Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Shake Clad House on Dempsey

The two storey shake clad house at 1640 Dempsey Road was built for $1500 in 1938 by J. Greenwood.  The is no listing of the 1640 Dempsey Road address in the 1940 City Directory.  However, the house is indicated by the notation "ns Greenwood J." as the owner.  In the 1945 City Directory the address is listed, and J. Greenwood is still recorded as living there. 

However, by 1948 the owner was Mrs. K. A. Vaughan, the widow of E. W. Vaughan.   In 1940 Edgar and Cathy A. Vaughan had been the owners of a home on the north side of the 1200 Mill Street in North Vancouver.  Edgar Vaughan was a cartoonist.  Mill Street is two streets north of Dempsey.  So Mrs. Vaughan's move from Mill Street to Dempsey after the death of her husband, was not a big one.  Mrs. Vaughan continued to own the house at 1640 Dempsey Rd. at least until 1971.  Over the years her name was listed in the City Directories as Mrs. K. A. Vaughan, Cath A. Vaughan and in 1971 as Molly Vaughan.

In 1981 Gunter Karl Essinger was the owner of the 1640 Dempsey Road house.  Gunter Essinger worked as a maintenance man at Delta Smelting and Refining. In 1991 the City Directory reported that Ralph, Karen, and Patrick Essinger as well as Pfiel Jens were all residents of the house.  Ralph and Patrick Essinger were both employees at the Spaghetti Factory.  Karen Essinger's employment was Scandal's Bar and Grill Restaurant.  In the 1995/1996 City Directory Ralph and Patrick Essinger were reported as living in the house.  Other residents at least from 1991 to 1995 were Harold and Marie Scott.  In 1995 Ralph and Patrick Essinger were still working at the Spaghetti Factory.  Although, Karen was not listed as living at 1640 Dempsey Road, her employment was reported as president of My Place Cafe.  Ralph Essinger was listed in the 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory as still living at the 1640 Dempsey Road address at that time.

Patrick Essinger adds," My father Gunther Karl Essinger  passed away in the house in 1989.  The house was left to his sons Ralph Peter Essinger and Patrick Carsten Essinger. The house had a renovation to the basement to make it livable.  Both brothers lived in and out of the basement for a few years.  Ralph married S. Essinger and lived in the house til early 2000. They had one daughter S. N. Essinger.  Patrick Essinger took sole possession of the house in 2004.  Patrick a City of Vancouver Firefighter and his wife J. A. Essinger a Registered Nurse at Lions Gate Hospital lived in the house until 2010 with their daughter N. G. Essinger. " They will be  demolishing the existing home and building a new heritage style home.

Dempsey Road and Mill Street are in the northern part of the Lynn Valley known as Upper Lynn.  This is at the base of the North Shore Mountains where the hikers park before heading up the trails.  The house at 1640 Dempsey Road is also just up the street from Kilmer Park.


Thank you: To Patrick Essinger for his contribution to the history of the home at 1640 Dempsey Road.
Demolition: Permit applied for to the North Vancouver District in September of 2010.
Photo: Taken in September of 2010 by SW. (Actual house color is a brown tone.)

Monday, September 27, 2010
The Street, It Is A Changing

The 900 block of Hampshire Road, nestled at the base of the North Shore Mountains (See photo above,) is changing from a street of cosy 1950's one storey ranch style homes to a street of new large two storey palatial homes.  The house at 954 Hampshire Road is one of the 1950's homes that will be demolished to make way for a new larger home.  It is following what has already happened to several of the homes on this street.

The three bedroom rancher with a carport at 954 Hampshire Rd. was built in 1954 for $14,000 by T. Hall.  The house sits on a level 80 by 100 foot lot with views of Grouse Mountain. It features a stone planter box across the front exterior of the house and a fireplace with a broad chimney in the living room. It appears to have originally had a garage at the east end of the house. The garage area has since been filled in to provide another room.  It also has was given its own door to the exterior.  In January of 2010 the house at 954 Hampshire Rd. was listed for sale for $961,000.

There is no entry in the 1955 City Directory for the house at 954 Hampshire Rd.  But H. Roberts is listed as the owner in the 1960 and 1965 publications.  Hesketh and Ruth H. Roberts also owned the house in 1971.  During all these years Hesketh was employed as a surveyor for Vancouver City. "Another building permit was issued in December 1974, for an addition."(Elaine Oakes.) Perhaps this was the filled in garage area.  In 1980 the owners were Michael P. and Kirsten S. Smith. Michael P. Smith was an employee of the Royal Bank of Canada.

In the 1991, 1995/1996 City Directories and the year 1999/2000 and 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Directories David Faulkner is listed as living at 954 Hampshire Rd.  David D. and Phyllis Faulkner were the owners during this time and had been since the mid 1980's.  David Faulkner was employed as a salesman at Vancouver Auto and Phyllis Faulkner was a counselor employed by  the North Vancouver School Board.  In 1995 Peter Faulkner, a student, was also living in the house.

The year 2010 REMAX Real Estate ad said, "Move in and enjoy it (the house) as it is."  Since a Demolition Permit was applied for in September 2010, it looks like this suggestion was not taken.


Thank you: To Elaine Oakes, Records Management Clerk at the District of North Vancouver for her research on Demolition Permits.
Demolition: Permit applied for in September 2010.
Photo: Taken in September 2010 by SW.

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.