physically identical in all realms where it was awarded, save for Canada, where it contained unique elements; as an internationally distributed award, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal holds a different place in each country's order of precedence for honours.

"The medal was administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall and was awarded to Canadians who made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada over the previous fifty years.^[2] Various organizations were invited to propose the names of candidates for the medal; this included all levels of Canadian government, educational and cultural organizations, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, veterans' groups, sports associations, and philanthropic and charitable bodies.^{[1]"  (See Link  2.)}

Note: Suzanne Wilson received a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for her Year 2000 Project, Your House/Our Home, donated to and on view at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives. 

Demolished: First Legislative Hall burned down in 1957.Photos: Taken in 2003 by SW.

Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Parliament_Buildings

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_II_Golden_Jubilee_Medal

Link 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II

245 East 3rd Street-West end of building

Friday, December 3, 2010

ANAVETS On East Third

This ANAVET sponsored building is one of three identical buildings for veterans, their spouses and seniors, just two blocks from Lonsdale Avenue in the Lower Lonsdale shopping area of North Vancouver.  It proudly displays the ANAVET logo at the west entrance on the front of the building.  There are 29 apartments in the 245 East 3rd Street building.  It is the building farthest to the east and the only one of the three buildings presently slated for demolition.  The other two buildings are 235 East 3rd Street and 225 East 3rd Street located on the corner of East 3rd and St. Georges Avenue.

"New ANAVETS Seniors’ Housing (is) proposed. Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans formed the Senior Citizens’ Housing Society in 1967 with a mandate to provide safe, clean, and affordable housing to army veterans, their spouses, and seniors on a fixed income. That same year ANAVETS opened its first project at 225 East 3rd in North Van, adding two adjacent low-rise buildings at 235 and 245, in 1968...

245 East 3rd Street-East end of building

"The aging, wood frame structures are also not up to fire code regulations... Over the past decade ANAVETS has been working with the City of North Vancouver to come up with a plan for the site. They have since partnered with local developer Intracorp and now have a formal proposal that will be presented to council next week.

"The plans call for the construction of an $11-million, 76-unit seniors’ rental building to replace the three existing buildings. ANAVETS will retain ownership of the land on which the seniors’ housing will be built, and then sell the rest of the site to Intracorp, thereby funding approximately 75 per cent of the project...

"The rents are not subsidized at the North Van ANAVETS buildings, with residents paying $412 a month for a 325- square-foot bachelor suite. A new building, however, would allow residents to qualify for the provincial government’s Shelter Aid For Elderly Residents program.

"Intracorp is also proposing to build a 104-unit, market-value condominium project on the western portion of the site. An amendment to the city’s Official Community Plan would need to be made before the five-storey building can be approved.

"The entire project would be implemented in two stages, starting with the residents of 245 East 3rd St. being moved into vacant suites in the other two buildings. The 245 building would then be demolished and construction would start on the seniors’ housing.

"Once that project is completed and the seniors have moved in, the two remaining buildings will be demolished and replaced with the new market-value building." (See Link.)

Demolition: Permit for demolition of only 245 East 3rd Street applied for in
                 November 2010.
Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.
Link:http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/northshoreoutlook/news/103542354.html

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Wartime Home on 4th Street  

The house at 549 East 4th Street was one of the many homes built in 1941 as Wartime Housing.  "February 28, 1941, Wartime Housing Limited (WHL) was incorporated. It will build rental units across Canada for war industry workers. On the north shore 750 single family homes will be built, as well as barracks-type apartments for single workers, Westview School, a recreation centre, and a fire hall. (The houses were supposed to have been removed at the end of the War, but 135 units survive, some into the 1990s.)" (See Link 1.)  The original homes were on one floor and had a living room, two bedrooms, and a kitchen.  The Wartime House at 549 East 4th Street had additional rooms but  survived until 2010.

In 1945 the City Directory lists the residents as R. J. and Alice E. Miller.  Roy Miller was employed at NVSH.  In 1950 the owners were Hugh R. and Mildred A. Gwynn.  Hugh Gwynn was an engineer at C H Cates.    In 1960 Mrs. Beda J. Jacobson, widow of F. Jacobson was the owner. 

