Sunday Church Feature
St. Columba Church
Tofino, British Columbia

"St. Columba Anglican Church sits at the corner of Second and Main Streets tucked behind trees and rhododendrons. The property, consisting of two lots, was purchased for $100, with money that came from people in the community. Records of these pledges are shown in the minutes from a meeting of the Westcoast Mission, dated March 16, 1911.

"The church was built in 1913 with funds sent from England and the instructions to build a church “on the most beautiful spot on Vancouver Island” in the memory of Francis Beresford Wright.

"Rev. George Aitkens was appointed to design and build the church in the style of one he had previously built at Shawnigan Lake. The church was built on cedar posts, a style common to the coast. In 1967 a cement block foundation was put in.

"The rhododendrons were planted in 1925.

"Some of the earliest weddings at the church, performed by the first minister, Rev. L. A. Todd, were those of Nancy Shanker to Sofus Arnet (Dec. 30th, 1913) and Jack MacLeod to Jennie Grice.

"The Church is open to the public for viewing on certain days of the week, check the sign." (See Link.)

In 1970 Laura (Wilson) Misner was Christened in St. Columba Church in Tofino, B. C.  She wore the white dimity Christening gown made in 1938 by her mother's great aunt, Gusty.  Laura's mother, uncle, sister, and brother had also worn the gown at their Christenings.  Laura's daughter Holly wore the same gown in 2007 for her Christening at St. Richard's Anglican Church in North Vancouver.

Photo: Taken in Tofino, B.C. in 2005 by SW.
Link: http://www.tofinotime.com/articles/A-T702-09frm.htm

Saturday Travel Feature

Happy Birthday Laura!

Long Beach, B.C.

The house in the photo above was taken in 2005 in the small town of Ucluelet B.C. Ucluelet is the southern of two towns at either end of B.C.'s Highway #4 on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The northern town on Highway #4 is Tofino. These towns are among the most western outposts of Canada. Halfway between Ucluelet and Tofino is the stretch of beach known as Long Beach. And on the hill above this beach is the original site of the house in the photo above.

Photoshopped to look more like house above Long Beach

This house is a Panabode House, a prefab made to look like logs inside and out. It was built as a one storey house with three bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, dining room, kitchen and laundry room. Under part of the house was a dirt basement, where the water from the washing machine drained. The water supply to the house was a hose running from a creek on the hill above the house. The view from the livingroom and master bedroom windows was of the stretch of Long Beach, the Seal Rocks where the sea lions basked and honked, and the Pacific Ocean.

One view of part of Long Beach

The house was built on the hill of the gravel Combers Beach Road, just after the bend where it headed down to the water and west of Staghorn Creek. The owners were the Norton family. Mrs. Norton was an avid gardener and planted over 26 types of daffodils from catalogues she ordered from around the world. She cleared the salal from the side of the house for a patio and planted the daffodils along the gravel driveway to the house. The house was often rented out to teachers working in the area. One of these families was The Grants. And in 1969 to 1971 it was The Wilson's. This is the house that Laura Wilson came to in 1970 when she was one week old. She came from Vancouver General Hospital with her mother Suzanne, her father Alan, her sister Amy, and her brother Richard.

In 1970 Pacific Rim National Park was established. The house on Combers Beach Road fell within its borders. Soon after The Wilson's moved from the area the house was moved out of the park and into Ucluelet where it now sits. Some of Mrs. Norton's original daffodil bulbs were taken to North Vancouver by The Wilson's and planted in their front yard where they bloomed each spring for several years.

Note Highway #4 leading to Ucluelet and Tofino

Photos: Taken of house now moved into the town of Ucluelet and of a section of Long Beach in 2005 by SW. The lower photo of the house is photoshopped to resemble the house closer to what it looked like when it was actually on the hill above the beach.

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

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

Friday, August 20, 2011
A Long History

The house at 252 West 13th Street has a long history and it started in the year 1922. This was the year the builder of the $4000 house was listed in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives as A. Walsh. The builder of a $100 house addition in 1936 was listed as E. H. Markle.

In 1925 the resident was John F. Vance an analyst for the City. In 1931 Reginald A. Berniston was living in the house. He and N. Elvina Berniston lived in the house in 1940 as well. In both of these years Reginald Berniston was working as a clerk at the Royal Bank. In 1945 Carl M. and Blanche E. Johnson were the owners. Carl Johnson worked in radios and electronics at 1433 Lonsdale Avenue.

In 1950 and 1960 the owners were Peter M. and Catherine M. Fraser. Peter Fraser worked as a mechanic at Begg Motors in 1950 and in automotive repairs at 221 West 1st Street in North Vancouver in 1960. In 1971 John and May Rhead were the residents. John Rhead was employed as a painter at Enno's Custom Boats. The resident in 1980 was W. Rose. By 1986 George A. and Janet Perryman owned the house. They were also reported as the owners in 1991 and 1995, at which time they were retired.

The photo of 252 West 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 additional information This was true in the case of 252 West 13 St. In this case it was a Development Proposal Sign to allow the building of a triplex. (See photo below.) (See Link.)

A "North Shore News" photo of the actual demolition in September 2001 was added later. (See photo below.) Queen Mary Elementary School is in the background.

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 252 West 13th Street had been demolished and a series of three row houses had been built.

