Friday, December 10, 2010
Swedish Canadian Rest Home

The original building at 1690 Main Street in North Vancouver District was a Public Building/Dance Hall built for $1500 by the Swedish Community in 1928.  In 1944 A. Gjerdaleau applied for a Building Permit to construct a $1,500 house on the property. In 1947 the Swedish Rest Home applied for Building Permit to build a  second home there. This one was valued at $3,500.  And in 1947 there was an application was for a Public Building/Rest Home worth $40,000.

"The three Highway District buildings (the later owners of the buildings-See Link.) were originally the Canadian Rest Home, located on the north side of Main St. on Cutter Island.  Here the Seymour River divided into two branches which flowed around the island, came together again, and flowed into Burrard Inlet.

"Construction of the main rest home and the two small cottages was completed in 1948.  In the late 1950's the land and the buildings were expropriated to make way for the new Second Narrows Bridge.  The west channel of the river was filled in in 1956.  From the early 1960'a until the summer of 2000  the buildings served as offices for the provincial  highways department." (See Reference.)

Over the years the B. C. Government Department of Highways offices at 1690 Main Street included numerous departments:Regional Office, Highway Patrol, Regional Bridge Maintenance, Bridge Patrol, Public Works, Regional Surfacing, Regional Soils, Regional Right-Of-Way, Regional Maintenance,  and Regional Paving.

The three buildings were a distinctive part of the North Vancouver landscape in that they sat in the center of the Exit 23A cloverleaf on the turn off to Main Street in North Vancouver.  Since their demolition only the occasional deer or seasonal randomly decorated Christmas tree is seen there.

Reference: NV Archives photo description Key # 21667.
Demolition: Of all three buildings in 2001.
Photos: Black and White from Roll #9, 2001 Demolition and Construction Project by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives. Colored photo from slide #15465 at the North Vancouver Archives.

Thursday, December 9, 2010
St. George's Stately Home

This stately corner home at 2048 St. Georges Avenue in the City of North Vancouver was built for $6,500 in 1946 by the owner M. E. Leighton.  The architect was J. Blackadder. The Blackadder name was well known in North Vancouver for being part of the architectural team with MacKay that built many homes in the early 1900's as well as the Dundarave Block on Lonsdale Avenue.   Several of these can be seen on the pages of the City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory, 1994. (See Reference.) Many of these homes had the distinctive Tudor style front facade strapping, as did 2048 St. Georges Avenue.  Also note the leaded glass on both the first and second storey dormer windows.

James S. and Margaret E. Leighton continued to be the owners in 1950,  James Leighton worked as the manager of P. L. Christoper and Sons. 
By 1960 James McB and Muriel H. Ross were the owners of 2048 St. Georges Avenue.  James Ross was the manager of Ross Engineering.

By 1971 Arthur L. and Gwen H. Hardy were the owners of the Tudor style home.   They continued to own the home until at least their listing in the 1995/1996 City Directory.  In 1971 Arthur Hardy was the secretary/treasurer at Hardy's Lumber.  By 1980 Arthur and Gwen Hardy reported that they were retired.

The stately home at 2948 St. Georges Avenue was demolished soon after the year 2000. Two homes were built on the lot.  A larger one faces St. Georges Avenue and a smaller one  faces East 21st Street.


Reference: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory, 1994 pages 61, 77, 110,
                       115, 132, 154.
Demolition: Soon after the year 2000.
Photo: Taken  for the  Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home
                      by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

At the Edge of the Forest

The original house at 1210 Dempsey Road sat on the edge of the forest at the crest of Dempsey Road.  The little white house was at the northern border of the District of North Vancouver to the west of Mountain Highway.  It was built in 1948 for $3,750 by W. D. McRae. IN 1952 D. R. Thompson made an $800 alteration.  And in 1958 D. R. Thompson  applied for a Building Permit for a $2000 house at that location.  In 1960 Doug R. and Hazel A. L. Thompson were still the owners of the house.  Doug Thompson worked as a transit operator at B.C. Electric.

By 1971 the owner was Mrs. Jessie I. Dunn.  Jessie Dunn was employed by General Paint as a computer typer supervisor.  In 1980 the owners were John R. and Janet L. Mee.  John was employed as a manager at P. Lawson Travel.

By the mid 1980's the Paul and Janine Crocock had bought the 1210 Dempsey Road home.   Janine Crocock was also listed as living at the 1210 Dempsey Road address in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory.  Both in 1991 and 1995/1996 Paul Crocock stated that he worked as  an adjuster at ICBC.  During that time Janine stated that she worked as a travel agent at No 1.

The real estate ad in the Link below listed  the house for sale for $698,000.  The house sat on a 9,230 sq. ft. lot with a partial view of the city.  The 2144 sq. ft. home had three bedrooms and one bedroom. The lot is located in the east end of the Braemar subdivision, backed by the greenbelt.  The Link shows interior photos of this Dempsey Road home.

Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link http://www.realestatenorthshore.com/property-3102.php

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