Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Longest Building Permit Pedigree
Greenhouses on Western
66 Years of Marten Family Living


There are so many things to say about the uniqueness of the house at 2621 Western Avenue.  First is its location.  The street runs north and south one block to the west of Lonsdale Avenue in the City of North Vancouver.  But it does that for only 5 1/2 short blocks: one block south of the Upper Levels Highway starting at West 23rd Street, and five and one half blocks above the Highway ending at just north of West 27th Street.

The second unique thing is the number of recorded Building Permits listed for 2621 Western Avenue; there are 11.  They start 1912 with a $250 building permit granted to E. A. Peers for a house addition. That same year E. A. Peers was granted a permit for a $500 stable at 115 East 4th Street. In 1916 E. Peers was given a $100 building permit for a garage at the 2621 Western Avenue address.  The 1916 City Directory lists Edwin Peers, a forest guard, as living not at the 2521 Western Avenue but at 2627 Western Avenue.

 1917 is the start of 8 building permits listed for J. Hastie at that same address:
                          in 1917 a $250 permit for glass houses
                          in 1920 a $500 permit for more glass houses
                          in 1921 a $500 permit to have glass houses moved
                          in 1922 a $500 permit for more glass houses
                          in 1924 a permit for root sheds
                          in 1925 a $50o permit for house repair
                          in 1927 a $1500 permit for a green house
                          in 1928 a $200 permit for a shed

The City Directory listings for J. T. Hastie living at 2621 Western Avenue seem to start in 1925.  That year he reported his employment being that of a nurseryman.  In 1931 he was reported as the owner of the home and the business J. T. Hastie and Son, florists, at the same address.  Robert N. Hastie is listed as living at the 2621 Western Avenue address and being part of the business as well.

The third unique thing about 2621 Western Avenue was revealed in the Building Permits and employment reports of J. T. Hastie.  They indicate there was an extensive nursery and florist business at this address.

The fourth unique thing about 2621 Western Avenue was the Marten family.  They lived in the house from at least 1940 to 2006/2007 as verified by the City Directories and North and West Vancouver Phone Directories.  Percy B. and Ada Marten were first living in the house in 1940.  They reported being retired at that time. In 1950 Mrs. A.  Marten was listed as the owner. Also listed at the 2621 Western Ave. address was Olive M. Marten. She was employed as a stenographer by Northern Pacific Railway.  In 1960 and 1971 the owner, Ada Martin, reported that she was the widow of P. B. Marten. In 1991 and 1995/1996 Olive M. Marten, now retired, was the owner.  Another resident in 1995/1996 was Margery E. Jackson, also retired.

The 2008 obituary of Olive Mary Marten appeared in the Vancouver Sun. (See Link.) "She (Olive) worked 40 years for the Burlington Northern Railway in the Vancouver Office, retiring in the early 1980's.  She was a long time member of the Vancouver Women's Transportation Club, a life member of Burrard Chapter #3 Eastern Star and a member of the Order of the Amaranth. She was very active in the B.N. Veterans Group, also she was a keen golfer.  She was predeceased by her father, Percy (1943) and her mother, Ada (1989)...She is lovingly remembered by her sister, Margery Jacklin..."


The photo of 2621 Western Avenue 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. 

The City of North Vancouver web site reports that a $4,000 demolition permit was granted for the 2621 Western Avenue home to Bestway Excavating and Demolition in 2008.

Demolition: Permit granted by City of North Vancouver in 2008.
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.
Link: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAN-BC-OBITS/2008-08/1218776173

Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Old and New Dental Detailing

Both the old home at 353 West 17th Street, in the photo above, and the new home built in 2004 feature dental detailing.  In the original home built for $2,300 in 1925 by owner W. McNeish the dental detailing decorates the front porch facia board.  The builder of this home was Friend and Kinnemont.

In 1931 the owner of 353 West 17th Street was salesman Bert Z. Noble.  In 1940 the owner was a retired man, George Strong.  In 1950 the owners were Richard and Christina Webster.  Richard Webster was employed as a welder at Pacific Dry Dock. He also owned the house in 1960 when he worked as a welder at B. C. Marine.  In 1971 the owner was S. A. Vignone.  Both Antonio and Sebastiano Vignone were listed as living at 353 West 17th Street.  Antonio Vignone was a machinist at W. Sakololf Manufacturing. Sebstiano A. Vignone worked as a bricklayer.

After this time a series of residents but not owners are recorded in the City Directories.  In 1980 the resident was a student, P. Seymour.  In 1991 the resident was David Towler.  And in 1995/1996 the residents were William G. Richardson and Beverly Bigham.  In 2010 the Internet reports North Shore Upholstery at the 353 West 17th Street address.

The photo of 353 West 17th 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  year 2004 the City of North Vancouver web site reported a $6,000 demolition permit  was granted to Assertive Excavating and Demolition.  A building permit was granted to Tho Van Dao for a $294,000 single family home at the 353 West 17th Street address.  This home also had the dental detailing.


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 353 West Street had been demolished and a new home with dental detailing had been built.

Demolition: Of 1925 home in the year 2004.
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.

