Friday, October 29, 2010

More Black and White

The Flamborough Head Victory Ship

"HMCS Cape Breton (ARE 100) was a RCN Cape-class escort maintenance ship. Originally built for the Royal Navy as HMS Flamborough Head in 1944 she was transferred in 1952.

"Flamborough Head (pennant F88) was one of the 21 Beachy Head class repair ships.^[1] It was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1952 and served till 1975. It was used as a floating machine shop until the late 1990s. Except for a short section of the stern and her engines, which will comprise a significant portion of the Maritime Museum in North Vancouver BC, it was sunk in the waters of British Columbia in 2001 by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia after extensive cleaning to meet Environment Canada requirements. It now lies near Snake Island in Nanaimo harbour and is a popular scuba diving site.

HMS  Flamborough in Erection Shop 2001

"The Christening Bells Project at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum includes information from the ship's bell of HMCS Cape Breton (2nd) 1959 - 1993, which was used for baptism of babies onboard ship 1959 - 1971. The bell is currently held by the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum, Esquimalt, BC." (See Link.)

Number 5 Ferry and HMS Flamborough docked at foot of Lonsdale 2001



The "HMCS Cape Breton, ex HMS  Flamborough was towed home to Burrard's former Dry Dock, (BDD where it was built) in North Vancouver in April 1999..." (Reference.) Here it was docked at The Pier, between Lonsdale Avenue and St. Georges Avenue.  The stern was cut off in 2001 and moved to various places on the old BDD grounds including a stint in the Erection Shop at the water end of St. George's Avenue.  It presently sits wrapped in a white protective shell on the BDD grounds south east of the new Pinnacle Hotel. 

Reference: Launching History, Francis Mansbridge, page 85.
Demolition/Sinking: Removal of the stern in 2001.  Sinking near Snake Island off Vancouver Island in 2001.
Photos: Taken at The Pier area in North Vancouver, B.C. in 2001 as part of the Demolition and Construction Project, Roll #2 and 4 on file at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Cape_Breton_(ARE_100)

Thursday, October 28, 2010

More Black and White

Number 5 Ferry/Seven Seas Restaurant

"Constructed by the West Coast Salvage and Contracting Company in 1941, this was the last of the end-to-end loading ferries, and the last to be built for use on the North Shore run.  It accommodated 600  passengers and 30 vehicles, and ran until the cessation of service in 1958.  The following year, it was purchased by a private company and converted into a seafood restaurant." (Reference 1.)



The large neon sign "Seven Seas Seafoods" atop the old #5 Ferry at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue was a North Vancouver City landmark for many years.  In 1996 the City questioned the ships safety and a lengthy court battle ensued. (North Shore News, June 23, 2002.) In June of 2002, at midnight, the vessel was towed from the foot of Lonsdale to  Vancouver Pile Driving at the foot of Brooksbank Avenue.  The removal and destruction of the ship and legal bills, all paid for by the City was estimated at $600,000.(See Outlook, May 23 and June 27, 2002.) "In dry dock it proved to be quite sound, but at that point the decision had already been made to scrap it and a piece of heritage was lost." (Wikipedia.) "Then on July 2,(2002) workers using a cutting torch to remove large bolts got too close to the wooden hull, starting a fire.  North Vancouver District firefighters managed to contain the fire to a small area of what was left of the vessel.(North Shore News, July 12, 2002.)  The neon "Seven Seas" sign finally made its way to the City of North Vancouver Works Yard.

Kitchen of Seven Seas Restaurant 2002



The #5 Ferry had two wheel houses and there was no reverse gear.  To go in the opposite direction the captain would disengage the drive shaft, then go to the wheel house on the opposite end of the ferry and engage a second drive shaft.  Hence, there were two wheel houses, two drive shafts, and two propellers. There were 4 floors to the ferry: engine deck, upper engine room and car deck, passenger/restaurant deck, top deck. (A more complete description accompanies the Demolition and Construction Project Roll #14 report at the North Vancouver Archives.)

Engine of #5 Ferry

Diamond Almas was the owner of the Seven Seas Restaurant.  In 2008 he was inducted into the B.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame. (See Link 2.)

