Christmas Eve Special Feature
Juergenmeyers on Taylor Street
225 Taylor Street
Kaukauna, Wisconsin

This two storey home with the basement and broad front porch was the home of  Martin, Marie, and Hazel Juergenmeyer in the 1920's and early 1930's.
Martin Juergenmeyer ran a small bus company between Kaukauna and Appleton.  After their daughter Hazel was married in 1934, Martin and Marie Juergenmeyer rented out the house and moved to Seymour, Wisconsin.  Here Martin bought a Phillip's 66 Gas Station (See Blog Post Saturday Travel Feature, "Phillips 66 in Seymour", Saturday, March 20, 2010) and built a house attached to the back.  Marie and Martin planted statice on part of the acreage behind the house and sold it to the local funeral parlor for floral presentations. 

When Martin died in 1948 his wife Marie moved back to the house at 225 Taylor Street in Kaukauna.   The house was modified for her to live upstairs and she continued to rent out the downstairs.  An enclosed stairway and entrance porch was added to the back of the house to protect her from climbing the stairs in the snowy Wisconsin winter.  The upstairs apartment had a  large square hall leading to the living room that looked out to Taylor street and a kitchen, to a bedroom, and to a bathroom.

The downstairs was rented to Bill and Betty Roerig.  Here is Bill's description of their time on 225 Taylor Street. "225 Taylor Street is the source of many fond memories. It was our first home... We arrived in Kaukauna very newly married--August 22, 1948--and the promise of a house to rent from a local dry cleaner. In going in to get the key, etc., we were informed that they had changed their mind. Now what? On leaving the store we bumped into a local police officer who told us that your grandmother in Seymour was planning to move back to Kaukauna. So, off we went to Seymour, introduced ourselves to your grandma who told us that there had already been 14 folks ahead of us. Oh boy! She did not seem very friendly but asked us what church we intended to join. Knowing that Kaukauna was mostly Catholic we quietly said we were Lutheran. She asked if we would be willing to take her to church [Trinity] from time to time and of course we said, certainly. The rest is 7 years of a very good relationship, especially for Betty as your grandmother acted as a mother figure for a young girl 220 miles from home for the first time---

"At first we shared the bath upstairs for a year, or so, and after a  couple of awkward incidents I put a toilet and a shower in the basement. Your grandma bought a TV, wonder of wonders, and she would invite us up there for a 30 minute program, much to our delight... In 1955 we began building our own home on the South Side of Kaukauna and our relationship with your grandma was coming to the end. She had lost her health and , I believe, was hospitalized for a short period. After being discharged from the hospital she went to stay with her old friend, a Mrs. Clough (sic). She then wanted to return to her own home and with the help of a friend of mine we managed to bring her up the outside stairs to her own bed. Betty helped care for her, read to her, prayed with her almost to the end. I do not recall the details of that period since I was busy building and teaching. We treasured those years with your grandma who was a "no nonsense", lovable lady...


"The house faced North and the lower rooms were oriented as follows; The kitchen was in the southeast corner with the rear entrance on the south side. Entry was at ground level with maybe 3 steps up to the kitchen and several steps down into the basement. ( I was in charge of keeping the furnace going where I once blew the furnace door off , not knowing how to handle Pocahontas(sic) coal----also, if grandma needed heat upstairs in the morning there were several thumps on the floor to rouse me out of my slug-a-bed laziness---one night, due to my lack of knowledge about coal, we burned coke at home, I found myself on the roof  stamping out sparks from a chimney fire).---The northeast room was designed for a dining area but was used for a living room since there was no suitably large room for a master bedroom which , in turn, was the northwest corner with access through French doors. The stairway to the upstairs was in the south center off the "master bedroom" and a smaller southwest bedroom which became the boy's room.

"The basement consisted of a cistern to the right of the stairs, the furnace was the octopus style in the center of the basement, the coal bin was in the northwest corner and  a small room in the northeast corner served later as a shower and toilet..." (Bill Roerig 2010.)

