Sunday Church Feature
Rockford United Methodist  (Episcopal) Church
Rockford, Washington


At 217 So. 1st Street in the center of Rockford, Washington and across from the Pump House, a Methodist Church has sat since 1879.  Today called the Rockford United Methodist Church the church building in the photo above is the third church built on the site. 

The church congregation originally met in the home of Mrs. Charles Farnsworth.  The first church building was to be built in 1880 as a gift from the Farnsworth Lumber Company. This first Rockford Church building was very small and primitive with hand hewed slabs for pews.  It was torn down in 1883 and a larger church built on the same site in 1884. (See photo below.)

The 1884 Rockford United Methodist (Episcopal) Church

Note: The parsonage is on the left and the Rockford School in the background.

"The sanctuary Rostrum was carpeted with "Red Ingrain" carpeting...  The room was  heated with  a large wood burning heater near the back of the room. There were two aisles going from the back to the Rostrum,  with one wide tier of pews from back to front, and a narrow tier on either side which were fastened to the sides of the structure walls.   There was room at the side of the Altar for the Choir to sit and room for a nice organ of the foot pump variety. (Marie Pratt Lee Reference.)

"When  the Armistice was signed in 1918, the church bells were rung all over the land.  It had been thought that our bell had been rung  too vigorously, which weakened the tower and the roof structure, which the heavy snow of 1922 proved its undoing and it had to be torn down." (See Reference Marie Pratt Lee.) In 1922 this building was condemned and torn down.   The present church, the one in the top photo, was built in 1923.  During the demolition and new construction the congregation met in the Presbyterian Church.

The present minister Rev. David Lura is also the past minister.  Rev. David Lura served the congregation of the Rockford United Methodist Church 1980 to 1984.  Then he was called to serve "on the other side of the mountains".  This September, 2010, in his retirement, he has again become the minister of the Rockford United Methodist Church. 

The Rockford Community Methodist Church is also presently used as for performances. "August 21st 7pm--Free Piano Concert by recording artist John Nilsen @ Rockford United Methodist Church" (See Link 2.) 

Note: For more about Rockford, Washington see blog post September 25, 2010, Saturday Travel Feature, 1916 Pump House, Rockford, Washington.

Thank you: To Rev. David Lura and Ester Hemken for information regarding the Rockford United Methodist Church. To Paul Gillespie for e mailing the reference information and the photo from the Rockford Museum collection.

Demolitions: Of the approximately 1880 church in 1983.
                 Of the 1984 church in 1922.
Photos: Top photo taken in 2007 by SW. 
                 Bottom photo from the Rockford Museum collection.

References:  Historical Sketch of Rockford United Methodist (Episcopal) Church, 1879-1979, One Hundred Years of Methodism in Rockford, Washington.  Historical Sketch from the Dedication Bulletin, the Rockford Methodist Episcopal Church, November, 1923, by Marie Pratt Lee.

Link 1:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockford,_Washington
Link 2:http://rockford-wa.blogspot.com/

Saturday Travel Feature

1916 Pump House
Rockford, Washington

Rockford, Washington is a small, .7 square miles, town in the rolling hills south of Spokane, Washington.  As of the census of 2009 there were 513 people residing in the town. (Paul Gillespie.) It is an old town,  officially incorporated on June 18, 1890.  (See Link 1.)

The most predominant old building in Rockford, Washington is the bright red brick 1916 Pump House on 1st Street.  The building was originally built by Washington Waterpower as a pump house for the town's water system.  In the 1980's it housed the Rockford Museum. And in 1989 they provided the new red metal roof as part of the town and state centennial celebration. However, the building proved to be too small to house the Museum collection.  The building is presently not used for anything, but it is an interesting feature in the center of town. (See Link 2 for photo of the Pump House.)

