Monday, May 10, 2010
White Horizontal Clapboard

The white horizontal clapboard home at 338 East 12th Street in the City of North Vancouver is not listed in either the Building Permit book or the 1950 City Directory at the North Vancouver Archives.But by 1960 Don H. and K. Jane Owen were the owners of the house. Donald worked as a forester for the B.C. Forest Service. In 1971 they still owned the house and Donald was now a protection officer for the B.C. Forest Service. By 1980 Isobel and Clyde M. Nichols, retired, lived in the house. There was another change by 1991, now Dan and Louise Hosford were the residents. Dan was a painter at McKenzie Barge and Marine Ways Ltd. Shortly after, Heather and Paul Miles moved in and in 1995 reported that they had been living there for four years.

The photo of 338 East 12th Street 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. Approximately 800 of these were accompanied by some history from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs.



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 338 East 12th Street had been demolished and new housing 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.

Happy Mother's Day
Sunday Church Feature
Trinita dei Monti, Rome

"Trinità dei Monti (also called Santissima Trinità al Monte Pincio, Trinità del Monte, or Holy Trinity on the Pincio Hill) is a Baroque church in Rome. It is best known for its scenographic dominance above the Spanish Steps that descend to the Piazza di Spagna. The church and its area (including the Villa Medici) are the property of the French State."  Wikipedia.  The church was built from 1723 to 1725.  There are 138 steps leading from the Piazza di Spagna (Yes there is a Metro stop  by that name.) up to the prominade with its picturesque railing in front of the church.  They are the longest and widest steps in Europe and are seen as a meeting place for people from all over the world. The Spanish name of the square, Piazza di Spagna and the name of the steps comes from the nearby Spanish Embassy.  However, the construction was paid for by Louis the XV of France.


"In front of the church stands the Obelisco Sallustiano, one of the obelisks in Rome, moved here in 1789 from its position in the Gardens of Sallust." Wikipedia

Photo: Taken in April 2010 in Rome, Italy by SW.
Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinit%C3%A0_dei_Monti

Saturday Travel Feature
The Ni Box, Monte-Carlo, Monaco 

"Monte Carlo (French: Monte-Carlo, Occitan: Montcarles, Monégasque: Monte-Carlu) is one of Monaco's administrative areas,[1] sometimes erroneously believed to be a town or the country's capital, just as Monaco-Ville. The official capital is the city of Monaco, which shares the exact same territory as the country itself [2] (Monaco is a city-state).

 "Monte Carlo, which lies in the French Riviera on the Mediterranean Sea in Monaco is surrounded by France and close to Italy. It is widely known for its casino. The permanent population is about 3,000. Monte Carlo quarter includes not only Monte Carlo proper where the Le Grand Casino is located, it also includes the neighbourhoods of Saint-Michel, Saint-Roman/Tenao, and the beach community of Larvotto. It borders the French town of Beausoleil (sometimes referred to as Monte-Carlo-Supérieur)." Wikipedia, See Link 2.  The newest building in Monte-Carlo is the Ni Box which just opened on April 25, 2010.

"A curvaceous white building overlooking the sea, resembling a transatlantic liner, has been arousing people's curiosity for several months. It's the Ni Box, a new world of amusements dreamed up by the creators of the "Ni" concept, which already comprises the Ni Hotel, the Ni Bar and Ni Tapas.

"Ni Box is a unique experience. It’s a new way to enjoy your leisure time. In a setting of contemporary architecture, which is both streamlined and welcoming, Ni Box is an innovative, creative space, full of surprises and magic. Bare sculptural concrete, huge glass windows, giant portholes and curved walls set the scene.