In 2010 Zestimate (See Link.) reported that the 2009 tax assessor's value of the house was $94,000.  The lot size was listed as 7,405 sq. ft.

The house at 225 Taylor Street was the home of Suzanne Wilson's grandparents and her mother Hazel.  Suzanne has vivid memories of her grandmother, Marie, living in the upstairs apartment and the Roerigs.  Marie is the middle name of both Suzanne Wilson and her granddaughter Holly Misner.


Thank You: To Bill Roerig for his memories of 225 Taylor Street.

Photo: Taken in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in 2006 by SW.
Link: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/225-Taylor-St-Kaukauna-WI-54130/69784528_zpid/

Thursday, December 23, 2010

98 Years Old 

The symmetrical house at 648 West 15^th Street was built in 1910 by Mr. Syver Christenson and Mr. Standal.  Mr. Standal also built the second house from the north-east corner of 15^th and Bewicke. The Vance House that was at the east end of the 600 West 15th Street block was built  in the same year.  George W. Vance was North Vancouver Mayor 1917 to 1921. 

Mr. Christenson came to Canada  from a small town outside of Oslo, Norway before 1903. He first worked at Pete Larson’s Hotel on Esplanade, then as a logger, and finally as a laborer for North Vancouver City.  He retired from the City in 1948 and died in 1951. Martha Hanson arrived in North Vancouver from the same town in Norway in 1903.  She and Syver married on July 24, 1907.  Martha  worked for Reeve Keely.  She died in 1945.  Syver and Martha lived at 648 West 15^th until their deaths.

 Gladys with her mother, father, and a friend on the front porch

of 648 West 15^th Street, North Vancouver, 1925.

Gladys Christenson was born in the bedroom of the 15^th Street house on September 27, 1916.  The midwife Mrs. Ellingson (who lived at West 18th and Lonsdale) not only delivered her but also became her Godmother and gave her a silver spoon.  Gladys’ brother,  George Martin was born in 1912, but died from meningitis in January 15^th 1915 . He was named after George Martin the doctor that delivered him with the assistance of Mrs. Ellingson.  Gladys' sister, Helene, was born in a house next to the Palace Hotel on 2^nd Street in 1908.  She lived until May 14^th, 1992.

Gladys went to Queen Mary School and North Vancouver High School. Gladys  walked and played on the  wooden sidewalks of the 15^th Street area.  She roller skated on the paved road to Ambleside Beach or the Capilano River to swim and coming back would sometimes walk along the PGE tracks. She and her sister went to Napolean St. Pierre, the man with the snake, to have their fortunes told.  Almost everything he predicted for her sister came true. Gladys attended Girl Guides in a building near St. John’s Anglican Church.

Because her home was on West 15^th, Gladys was also the neighbor of the George Washington Vance family. Gladys’ little brother would give Mr. Vance flowers for his button-hole. He would always accept them, even if it was only a dandelion. George Vance and his wife Catherine had two daughters, Leila and Thelma.  Gladys played with Leila’s daughter Thelma.  They remained friends throughout their lives.  When Thelma died, her nephew gave Gladys a painting from Hong Kong that hung in their home and he remembered Gladys admiring. 

On August 3, 1940 Gladys married William Downie Jr.  William was born on Helmcken Street in Vancouver July 14^th, 1912.  When he was nine months old his family moved to the house on West 15th St. and Bewicke Avenue that had been built by Mr. Standal. 

Gladys and William  Downie first met while he was playing baseball on the grounds of Queen Mary School and when riding the ferry from North Vancouver to Vancouver.  They first lived at 438 East 5^th St. in North Vancouver.  The house was owned by Capt. Renollf who worked on the ferry to Vancouver.  It was where the Ridgeway School Annex now stands.  They moved back to 648 West 15^th Street in 1946 following the death of Gladys’ mother.  William worked for Houlden Transfer for thirty five years.  He also worked at Burrard Shipyards  until 1977. He died on May 19, 1990 at his West 15^th Street home.