In 1971  Ronald G. and Gayle Y. Assaf were the owners.  Ronald Assaf was an electrician at S. Glover Electric.  Mrs. Gaye Y. Assaf was a secretary at Kariboo Industries.  In 1980 the owners were Stan and Marguerite Patykewich.  Stan Patykewich worked as a floor covering salesman.

About 1987 Mike N. Edel became the owner.  He lived there until at least 1995/1996 and worked as a technician at Chubb Alarms.  In 1995/1996 Lyndi Ainsworth was also a resident at 549 East 4th Street.  She was the accounts manager at AD Team Marketing 1986 Inc.

A new home will be built by Blake Developments.  (See Link 2.)

Reference:  To see photos of other Wartime Housing see City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.

Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.

Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link 1: http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology1941.htm

Link 2: http://blakedevelopments.ca/Blakedevelopments.ca/Welcome.html



Happy 43rd Wedding Anniversary Alan and Suzanne

First Methodist Church of Hollywood,

Hollywood, California

The First Methodist Church of Hollywood (now called Hollywood United Methodist Church)  at 6817 Franklin Ave. is just north of Hollywood Boulevard and Grauman's Chinese Theater. It is also on the corner with North Highland Boulevard which was in the opening scene of "The Godfather". To the west of the main church (the door entrance can be seen on the left end of the photo above) is a smaller Chapel and parlor.  Between the two is a patio lined with 10 foot high poinsettia plants that have been donated over the years.  The formal Chapel and large parlor has many Spanish architectural features and much heavy dark wood.

"The vision for Hollywood United Methodist Church as "a sanctuary of hope" began back in 1909 when the first congregants started to organize. Eventually with an ever-expanding business community and a growing congregation, a bold step was undertaken to purchase a lot on the corner of Highland and Franklin Avenues at the base of the Hollywood Hills, and to build a new home.

"Construction began in 1927, with the Recreational Building built first to house the congregation's worship services, after which the Sanctuary and Education Building would be constructed. A series of set backs challenged the congregation during construction, including the discovery of soft, unstable ground on the site for the Sanctuary. Monstrous holes were dug by workers who labored 65-feet below ground. To stabilize the footing and foundation, massive pits and wells were filled with enough concrete to equal 15 railroad freight cars.

"The congregation's faith and perseverance was finally rewarded on March 16, 1930. The majestic building was unveiled to enthusiastic acclaim, launching its distinguished reign as a Hollywood landmark. An historic postcard describes the church building as "...one of the most famous churches on the Pacific coast," with an atmosphere of "...reverence in symbolic beauty and compelling stillness."In December 1981 the church was declared Historic-Cultural Monument #248 by the City of Los Angeles."(See Link 1.)

 The Vancouver Sun

      Saturday, February 9, 2008

      Arts and Life, Section E

      Weekend Mix

       ‘Wedding Plans and Memories’

Suzanne Wilson

My husband of 40 years and I were eating breakfast and reading the weekend Sun and National Post  at The 80’s Restaurant in North Vancouver when the phrase “caught the bride’s bouquet” “caught” my eye. 

Yes, “I still remember when ‘we’ got married like it was yesterday”.  I especially remember throwing my bouquet.  And I most certainly remember “who caught it”.



Alan and I were married in the chapel of the First Methodist Church of Hollywood December 1, 1967.  The reception followed in the church parlor across the hall.  When it was time to throw the bouquet I climbed the beautiful Spanish tile staircase.  I turned around and I threw the flowers over my head. The bouquet flew. I looked to see who would catch it. My friend’s faces turned upward, arms raised in anticipation, and then they stopped. There was the bouquet, “caught” by the six sided chandelier that lit up the hall. 



A pole to open high church windows was fetched and the bouquet tumbled from the chandelier and was “caught” by a good friend and neighbor.  It did its magic.  She was married the following summer at Knott’s Berry Farms.  She threw her bouquet from a staircase on a fake exterior facade.  There was no chandelier, only a young girl to “catch” it.

Photo: Top photo of First Methodist Church of  Hollywood, thank you to cardcow.com

Link: http://www.hollywoodumc.org/History-Hollywood-United-Methodist-Church.aspx