"With its skating rink, bowling, a "jorkyball" room, a video games area and a discotheque, the amusements on offer at Ni Box might seem traditional, but they're not at all! The ice-free skating rink on the roof, with a view of the sea, makes skating possible all the year round. The bowling alley is bathed in natural daylight and can be seen from the exterior portholes. "Jorkyball" is a new take on indoor football in a brightly coloured space. The video games and simulators are just some of the new amusements waiting to be discovered. The discotheque overlooking the sea has a space that is entirely devoted to movement and music, around a central bar. Finally, to satisfy every appetite, Ni Box also has a new generation McDonald's, with an emphasis on safe and healthy food.


"The Ni Box concept includes an important "peace of mind" approach. Parents can leave their adolescents to enjoy themselves in complete safety in the Ni Box - no money is circulated inside, as everything is paid for with a pre-paid named card, which can also be used as proof of identity and as a loyalty card. Ni Box opening times: 10 am to midnight: from Monday to Thursday and Sunday, 10 am to 4 am: Friday, Saturday and the day before public holidays. NI BOX • 35 bd Louis II • Rond-Point du Portier • Monaco • "(See Link 1.)

Note: For more information on Monaco see Blog Post May 1 and 2, 2010.

Link 1:  http://www.visitmonaco.com/en/News/News/Ni-Box-Opens-in-Monaco-on-25-April-2010
Link 2:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo
Photo: Taken in Monte-Carlo, Monico in April 2010 by SW.

Friday, May 7, 2010
Typical Early 1900 Home

This grey clapboard and shingled home was built in 1912 at 152 East 12th Street. The owner, J. N. Kennedy paid $1500 for its construction. Although there is no mention of it in the Building Permit book it seems from the photo above that a basement suite was added to the home at a later date. The door to the suite can be seen to the left of the front steps with the living room window to the right.

J. N. Kennedy also applied for permits for two other buildings in the City of North Vancouver: a real estate office in 1912 at 111 West 2nd Street for $150 and a house in 1913 at 808 East 3rd Street for $12,000. A whole row of similar houses were built in 1910 on the south side of the 200 block of East 19th Street. These still stand and their heritage is verified in the City of North Vancouver 1994 Heritage Inventory. This row of a dozen homes was affectionately referred to by nearby residents as "The Apostles" They were different from the 152 East 12th Street home in that the 19th Street houses had dormers.
In 1925 Mrs. Elizabeth M. Lundin-Brown, a widow, was reported as living in the house.  In 1931 the resident was Isaac Young, a salesman. In 1940 a couple, Thomas and Christine were living in the house.  Thomas worked as a fireman for North Vancouver City.  By 1945 another couple, W. T. and Rachel A. Chase were in 152 East 12th Street. W. T. Chase was employed as a postman. In 1950 the owners of the 152 East 12th Street home were Chrissie and Thomas Cummings. Thomas was the acting fire captain for the City of North Vancouver. In 1960 Mrs. Margaret K. Moffatt lived in the house. She worked as a clerk for the B. C. Government. Ivan and Jeanine Johnsen were the residents in 1971. Ivan was employed as a laborer for the City of North Vancouver. By 1980 J. R. Higgins and his wife Lil had bought the 12th street house. J. R. worked as a radio communicator at B. C. Rail. After that date there was no return to inquiries from the City Directory office.

The photo of 152 East 12th Street 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. Approximately 800 of these were accompanied by some history from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs. Family photos were added by the family at 152 East 12th Street.



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 152 East 12th Street had been demolished and a new apartment building constructed.

 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.

Resource: The City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994 is available at both the North Vancouver Archives and the North Vancouver Library.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Typical 1950's

This home at 264 East 11th Street on the corner with St. Andrew's Avenue was typical of the homes built in the 1950's in North Vancouver.  The street facing side was often sheathed in white stucco on the top and and wide horizontal shiplap on the bottom.  A large window on one side of the front door let light into the living room, while the smaller windows on the other side of the front door were in one of the bedrooms.  The kitchen was located at the back of the house. The house next door to the west was similar and built in 1954. It was demolished in 2009.( See Blog Post January 14, 2010.)