Demolition: September 2001.
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.
Link: http://search.suttonwestcoast.com/listings/info/p-2-252-w-13th-st#listings/info/p-2-252-w-13th-st

Thursday, August 19, 2010
Early St. Patrick's

There is no listing in the North Vancouver Building Permit for this house at 240 St. Patrick's Avenue. The first listing in the City Directories seems to be 1925 under the name of Fredrick G. Davies. Fredrick Davis was an accountant.
(The 1916 City Directory is listed not by address, but by name and there is no listing of Fredrick G. Davies in that publication.) In 1931 the resident was C. W. Harris. C. W. Harris was the proprietor of Harris Tug Line. By 1940 only Mrs. Madeline Harris is listed, and she is listed as not only the resident but also the owner.

After that were a series of residents but no ownership was reported all the way to 1995. In 1945 the residents were George C. and Muriel M. Curry. George Curry was a carpenter for the North Vancouver Ship Repair. In 1950 the residents were Robert J. and Lucy H. Bone. Robert Bone worked for Home Oil Distributors. In 1960 the residents were Cornelius and Jacoba Sas. Cornelius Sas was a welder at Alsten Wood Products. In 1971 the residents were John M. and Helen Deas. John was a benchman for A. Gair and Sons. In 1980 the property was reported in the City Directory as being "Vacant". Then in 1991 the resident was Donna Whitekerry. In 1995 there were two residents: Audrey Ollnoyk who reported that she moved in the year 1991 and Brian Hicks, a painter. Neither Audrey Ollnoyk nor Brian Hicks were listed as living at the 240 St. Patrick's Avenue address in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories.

The photo of 240 St. Patrick's 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.

 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 240 St. Patrick's Avenue had been demolished and a new duplex had been built.


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, August 18, 2010

1921 Home

The original home at 133 West 23rd Street was built for $1,500 in 1921 by H. Hutchenson for owner R. W. Reid. Robert W. Reid was still living in the house in 1925 at which time he worked in sales at Spencers Department Store.

In 1931 the resident was Edward M. Dennis who was employed at IXL Laundry. In 1940 Frank A. and Bessie S. Canessa were living in the house. Frank Canessa was a master mariner. In 1950 the residents were Sam and Margaret Erskine. Sam Erskine was employed as a laborer by North Vancouver City. In 1955 the owners were Arthur and Frances A. Westmoreland. Arthur Westmoreland was a helper at Burrard Dry Dock. The Westmorelands continued to own the house in 1960 when they reported that they were retired.

There was "no return" to inquiries by the City Directory staff in both 1971 and 1991. But in 1980 Karen Lister reported that she was living in the house. And in 1995 Darren Wright, a stationary wholesaler for Mills Printing, responded that he had lived in the house for 2 years.

The photo of 133 West 23rd 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.

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 133 West 23rd Street had been 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.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Margaret  on Virginia

The green single level house at 4119 Virginia Crescent in the District of North Vancouver was built in 1951 for $12,000 by Vailand Construction.  By 1955 it had been bought by E. Don and Eileen M. Jones.  E. Don Jones was an accountant at Allianceware. 

In 1960 Rodrick F. and Kathleen M. Hood were the owners.  Rodrick worked as a sales representative for Line and Cable Accessories.  The owners in 1971 were Hans A. and Ulla Alwart.  Hans Alwart was employed as a salesman at Woody Gundy Securities.

By 1980 the owners of the house at 4119 Virginia Crescent were William and Margaret Martin.  William was the sales manager at College Printers.  Margaret Martin reported that she was the owner and retired in 1991 and 1995.  The listing in the 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory is under William Martin at 4119 Virginia Crescent. 

So the Martin family lived at 4119 Virginia Crescent for at least 30 years.  And during that time they  watched their two backyard cedar trees grow to an impressive and majestic 60 feet.

Virginia Crescent is at the top of Sunset Boulevard, north of Edgemont Village, with MacKay Creek Park  immediately to the east.

Demolition Permit: Applied for in August 2010.
Photo: Taken in August 2010 by SW.

Monday, August 16, 2010
1949  Post and Beam

The 1949 post and beam construction house at 3636 Glenview Crescent is 983 sq. ft. with two bedrooms and one bathroom. It sits on a 11,200 square foot lot in the Capilano Highlands area of the District of North Vancouver. The lot backs up to Mosquito Creek Park.

The house was recently listed for sale for $848,000 by Sutton Rassmusen Group Realtors. It sold and a new 4,575 sq. ft. four bedroom house by Kombi Homes is proposed to be built on the lot after the present house is demolished. (See Link.)

The 1955 owners of 3636 Glenview Crescent were Michael and E. Caroline Smith. Michael M. Smith was an architect at Polson and Siddall. In 1960 the owners were Francis J. S. and Edith L. Sanderson. Francis Sanderson was a manager at the Canadian Division of United Petroleum Gas. The 1980 owners were Dirk and Diana Piket. Dirk Piket worked as a carpenter.

In the 1991 and 1996/1996 City Directories, R. A. Reid was reported as the owner. However in these publications the street is listed as Glenview Drive; no Glenview Crescent is noted. In the year 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory R. A. Reid is listed as living at 3636 Glenview Crescent. In both 1991 and 1995 R. A. Reid's occupation is recorded as a real estate salesman for Bell Realty. He reported in the 1995 edition that he had lived at 3636 Glenview Crescent for over 9 years. So as of now, he has probably lived there for about 25 years.

Demolition Permit: Applied for in July 2010.
Photo: Taken in July 2010 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.rasmussenbros.com/Blog.php/528