May 15, 1941 Gladys gave birth to twins at the old Lion’s Gate Hospital.  William donated three pints of blood to her during the difficult births.  There was no blood bank in North Vancouver at that time. Her son, Ray, was seven pounds and six ounces.  Her daughter, Patricia Lynn was smaller and sadly did not survive.

Gladys lived at 648 West 15^th street for  78 of her 84 years.  Her son Ray, grandsons Chris and Daryl, and great-granddaughter Raina, born July 21, 1998, all live in North Vancouver as well. They call her “Bama” and she makes them “Everyday Cookies”.  Gladys  traded stamps with Zena O’Neil of Christ Church New Zealand since 1950. The life long pen pals never met.

Gladys’ remarkable memory for dates pepper the account of her life on West 15^th Street in the City of North Vancouver. (This interview was conducted for the Year 2000 Project by Suzanne Wilson.)

Glady's Downie's home was demolished in 2008  and two new houses have been built.  648 West 15th Street in on the front part of the lot and 650 West 15th Street is in back of it.

For more about the Downie's see Blog Post December 22, "Presbyterians and Black Sheep".

Demolition: House demolished in 2008.

Photos: Top photo taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your
                 House/Our Home by SW. 
                 Donated by Glady's Downie: Gladys with her mother, father, and a
                              friend on the front porch of 648 West 15^th Street,
                              North Vancouver, 1925.
                               

Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Presbyterians and Black Sheep

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was given a permit to be built on this site at 121 East 12th Street  in 1933.  The architect was O. Ormrod.  The cost of the building was projected to be $2,500.  The first listing of the church in the City Directory was 1934. On  October 20, 1944 John Gibson and Dorothy Bissett were married there.  In 1950 the Pastor was the Rev. H. A. Berlis.

In 1955 it became a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall and remained so  until it was run as the Black Sheep Restaurant from 1976 to 2000.  The site is now that of a twelve unit apartment complex.

West side of Black Sheep Restaurant

August 3, 1940 Gladys Christianson and William Downie Jr. (See Blog Post December 22, 2010.)  were married in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.  Their's was a wedding with a very special guest.

Around the time of the wedding William's best friend, Dave Richie, had been part of the crew on the ship Ontario Light.  The ship was in Perambucal, Brazil when he became ill.  The captain called for a doctor to come from shore, but by the time he arrived on board Dave had died from a kidney  ailment. 

The day of the wedding William did not yet know of the death of his friend.  But he did know that the last time he had seen him Dave had said, "I'll have to dance at your wedding."

Dave's mother, dad, sister Grace, and Dave's dog Punch lived at 17 or 18^th and Grand Boulevard. Punch was mostly spaniel, black with a bit of white. Before they left to go to the wedding the family put Punch in the basement. 

While Gladys and William were in front of the church at the alter they could hear a scuffling.  Then the pastor, Rev. McLean-Bell said, "What do we have here?"

Gladys and William Downie, 1940

Gladys and William looked down and there was Punch between them. 

Grace left the wedding and took the dog home, but Punch had done his best to help Dave keep his word. (From research at the North Vancouver Archives and interview with Gladys Downie for the Year 2000 Project, Your House/Our Home.)

Demolition: The building was demolished in the year 2000.
Note: An apartment building was constructed on this site.

Photo: Top photo of the Black Sheep Restaurant taken in 2000 by SW. 

               Wedding photo of Gladys and William Downie Jr.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Demolished and Raised

It seems that the house at 654 West 15th Street has been demolished at least to the bare bones. (See photo below.)  The front steps and roof entrance have been demolished and moved.  The house has been raised and the lower floor windows seem to indicate the possibility of a basement suite.  The old structural wood seems possibly part of the original home.  The City web site (See Link 1.) indicates that a  $310,000 alteration was approved in 2009.