This  house at 264 East 11th Street was not listed in the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives. Since the 1950 City Directory reports it as a "New House" we can assume 1950 was the year it was built.  In 1960 the owner was listed as J. W. Thompson, personnel manager at Burrard Dry Dock.  In 1971 both John an Sophie J. were listed as owners and John had retired.  There was no return to inquiries by the City Directory in 1980.  By 1991 Hazra Begg had become the owner.  In 1995 he reported that he had been owner for 5 years.  He was reported as living there until at least 2006, so by then he had been living there for 16 years.  The total street is now occupied by all multifamily housing.

The photo of 264 East 11th Street 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. Approximately 800 of these were accompanied by some history from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs.


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 264 East 11th Street was slated to be demolished.


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.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
East 5th on Queensbury

This well windowed home sitting behind the hedge flanking its front walk has the address of 701 East 5th Street in the Queenbury area of the City of North Vancouver. Although the address is East 5th Street, the house actually faces west on Queensbury Avenue.  Queensbury Avenue runs from East 3rd Street on the south and into Grand Boulevard at Keith Road, which is between 7th and 8th Street.  In the early 1900's it was thought by some that this Queensbury, Grand Boulevard corridor would become the main drag of  the City of North Vancouver.  This main drag would run north from the Moodyville Mill on Burrard Inlet. 

The west facing stucco house with its address of 701 East 5th Street was built in 1947  by C. E. and  Snyder.  In 1950 Chase and Anne. M. Snyder continued to own the house.  By 1960 Edgar J. and Ivy E. Porter had bought the house. Edgar was a salesman at Black, Gevin and Co.   At this time 701 is also listed as the home of Hide-Away Trailer Hitch.  There was no return in 1971 to inquiries by the City Directory staff.  In 1980 the owner was listed as Ernest W. Sarsfield.  Ernest was employed as a maintenance supervisor at Canadian Occidental.  By 1991 B. Thurstow owned the home and continued to live there in 1995.

When the house was originally built its lot's northern border was East 5th Street and its southern border was the lane between East 4th Street and East 5th Street. The original house ran the whole length of the lot. In approximately 1988 part of the southern end of the lot was sold to facilitate another home to be built. (The roof of this 1988 house can be seen in the far right of the photo above.) To do this it was necessary to cut off the southern part of the house.  So the house planned for demolition today is smaller than the house that was originally built at 701 East 5th Street, which actually faces Queensbury Avenue. (Kallie Biln)  City Directory research seems to indicate that the owner at the time of the demolition of the south part of the house was Ernest Sarsfield.

Thank you: To Kallie Biln for information on the approximately 1988 sale and demolition of part of the house at 701 East 5th Street to facilitate building of another home. She lived in the new home after it was built.
Demolition: Permit applied for April 2010.
Photo: Taken in April 2010 by SW.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Red Door

The unique red door behind the rhododendron bush  walling the front entrance from the street is waiting to greet visitors.  The door is vintage 1950's with its two triangular windows of ribbed glass.  The ribbed glass is repeated in the vertical panel to the right of the door. This is the entrance to 3570 Glenview Crescent.  And the 1950's door is appropriate since the home was built in 1952.  The owner applying for the Building Permit was Don McLeod and the price he paid for its construction was $10,000.  Don was a photographer for the Province Newspaper. In 1960 he won a National Newspaper Award. Don and Joyce I. McLeod continued to live on Glenview Crescent in1970.

The next  year, 1971, Robert E. and Doreen Kirk owned the house on Glenview Crescent.  Robert was employed as an accountant.    In 1980 the owners were Loren and Marilyn DeLong and Loren was a manager for IBM.  There was no return to inquiries by the City Directory in 1991.  But in response to their inquiries for the 1995/96 issue the owner Hugh Swan stated he had lived there for four years.  So Hugh must have been the one opening and closing the red door with the two triangular windows around the year 1991.

Note: To view another house on Glenview Crescent  see Blog Post Feb. 11, 2010

Demolition: Permit applied for in April 2010.

Photo: Taken in April 2010 by SW.