Monday, October 18, 2010
Harbottle's Jersey Product Salesman

The house at 404 West 27th Street is in the Upper Lonsdale area of the City of North Vancouver.  The house was built for $1,200 in 1930 by A. C. Marshall.  That was the year he also received a building permit for a $800 house addition and a $100 chicken house.  During that time there were many chicken farms in North Vancouver and trucks would come from Vancouver and deliver the feed. (Reference.)

By 1940 the residents of the house were John R. and Gerda H. Waghorn.  John Waghorn was a salesman for Harbottle's Jersey Products.  Below is a 1940  parade photo of a car with a sign advertising Harbottle's on the side and an ice cream Sunday on the top.

1940 Parade photo advertising Harbottle's Jersey Products

In 1950 the owner of 404 West 27th Street was Mrs. E. Wilson.  She was the widow of J. Wilson. 

By 1971 the Wilkinson family owned the 404 West 27th Street home.  Seth F. and Vivian L. Wilkinson reported they were retired.  They continued to report that they owned the house in 1980 and 1991.  In the 1995/1996 City Directory only Seth F. Wilkinson was listed at 404 West 27th Street.

Year 2000 ad for sale of $299,000 404 West 27th Street home

The photo of 404 West 27th 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 case of 404 West 27th Street the accompanying information was the year 2000 real estate ad for the sale of the house.  It was listed at $299,000. (See ad above.)


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 404 West 27th Street had been demolished and new construction was underway. 

The City of North Vancouver web site lists a 2007 demolition permit for 404 West 27th Street at $5000 to All Star Excavating and Demolition.  It lists a 2007 building permit for a new $470,000 single family home to Saltani Construction.

Reference: From stories of riding in his dad's feed  truck from United Milling,
                       in his childhood by Alan Wilson.
Photos: Top photo taken in the year 2000 by SW. 1940 Harbottle photo
                       available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to
                       the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.

Link: http://memorybc.ca/23124;rad

Sunday Church Feature

1879 St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Port Gamble, Washington

"St. Paul’s (Episcopal) Church sits on a sloping grass bluff overlooking the waters of Port Gamble Bay. The church, built in (1879), is modeled after a church in the Maine hometown of Port Gamble's founders. The meticulously restored church boasts 8 cathedral stained glass windows, original pews and a domed altar area. One of the most photographed buildings in the area, the picturesque church steeple houses the original church bell..." (Link 2.)The church is available for weddings with an outdoor waterfront tented terrace that accommodates 150.  The church and the Best Friends Antique Shop featured in the October 16th, 2010 blog post are both on Rainier Avenue facing the water.

"In 1860, Superintendent Josiah Keller built a community hall for "those who desire public worship, social enjoyment or fraternal communion and to educate the children.” In 1879, the community built this church to resemble a church in his hometown of East Machias, Maine. The expense of construction was paid for by subscription, with Puget Mill Co. being the largest subscriber. The bell was a gift of Pope and Talbot (owners of Puget Mill Co.) officials in San Francisco. Since most of the residents in 1879 were from Maine, the church was dedicated in the Congregational faith. The Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., was the first resident pastor.

"Members of the congregation purchased their pews and this practice reflected class distinctions in Port Gamble. By 1913, Congregational attendance dropped off and Baptists used the church as well. Regular services ended in the 1920s. In 1931, the religious affiliation of the church changed to Episcopal, reflecting the faith of the resident manager. The congregation changed the sanctuary, the pew arrangement and the location of the lectern, and added an altar. Pope and Talbot restored the church in 1973 and returned the steeple to its original height." (See Link 1.) (Link 3 for video tour of church.)


Note: See map and description of area in October 16th, 2010 post, Saturday Travel Feature, Best Friends Antiques, Port Gamble, Washington. The church is on the same street as the Best Friends Antiques Shop.
Photo: Taken in  December 2005 by SW.

Link 1:http://www.portgamble.com/externalsite.asp?URL=http%3A//www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm%3Ffile_id%3D7025
Link 2:http://www.portgambleweddings.com/default.asp?ID=21
Link 3:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ioz0Ol0_yg

Saturday Travel Feature\
Best Friends Antiques
Port Gamble, Washington

"The Kitsap Peninsula village of Port Gamble, located on a bay of the same name on Hood Canal, is one of the only surviving examples of a nineteenth century company town. It traces its roots back to the arrival of San Francisco timber entrepreneurs Josiah Keller, William Talbot, Andrew Pope, and Charles Foster in 1853, just months after Washington gained territorial status. Their succession of mills remained in operation until 1995, and many of the New England-style homes and stores that once served Port Gamble workers are now being restored by Olympic Property Group for residential and commercial uses bridging the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries.

"The owners of the Puget Mill Co. believed that if they provided good homes and a stable community for their workers, they would profit from higher productivity. The owners of Puget Mill Co. hailed from East Machias, Maine, and they recruited many of their earliest skilled workers from there. Port Gamble grew to resemble a New England town of the era with gabled homes, a steepled church, and elm trees...