Thank you: To Sharon Proctor for information as to the storage of the removed
                         "Seven Seas" neon sign.

Demolition: Took place at Vancouver Pile Driving in 2002. (Note fire.)

Reference 1: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994, page 169.

Photos: Taken in the year 2001 and 2002 as part of the Demolition and Construction Project  Rolls #4 and 14 and 15 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.heritagevancouver.org/pdf/hv_news_2002_05_web.pdf
Link 2: http://www.bcrhof.com/bio_DiamondAlmas_2008.php

October 27, 2010
More Black and White
The Crab Shack

Appendix

City Directory Summary

1960  3689 Dollarton Highway-Martin M. Dobay Jr.
1961  2817 Dollarton Highway-North Vancouver Fish Supply
           2823 Dollarton Highway-Dobay
1962 Same as 1961
1963 2829 Dollarton Highway-Dobay
           2817 Dollarton Highway-North Vancouver Fish Supply
1964 2817 Dollarton Highway-Same as 1961
1965 2817 Dollarton Highway-Same as 1961
1968 Same as 1965
1971  Same as 1963
1972 2817 Dollarton Highway-North Vancouver Fish Supply
           2823 Dollarton Highway-Martin Dobay Jr.
1981 2817 Dollarton Highway-North Vancouver Fish Supply
1982 2817 Dollarton Highway-The Crab Shop (Note name.)
1991 2817 Dollarton Highway-Vacant
           2820 Dollarton Highway-Martin and Shirley Dobay/The Crab Shop Ltd.
1995/1996 Same as 1991 with a note that Martin and Shirley Dobay had been
           the owners at that location for 6 years.

1999/2000 2464 Dollarton Highway-The Crab Shop (Phone Directory)
2006/2007 2464 Dollarton Highway-The Crab Shop (Phone Directory)
Until 2011 #121 2455 Dollarton Highway-The Crab Shop (Phone Directory)

Researched by Suzanne Wilson at the North Vancouver Archives.

The Crab Shack, 2817 Dollarton Highway, 2002

Wednesday, October 27, 2010
More Black and White
The Crab Shack

The Crab Shack (Note the name on the sign on west side of roof above front door.) has been a land mark of North Vancouver since the 1950's. It is "The Place" and "The Only Place" locals buy live crab in North Vancouver.  The Crab Shop was first on the mud flats south of  Dollarton highway, then north of the highway  at 2817 Dollarton Highway across from  the bird sanctuary, and presently again south of the highway further west at #121 2455 Dollarton Highway in the Dollarton  Shopping Center (The name now listed in the phone book is The Crab Shop.)

Although there is no listing of The Crab Shack in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives and ambiguous listings in the City Directories, two local residents gave more information.  One is Ron Westmoreland who worked for Lyttle Brothers, a branch of  L and K Lumber, when the original Crab Shack was on land leased from them and used for log storage.  Ron Westmoreland's job was to pick up the  monthly rent for The Crab Shack from the owner at that time, Mr. Dobay.  Ron thought that The Crab Shack  may have been there from the 1950's. 

Salesperson Jen White and  Owner Marcel Gregori
2817 Dollarton Highway, 2002

The other person with information on The Crab Shack was the owner since 1993, Marcel Gregori.  Marcel Gregori told this story when interviewed by Suzanne Wilson in 2002.  "Until 20 years ago The Crab Shack was down the road at the mud flats.  When the hippie's were kicked off the mud flats and the land was developed into about 20 lots with houses The Crab Shack was moved to its present location.  Marcel bought it from an old man in 1993.  The next year the old man died.  Before leasing The Crab Shack Marcel managed a fish plant.

"The land The Crab Shack is on and the treed land behind it was owned  by the Port Authority.  Marcel leased it on a 30 day lease.  For this reason improvements were kept to a minimum.  There was some talk of the Port Authority selling the land behind The Crab Shack for development.  However there was the issue of water shed to the bird sanctuary across the road."

