Thursday, May 13, 2010
Two for One

The 300 and 400 blocks of East 14th Street in the City of North Vancouver are sandwiched between St. Andrew's Avenue and Lion's Gate Hospital on the west and Moody Avenue and Grand Boulevard Park on the east. The three storey house at 325 East 14th Street was an oldie. It was built in 1911 by owner C. Duplissie for $300. The house on 14th Street had three storeys: main floor, upstairs, and basement. In 1912 Chase Duplissie was reported as being a carpenter and living on the ss of East 14th Street near St. Andrew's Avenue. Duplissie continued to be listed in the City Directories as living at 325 in the years 1913, 1914, and 1915. He is not listed in 1916. But in 1921 C. Duplissie did build a house at 323 East 13th Street for $2000.

By 1925 the house on 14th was owned by J. Millar, but now a (rear) address was also reported. Living in this (rear) residence was Fred C. Paint. Fred was employed as an iron worker. The Millar family continued to own the house at least until 1950. In 1931 John worked as a blacksmith. In 1940 Catherine J. is also listed as living in the house. John Jr. is listed as being a florist for Livingstone Floral. In 1950 an "a" address is also listed with the resident being Mrs. M. Perry, a widow.

The 325 (rear) East 14th Street address that was listed in 1925 and then again as 325 "a" East 14th Street refers to an addition on the west side of the house.( See photo below.) It had its own front door, front porch, and front steps.

In 1960 the owners of 325 East 14th Street was listed in the City Directory as being Don W. and Margaret Smith. Don was employed as a mill worker at Kill Lumber. The other residents listed at that address were Earl M. and Jewel C. Commodore. Earl was working as a longshoreman. In 1971 the 325 owner continued to be Don Smith. The 325a resident was Mrs. D. Spurrel. In 1980 the 325 owner was Denise Flemming and the 325a resident was Terry Pollock who was employed at Canada Safeway. In 1991 Norm Milsted, a retired gentleman, was living at 325. Brad Cochlin, a clerk at Canada Safeway, was living at 325a. In 1996 Norm and Liz Milstead reported they had lived at 325 for 9 years.  Brad Cochlin who was still working as a clerk at Canada Safeway also reported that he had lived at 325a for 9 years.

A Demolition Permit was applied for in 2008. Much of the 300 block of East 14th Street near the corner with St. Andrew's Avenue was now owned by Lion's Gate Hospital. The public information sign indicated that the land of several lots in that area was going to be used for the building of a 15 bed Hospice.

Demolition: Permit applied for January 2008.
Photos: Taken as part of the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by SW. (See Blog Post February 26, 2010.)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

They Liked to Celebrate Halloween

The house at 529 East 13th Street is in the block facing the tennis courts on Grand Boulevard in the City of North Vancouver. This home with its scalloped gable was built in 1941 by Paul Horthey Homes for owner J. Stewart. The construction price was $3,300. John and Rose Stewart were also living in the house in 1945 when John was a foreman at Burrard Dry Dock.  Another home in the area, at 535 East 12th Street (See Blog Post May 11, 2010.) has similar features to this one: the scalloped gable and the unique six sided window next to the front door.

Thomas and Thirza Ollis owned the house from approximately 1950 to sometime after 1971.  During this time Thomas was an accountant for the North Shore Medical Dental Corp. until his retirement that was reported in the City Directory in 1971. The house was reported as vacant in 1980.

In 1991 two resident families were reported in the City Directory. James and Teresa Taylor and the owner D. Port.  James Taylor worked as a piano technician. Evidently the Taylors didn't live there very long after that for in the 1995/96 City Directory David W. and Anita Powell reported that they were the owners and had lived there for four years. David Powell was employed as a computer programmer for Graphic Response Systems Inc. Anita S. Powell worked as a legal secretary at Douglas, Symes, and Brissenden.  D. Port continued to live in the house and reported in 1995 that he had lived there for 5 years. David Port's employment was as a service representative for Honda.

None of these families is listed in the year 2000 phone book. However, we do know by the decorations in the front window that who ever was living in the house at this time "liked to celebrate Halloween". (See Year 2000 photo below.)

The photo of 529 East 13th 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 of the house or a photo. This was true in the case of 529 East 13th 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 529 East 13th Street had been demolished and a new house had been built.

Photos: 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.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Built by a Shipwright

The 1960 owner of the house with the unique hardwood front hall flooring at 535 East 12th Street  was E. R. Maconnell. He continued to live in the house into the 1980's and by this time was listed as retired. In 1991 Paul Culling was the owner and shortly after Joseph Hind moved in. In 1995 Joseph Hind reported he had lived in the house for 4 years. He was also living in the house in the year 2000 when the photos were taken and at least into the year 2006.

The photo of 535 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 of the house. This was true in the case of 535 East 12th Street.


Demolition: Permit applied for in 2007.
Photos: 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.

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.