"By the 1870s the community could boast athletic teams, a library and reading room, a dramatic club, and a school. Managers and skilled workers got the best homes and some employees built their own houses. Company houses had indoor plumbing and electricity almost as soon as those conveniences became available. Residents enjoyed the services of a medical clinic, a store, a school, a community hall, annual celebrations, even a mortuary and a cemetery.
In the 1930s, many of the smaller houses were sold and moved. Older buildings such as the schoolhouse and the Puget Hotel were demolished in subsequent decades when they could no longer be used. Through the end of the twentieth century, Port Gamble continued to function as a company town, providing homes to sawmill workers, a store, and other community services.
In 1995, the sawmill closed, but Port Gamble did not. Pope Resources still owns the town and property and Olympic Property Group rents the commercial buildings and residences. Port Gamble has become a tourist attraction and a destination for special events and ceremonies." (See Link 1, be sure to take the virtual tours of Port Gamble.)

A-Port Gamble, Washington (Mapquest)

The white house with the picket fence in the photo above is Best Friends Antiques at 32239 Ranier Avenue NE. (See Link 2.)  It was built in "1900-1901" in Port Ludlow. It was "barged over from Port Ludlow sometime after 1921 as employment at Port Ludlow dropped after the mill closed in 1935.  The house is named the Morrill Pope House, as Morrill Pope was the mill superintendent at Port Ludlow.  He was also a distant relative of Andrew Pope." (Shana Smith, town manager.) (See Link 1.)

SW 1940 lead figure Christmas display

Note: As a child in Milwaukee, Wisconsin part of the family Christmas display was a scene of lead skaters.  They were purchased by my mother in the 1940's.  After my parents died, in 1966 and 1967 they became part of my annual Christmas display.  In 2005 when I visited the Best Friends Antique Shop in Port Gamble I found 6 additions to my display: two male skater(in orange and green), a figure skater, Santa, a sleigh, and a reindeer.  All the pieces are lead and made in the 1940's.  The display is pictured in the photo above.

Thank you: To Shana Smith for her e mail detailing the history of Best Friends Antiques.

Photo: Top photo taken in Port Gamble in  2005 by SW.   Bottom photo taken in 2010 in my living room, SW.

Link1: http://www.portgamble.com/externalsite.asp?URL=http%3A//www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm%3Ffile_id%3D7025
Link 2: http://www.portgamble.com/default.asp?ID=99

Friday, October 15, 2010
House in the Back

The first mention of the 238 West 28th Street address at the North Vancouver Archives seems to be in the 1955 City Directory.  Then, not really the address just the designation "ns New House" is listed  between the 235 and 242 West 28th Street listings.  In 1960 the residents were Don P. and Muriel V. Fletcher.  Don Fletcher was employed as an office manager at the Hudson Bay Company.
In 1971 the owners were Leo J. and Claire A. Schaff. Leo Schaff worked as a mechanic for the North Vancouver District. 

By 1980 the owners were Ronald I. and Cindy Burrows.  Ronald Burrows was employed as a maintenance manager for Smart Coach Lines.  They continued to own the house in 1991 and 1995/1996.  In 1991 Ronald Burrows was a manager at B. C. Transit and in the 1995/1996 City Directory his occupation is listed as a manager of Perimeter Transportation Ltd.

The house at 238 West 28th Street is in the Upper Lonsdale area of the City of North Vancouver.  It is 1 1/2 blocks west of Lonsdale Avenue and 2 blocks south of Queens Road.  There is an out building at the back of the lot of approximately 850 square feet that was allowed because of the size of the original home and the size of the lot.  This was built around the year 2000.

The photo of 238 West 28th 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 238 West 28th Street had been demolished and a new single family home had been built.

The web site of REMAX Realtors has listed the property at 238 West 28th Street for sale at $1,549,000.

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.

Thursday, October 14, 2010
A Great Home to Grow Up In

The house at 911 Kennedy Avenue was indeed a great place to grow up in. Not only did it have its own swimming pool and a kitchen fireplace, (See bottom photo) to perhaps roast marshmallows, down the street was  Fairmont Park.  Highland's Elementary School was two blocks away, and you could walk to both Edgemont Village and Mosquito Creek Park.

Back of house and pool

The grey split level house at the end of the quiet street was probably built shortly before 1953.  There is no mention of the 911 Kennedy Avenue address in either the Building Permit Book or 1950 City Directory, both at the North Vancouver Archives.  But in 1953 a $200  building permit was issued to J. Lloyd for a carport, so the house was completed by then.  Several other houses on the block are of the same split level design.

Kitchen fireplace

In 1955 and 1960 the owners were Peter R. and Olive L. Watt.  In 1955 Peter was a salesman for the company E. W. Watt.  In 1960 he was the proprietor at E. W. Watt Agencies.  The 1971 response to City Directory inquiries was "Vacant".

The Gould family owned the house by 1980.  John S. and Merle Gould continued to be the owners at least until 1995.  In the 1991 and 1995/1996 City Directories John Gould's employment was listed as teacher.

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

                 September 2010.

Photos: Taken in September of 2010 by SW.