Boat Marcel Gregori used for crab fishing, 2002
(Stored next to the shop at 2817 Dollarton Highway)

Putting the two stories together plus the information from the City Directories seems to indicate this history. That The Crab Shack started as North Vancouver Fish Supply at 2817 Dollarton Highway possibly under the proprietor ship of Martin Dobay (in some City Directories spelled Dobey) in 1961.  It continued under the name North Vancouver Fish Supply until 1982 when it became The Crab Shack  and with the proprietor being Martin Dobay.  This was when it was on the mud flats.  In 1988 when the area was developed The Crab Shack moved to 2464 on the north side of Dollarton Highway.    In 1993 Marcel Gregori bought the business from Martin Dobay. The next year Martin Dobay died.

One more move was in for The Crab Shack.  That was in 2007 when it moved into a new store and again to the south side of Dollarton Highway.  Its sign now reads the Crab Shop and it is located at #121 2455 Dollarton Highway in the Dollarton Business Park and east of Forester Street.

Crab traps behind boat next to the shop at 2817 Dollarton Highway, 2002

Appendix: List of City Directory entries on request by e mail.
Demolition: Of original Crab Shack on mud flats probably in 1988.        
Thank you: To Ron Westmoreland and Marcel Gregori for the interviews and
                        information.
Photos: Taken of Crab Shack on Dollarton Highway in 2002 by SW.  (See Demolition and Construction Project Roll # 10 at the North Vancouver
                       Archives.)



          

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

More Black and White

Historic Street

The house at 230 East 10th Street was in 1937 for $2,500. The builder was  J. E. Atkins and the owner was K. Howell.  But long before that there were many houses on the  200 block of East 10th Street.  And there are photographs of many of them in the City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.  These include houses on the south side of the street at: 225,227, 231, and 251, and houses on the north side of the street at: 240, 244, 246, and 252.  All these homes were built between 1909 and 1912.

In 1940 Hugh L. and Helen E. Fraser were the residents of the 230 East 1oth Street home.  Hugh Fraser was a branch manager for the Royal Bank.  In 1950 D. P Attchison was living in the house.  In 1960 the owners were G. Edgar and A. Bernice Harding.  G. Edgar Harding was  foreman at Western Bridge.  In 1971 the owners were Micheal D. and May Forman.  Michael Forman worked as a computer operator for MSA.

In 1980 the owners were George B. and D. Helen Kerry.  George Kerry was a salesman for Vancouver Magazine Service.  In 1991 the owner was M. L. Wall.  And in the 1995/1996 City Directory the owner is listed at Carol Newton.

Demolition:  The house was demolished in 2001.
Photo: Taken for Demolition and Construction Project Roll #5 in 2001 by SW.  Demolition and Construction Project is on file at the North Vancouver Archives.

Monday, October 25, 2010
More Black and White
Compound on Capilano

.
Prominent citizens of North Vancouver lived at the 3065 Capilano Road address.  The compound consisted of a large three storey main house, a separate building that was a small studio,  a double garage, and a tennis court.  The house was at the end of the driveway and near the Capilano River with the studio in front to the south and the garage in the front to the north.  The tennis court was near Capilano Road.  The land covered 1 1/2 acres.  Its west border was the Capilano River.  On that river side there was a rock wall to protect the house.  There were also 148 steps that went down to the river.  They were built by the Water Board but are no longer there.  The whole complex was hooded in tall trees.

A Building Permit was applied for in 1940 for a $2750 house by H. H. Cheney.  In 1941 H. H. Cheney applied for a $125 house alteration. The Cheney's also built the studio. In 1945 the City Directory lists the owners as Dr. Hill H. C and Anna G.  Cheney.  Dr. Hill Cheney was the assistant director of  Xray at Vancouver General Hospital.  In 1950 Mrs. Anna G. Cheney, widow, was listed as the owner.  Nan (Anna Gertrude Lawson) Cheney was "B.C.'s first medical artist (and first medical artist at UBC's faculty of Medicine 1951 to 1962-The Sun Nov. 7, 1985.) and a long time friend of Emily Carr...a painter who worked closely with Group of Seven members Lawren Harris and Jack MacDonald... Described as "a good painter in her own right" by artist Gordon Smith,..." Nan Lawson Cheney died in 1985 at age 88. 