December 2010

There is no listing in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives of the 654 West 15th Street address.  There is also no listing in the 1945 City Directory.  However, in the 1950 issue Alfred E. and Katharine Mason are listed as the owners. They are also listed as the owners in 1960, 1971, and 1980.  In 1960 Alfred Mason was employed at Burrard Dry Dock. Alfred Mason was also employed there in 1971 when he was working as a shipwright. And by 1980 he was an assistant dock master at BDD.

In 1991 the owner of 654 West 15th Street was P. Townsley.  And in 1995 D. MacArthur reported that he had owned the house for 4 years. D.H. MacArthur was also listed at that address in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory.

The web site BChomez.com indicates there is a second home on the 654 West 15th Street property.  This new 1231 square foot  home located at the back of the lot is for sale for $579,000.  The two storey home has 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a double garage. (See Link 2.)

Photos: Top photo taken as part of the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your

                 House/Our Home by SW. Bottom photo taken in December 2010 by SW.

Link 1:http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/2/88/2009%20DECEMBER%20ISSUED%20BUILDING%20PERMITS.PDF

Link 2:http://bchomez.com/654-west-15th-street-north-vancouver-hamilton-v857357-homes-for-sale-vancouver-real-estate/

Monday, December 20, 2010
At Least Since 1925

The two storey house at 211 East 18th Street was built by 1925. Although the address is not listed in the Building Permit Book, there is a listing in the 1925 City Directory.  In 1925 Johan and Alberta Johanson were listed at the 211 East 18th Street address.  Johan Johanson worked as a carpenter.  Alberta Johanson worked as a stenographer at Rankin and Chirell.  

In 1931 the owners were John and Jean Kirkness.  John C. Kirkness worked as a meat cutter.  Jean Kirkness worked as a clerk at Woodwards.  The owners in 1941 were John C. and Ann R. Kirkness.  John C. Kirkness was a ticket collector for the North Vancouver Ferries. Marion A. Kirkness, a B.C. Tel operator, was also a resident, as was Robert B. Kirkness, an apprentice at North Shore Press.

In 1950 the owners of 211 East 18th Street were Fredrick H. and Gertrude F. Smith.  Fredrick Smith was employed as an accountant at the Bank of Montreal.  By 1960 the owners were Alan G. and Dora Harrison.  Alan Harrison was employed as a packer at Eaton's Department Store.  In 1971  the owner was Johann M. Olson, a student.  By 1980 both Johann M. and Beryle E. Olson, retired, were the owners. 

By 1991 C. Wong was the owner of 211 East 18th Street.  C. Wong reported to the City Directory in 1995 that he had owned the property for five years.

211 East 18th Street was demolished in 2006 for $9,000 by D and S Bulldozing Ltd. (See Link.)

Demolition: 2006.
Photo: Black and white photo taken in 2006 by SW as part of the Demolition and Construction Project, Roll #69 Negative #20, available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link: http://www.cnv.org/c//DATA/2/88/2006%20JUNE%20ISSUED%20BUILDING%20PERMITS%20REPORT.PDF

Sunday Church Feature
St. John the Divine Historic Church
Yale, B.C.

"Located at the southern entrance to the spectacular Fraser Canyon, the town of Yale is one of southwestern British Columbia's oldest and most historic communities, having been the bustling steamship navigation capital during the Gold Rush. (Link 1.)

"Founded as a Hudson's Bay fort in 1848, Yale rose to prominence as the inland terminus of the Fraser River sternwheelers and a waystation for those travelling up and down the Fraser River.


"Like many towns in British Columbia, Yale's fortunes followed that of the Gold Rush. In 1858 gold was discovered on a gravel bar just 2 miles south of Yale on the Fraser River. This place was soon known as Hill's Bar named after the prospector who found gold there. The discovery of gold caused a massive influx of people to pour into the region from all over the world, the majority of which came from the California Gold Rush of 1849. At the height of Gold Fever in 1858, this town boasted 20,000 residents.
 