This  very weekend  the annual South East Spokane County Fair will be held in Rockford, Washington. All 413 residents plus guests from the Spokane area will be there to join in the festivities. The fair kicks off with a local parade in the town center, up West Emma Street to 1st Street.  The town's people decorate floats and throw candy to the crowd.  Children decorate their bikes.  Preschoolers walk with their moms.  The town's fair grounds near the corner of West Emma Street and 1st Street provides the setting for a petting zoo, farm animals on display, food stands, a covered eating area, a stage with bleacher seating, the Ag Building with displays, booths selling books and homemade crafts, and a few carnival rides.

Thank you: To Evelyn Fricke and Paul Gillespie for information
                         on the Pump House.
Photo: Taken in Rockford, Washington in 2007 by SW.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockford,_Washington                      
Link 2: http://rockford-wa.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Swing in the Tree

Paisley Road runs from Capilano Road  to Edgemont Boulevard where it changes its name to Sunset Boulevard.  At the bend in the road where it intersects with Elizabeth Way and  is across from Murdo Fraser Park  sits  the house at 2901  Paisley Road.  This area of the District of North Vancouver is called Lions View in the 2007 Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley MapArt book.

The house at 2901 Paisley Road with the large side yard was built for $6,800 in 1949 by Capilano Properties Ltd.  The next year, 1950, the owners were Don E. and Juanita D. Allan.  Don Allan worked as a clerk for Imperial Oil.  In 1955 the owner was David H. Warner, an employee of Canadian Pacific Communication.  In 1960 the owners were Morley W. and Mabel A. Horton.  Morley Horton was employed as a transmission layout party chief for International Power and Engineering Consultants.  in 1971 the residents were Robert F. and Miriam E. Dyck.  Robert Dyck was employed as the officer in charge at the Salvation Army.

By 1980 the owner was Gerda G. Weissenberg, retired.  She was also reported as the owner in the 1991 and 1995/1996 City Directories.  Annette Chernin was also reported as a resident in 1995/1996.

Can you find the swing?

The large side yard at 2901 Paisley Rd. must have at one time been the play area of a youngster.  In memories of those days the child's swing is now hung  up in the branches of the tree.

Demolition: Permit applied for from the District of North Vancouver in September 2010.

Photos: Taken in September 2010 by SW.





Thursday, September 23, 2010
Typical 1950's

This typical early 1950's home is not listed in the Building Permit Book or the 1945 City Directory at the North Vancouver Archives. The three windows in the front door,  the black wrought iron railing on the cement steps, the large living room window to one side of the front door and the high bedroom windows to the other side are all signature features of this time period.   The 1950 City Directory does list 419 East 15th Street.  The owners were Grant and Elizabeth Allen.  Grant Allen was a boat builder at a company on the Low Levels Road in the City of North Vancouver.  The Allen's continued to own the home in 1955 when Grant Allen was the proprietor of Allen Boatworks.

In 1960 the residents of 419 East 15th Street were  Francis D. and Amelia M. Pink, a retired couple.  By 1971 the owners were Kenneth and Helen B. Yetman.  Kenneth Yetman worked as an engineer technician for North Vancouver District.  In 1980 the owners were Ray and Kathy Hawkins.  And in 1991 and 1995/1996 City Directories K. M Eriksson lived in the house.  In 1995/1996 E. M. Eriksson was listed as a student.

As of September 2010 the Internet reports the 419 East 15th Street address being the home of Digger Dicks Contracting Ltd, oil removal.

Demolition: Permit applied for in September 2010.

Photo: Taken in September 2010 by SW.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010
53 Years on Tempe Crescent

Tempe Crescent is one of three Crescent shaped streets south of East 29th Street in the City of North Vancouver.  The crescent streets, Somerset Street, Brand Street, and Tempe Crescent, start and end on East 29th Street.  The house at 452 Tempe Crescent is just about at the most southern point of these three crescent streets.

There is no entry for the 452 Tempe Crescent address in either the Building Permit Book or the 1950 City Directory at the North Vancouver Archives.  However, in the 1955 issue Rex W. and Gwen M. Johnston are listed as owners.  They are also listed as the owners in the 1960 issue.  During this time Rex Johnston was a branch manager at the Royal Bank.  