Studio

In the 1951 City Directory Dr. J. F. and Annabellel L. Minnes were the owners of 3065 Capilano Road.  Dr. J. F. Minnes as an eye doctor.  In 1952 A. Minnes applied for a Building Permit for a $500 house addition.   Dr. Minnes made additions to both the house and the studio. A two storey wing was added to each side of the house.  On one side was a breakfast room and bedroom and on the other a front porch and a bedroom.  The bedrooms were upstairs.  Dr. Minnes also added a bedroom and bathroom to the studio.  And he was the owner who added the tennis court. In 1961 the Minne's continued to own the Capilano Road home and Dr. Jason Minnes office was reported as being at 3195 Granville Street in Vancouver. 

Double Garage

In 1991 and 1998  the City Directories list Colin K. Parkinson at the owner of 1965 Capilano Road.  Ella Parkinson was one of the instigators  of the North Shore Arts Commission.  She continued as Executive Director until she retired after 20 years in 1994.  Ella Parkinson was a Recipient of the Centennial Distinguished Citizen Awards from North Vancouver.

Thank you: To Ella Parkinson for the phone interview in 2002 and the detailed description of the property at 3065 Capilano Rd.

Demolition: Permit applied for in 2002.

Photos: Taken for Demolition and Construction Project Roll #9 in 2002 by SW,
                 on file at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link:http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/whoswho_C.htm



Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sunday Church Feature

St. Catherine's Anglican Church,
North Vancouver, B.C.

St. John's Anglican Church  in North Vancouver  sponsored the building of 5 other Anglican Churches in North Vancouver: St. Clement's in  1908, St. Agnes' in 1909, St. Thomas in 1910 that changed its name to St. Martin's in 1919, St. Catherine's in 1948, and St. Richard's in 1950. (Reference 1.)

Sanctuary

In 1948 St. John's Anglican Church acquired new property in Capilano Highlands that would become that of the new St. Catherine's Anglican Church at 1958 Ridgewood Drive.  Architect Paul Hollingworth presented sketches of a proposed parish hall.  On June 13th fifty people sat on logs in front of the rough-hewn outdoor altar with St. John's loaned pump organ and choir for an open-air service on the grounds of the planned church.  Construction of a temporary structure called the "tar paper shack" began on Sept 18, 1948.  It was 24x48 feet and accommodated roughly 40 people and a wood stove.  The church met there for 3 years.  In 1949 the congregation decided to name the church "Church of The Holy Cross". (Reference 2.)

Memorial Window on east side of sanctuary

The second building, the permanent Hollingsworth designed structure,  to accommodate a larger congregation cost more than $30,000 and was completed in 1951.  A third building was designed by the architectural firm Sharp and Anderson and built in 1962.  The cost of this building was $175,000. To build it necessitated demolishing  the Hollingsworth church since the same land was to be used.  Some of the items in the Hollingsworth church were installed in the new 1962 building: the pews, altar and rail, and cross in the chapel and  some pews in the sanctuary.  The new church sanctuary featured giant laminated beams and a balcony.  Other church features of today's church are the stained glass window on the east side of the sanctuary, three  tapestries at the back of the sanctuary, and exposed organ pipes in the balcony. (Reference 2.) (See photos below.) 

Rear of sanctuary, tapestries,  and organ pipes

North of the present church sanctuary is a hall leading to the chapel, church
office, and church hall. 

The congregation of St. Catherine's Anglican Church has recently welcomed the members of St. Richard's Anglican Church that was decommissioned early in 2010. (See Blog Post, Sunday Church Feature, St. Richard's of Norgate, January 3, 2010.)

Thank you: To the Rev. Christine Rowe for * and additional information.

References: 1. Faithful People of God, 1999 by Beth Lawrence.

                         2. *Journey of a Family, 1993 by Janet Morris.

Demolition: Of the 1951 building to make way for construction of 1962
                         building.

Photos: Taken in October 2010 by SW.