"During the period of railway construction in the 1880's Yale became the main supply centre for all the work in the Cascade Division of British Columbia. The railway that now passes right through the middle of Yale in front of the museum and church is the Canadian Pacific Railway.
 
"Today the residents of Yale number only 200. Though the gold ran out, Yale continued prospering, as it still does today as a forestry and service centre."(See Link 4.)

"St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Yale, BC. built in 1863 is one of the oldest churches in the province. Much of the church is still original, including the bell tower steeple and the pews. The Church was associated with the All Hallows Anglican girls school, which operated in Yale from 1884 to 1920. The Church is now de-sanctified and designated as a Provincial Heritage Site.
An exhibition entitled "Enduring Threads" was prepared by Jennifer Iredale  in 2003.  It included   handmade liturgical textiles from St. John the Divine Church  dating back to the time of its origins in the 1860s.   The catalogue is available from the Yale Museum." (See Link 1.)

"While it is still not possible to attribute each piece from the Enduring Threads exhibit to its individual creators, it is now clear that they were made by First Nations and European students together with the nuns at All Hallows Anglican girls' school, which operated in Yale from 1884-1920. Three nuns from All Hallows convent  in Ditchingham, England (an order known for its fine ecclesiastical embroidery) arrived in British Columbia in 1884 to establish a school for First Nations girls from Lytton, Spuzzum and Yale, with a stun of money First Nations people had earned on construction of the railway, which they turned over to the Anglican church, says Ms. Iredale, quoting from newspaper articles of the time. A school for European girls was soon established next door at the request of settlers." (See Link 2.)

For original architectural plans and details see Link 3.

 Photo: Taken in Yale, B.C. in 2005 by SW.
Link1:http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/cura/projects/liturgical_textiles/home.html
Link2:http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Housekeeping+task+turns+up+treasures.-a0112244682
Link 3:http://www.bcheritage.ca/yale/tour/drstjhn.htm
Link 4: http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=3380

Saturday Travel Feature
The Strip
Las Vegas, Nevada

Neon signs define Las Vegas, the entertainment capitol of the world.  And the most dense areas of neon signs in Las Vegas are the old and the new "strips".  The old strip is on Fremont Street with its Gold Nugget Casino, anchored by the  Plaza  Hotel and roofed by the light show "The Fremont Experience".   The new strip has now assumed the name and is just called "The Strip".  It is Las Vegas Boulevard.  Both old and new strips ooze neon.  But what happens to the neon signs when a casino is demolished or a sign is obsolete?  They go to the Neon Museum Boneyard, of course. 

"These are exciting times at the Neon Museum!

"First, we are happy to report that the Bow and Arrow, the Binion’s Horseshoe, and the Silver Slipper  have all been restored to their original condition and are now located on medians along Las Vegas Blvd. North. The restoration of these signs is just the first phase of what will be a series of signs restored for placement along the downtown Las Vegas Scenic Byway. It is a thrill to experience the signs as they were meant to be seen-floating lights dancing in the sky along the boulevard. Here’s to making the downtown Las Vegas skyline that much brighter!

"In other exciting news, construction on the city of Las Vegas’ Neon Boneyard Park began on February 8. The park will sit adjacent to the La Concha on Las Vegas Blvd. North and will complement the campus of the Neon Museum Boneyard and visitor’s center...The Neon Boneyard Park project signals the first phase of the development of the beautiful Neon Museum and Boneyard campus.

"Finally, we are pleased to report the acquisition of two new signs: the Apache Motel and the Queen of Hearts. The Queen of Hearts and The Apache Motel previously sat downtown on the site of the future City Hall. Anne Meyers’ Queen of Hearts opened in the mid-70s, but the building originally opened in 1964 as The Casbah with Moroccan-themed architecture. The Apache Motel is a fantastic example of classic roadside signage." (Link.) 

Photo: Taken in Las Vegas in 1998 by SW.
Link : http://www.neonmuseum.org/news.html