In 1964  the Knowles family bought the house.  The move was an easy one since for the previous 7 years they had lived just a few door away at 440 Tempe Crescent. In fact, in 1960 Allan R. and Wilhehmina Knowles were reported as the owners of the 440 Tempe Crescent home.  By 1965 they were listed as the owners at the 452 Tempe Crescent residence.  During  this time Allan Knowles was employed as an accountant at the Bank of Nova Scotia. In the 1971, 1980, 1991, and 1995/1996 City Directories the owner was listed as Mrs. Wilhelmina Knowles.   In 1991 and 1995/1996 Wilhelmina (Billie) Knowles was employed by  North Shore Home Support Services.  Two other residents listed in the 1995/1996 City Directory were Samuel C. Knowles, a gardener, and Akiko Takemoto, a student.

Billie Knowles continued to live at the 452 Tempe Crescent address until September 2010.  Although she will still be living on the North Shore the move will be more extensive than the one from 440 Tempe Crescent in 1964.  She has had to pack up not only her possessions but family heirlooms.  One of these was  the 1869 Christening dress of her grandfather Charles Wood Rogers.  Her grandmother's wedding dress has previously been donated to a museum.

With the 7 years the Knowles lived at 440 Tempe Crescent and the 46 years they lived at 452 Tempe Crescent, their total time on the street was 53 years.

Demolition: Permit applied for from the City of North Vancouver in Sept. 2010.
Photo: Taken in September 2010 by SW.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

West of Fell

The grey stucco and green cedar clapboard house behind the fence at 741 West 20th Street was built up the hill from Capilano Mall in the City of North Vancouver.  It is also just a couple blocks to the east is the lower end of the extensive Mosquito Creek Park.  Mosquito Creek Park eventually stretches all the way to the mountains above the District of North Vancouver.

There is no entry in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives for this home.  There is also no entry of the 741 West 20th Street address in the 1950 City Directory.  But in 1955 Paul and Alvele M. Dahl are listed as owners.  Paul Dahl worked as  a millwright at King Lumber.  The Dahls continued to own the house in 1960.  But now, Paul was listed as working as a millworker at King Lumber. In 1971 Arthur and Florence Munro were owners of the house.  They reported that they were a retired couple.  The owners in 1980 were Danny G. and Ann E. Keeble.  Danny Keeble was employed as an electrician at Vancouver Shipyards.

About 1988 John G. Morrison started living in the house on West 20th Street.  The City Directories and  North and West Vancouver Phone  Directories seem to indicate he lived there until at least 2006.  John Morrison's place of employment at least during 1991 and 1995/1996 was The Goalnet, a sports and marine equipment company at 1624 Pemberton Avenue in North Vancouver.

Demolition:  Permit applied for in September 2010.
Photo: Taken in September 2010 by SW.



Monday, September 20, 2010
Oliver, Smith, Forbes, Wetzler

The title says it all.  The City Directories reveal little about the ownership of the  interesting house at 761 East 12th  Street. The Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives starts out strong listing G. Oliver at the owner when the $5000 house was built in 1953.  He was also the owner for the building of a $400 addition and $400 garage in 1955.

After 1955 the City Directories seemed to have collected little information.  In 1960 R. C. Smith was the resident.  In 1980 Rory J. Forbes a broker at The Permanent was living in the house.  And in the 1995/1996 edition S. Wetzler reported that he had lived there  for 4 years.

In the 1955 City Directory there is no entry for the address.  In 1971 there is "No Return" listed.  And in 1991 the house at both 761 and 760 East 12th Street are  listed as "Vacant".

The 1955 addition may be the one that is on the rear of the house and prominent in both the photos in this post. It almost doubled the size of the original single storey house and added a second storey at least in the addition portion.  The large windowed rear wall and veranda both look out onto the back yard.  In September of 2010 what looked like renovations to the garage seem to be started, with a glass wall facing the back yard.

The Remax Real Estate web site listed the house for sale at $670,000

Addition on Back of House

Demolition Permit: Applied for from the District of North Vancouver in September 2010.

Photos: Taken in September of 2010 by SW.