Friday, November 19, 2010

Watt on the Corner

Of the three homes at the east end of the 3600 block of Mount Seymour Parkway was the house at 3633 Mount Seymour Parkway.  It was the house closest to the corner with Mount Seymour Road.  It also had a variation in the design in that there are three windows above the front door.

Again there is no listing of Mount Seymour Parkway or the 3633 address in the 1955 or 1965 City Directories.  And there is no listing of the 3633 address in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives. 

But in 1971 J. A. Watt is listed as the owner.  In 1980 James and Margaret I.  Watt are listed as the owners.  James Watt was working as a iron worker at G and H Steel at that time.  In 1991 and 1995/1996 James and Margaret I. are again listed as the owners and listed as being retired as well.  The 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory lists James Watt at the 3633 Mount Seymour Parkway address as well.  That makes 40 years that the Watt family lived at 3633 Mount Seymour Parkway and 20 years that they were neighbors with the Mynott family at 3601 Mount Seymour Parkway.

Note: See Blog Posts:

         3601 Mount Seymour Parkway,"Triumvirate on Mount Seymour Parkway",

         3615 Mount Seymour Parkway, "House in the Middle" November 18, 2010.

Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.

Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

                   Nov. 17, 2010.
    

Thursday, November 18, 2010
The House in the Middle

The house to the east of 3601 Mount Seymour Parkway was at 3615 Mount Seymour Parkway.  It sat in the middle of the cluster of three houses at the corner with Mount Seymour Road.  Its design was the reverse of 3601 with the large living room window to the west of the front door.  It also had windows that could be seen on the lower level below the two small bedroom windows.  And its garage was not under the house, but attached to it.

Again this street and home were not listed in the 1960 or 1965 City Directories.  In 1971 the owners were Peter and Mrs. Catherine T. Waltz. Catherine Waltz worked as an invoicer at Western Marine Supply.  Peter worked as a bartender at the North Shore Winter Club.  In 1980 there was "No Return" to inquiries by the City Directory staff.

In 1991 and 1995/1996 the owner was reported to be Kristina Vanbervoort, an employee at the Hospital Employees Union.  In 1995/1996  she noted that she had lived at the 3615 address for 7 years.  So she must have moved in earlier than the 1991 date, perhaps in 1988.  Another resident at the 3615 address was listed in the 1995/1996 City Directory, that was Gordon Moss, an employee at White Foot Enterprises.

Note: See Blog Posts:
        3601 Mount Seymour Parkway,"Triumvirate on Mount Seymour Parkway",
                   Nov. 17, 2010.
        3633 Mount Seymour Parkway, "Watt on the Corner", November 19, 2010.

Demolition: Applied for in November 2010.
Photo: Taken in November by SW.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Triumvirate on Mount Seymour Parkway

There are three single family homes sitting on the south side of the east end of the 3600 block of Mount Seymour Parkway.  They are the last of the single family homes on this long block.  The other housing is multifamily homes.  And across the street at this corner that is Mount Seymour Rd. and the entrance to Mount Seymour Provincial Park, is Parkgate Shopping Center.  There is no listing in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives for any of the three homes.  And the 1960 and 1965 City Directories do not even list Mount Seymour Parkway.

The first of the three similar single family homes, the most western,  is at 3601 Mount Seymour Parkway.  It was listed in the 1971 City Directory and so was its owner, Eakujapaa.  In 1980 the owners was named  Elmer Akuganpas. 

In 1991 and 1995/1996 the owners were Clive and Wendy Mynott.  Clive Mynot was employed as a fitter welder at Pacific Truck and Trailer Ltd. during that time.  Clive continued to live at 3601 Mount Seymour Parkway in the year 2000 since it was reported in the 1999/2000 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory as his address.  And the Mynott family continued to live there in 2006/2007 since the Phone Directory listed Leslie Mynott at that address.  It seems that Clive Mynott did not move far in 2008/2010 as he was then listed in the Phone Directory as being at 1931 Deep Cove Road.  Deep Cove crosses Mount Seymour Parkway about a mile east of the 3601 Mount Seymour Parkway address.


Note: The room on the lower floor that featured large sliding glass doors probably started out as a  garage.  A driveway leads to it.  This similar house design was seen in the Blog Post at 2895 Edgemont Blvd., "The Reverend's House", November 16, 2010.

Note: To see the other 2 homes of the triumvirate see Blog Posts:
            3615 Mount Seymour Parkway, "The House in the Middle", Nov. 18, 2010.
            3633 Mount Seymour Parkway, "Watt on the Corner", November 19, 2010.
Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.
Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Reverend's House

The house at 2895 Edgemont Boulevard is in the Capilano Highlands area of North Vancouver District.  It was built in 1950 for $10,500 by the Reverend J. G. Greig.  By 1955 the Venerable H. J. Greig (Note spelling and initials.) and his wife Caroline J. Greig owned the house.  The Venerable H. J. Greig was the Archdeacon and pastor of the newly established St. Catherine's Anglican Church.  The Reverend H. J. Greig served the St. Catherine's Anglican Church from 1951 to 1956. (See Reference and photo below.)

Reverend H. J. Greig

The house just a block from the Edgemont Village town center was typical for that area.  It included an underground garage, indicated by the driveway on the left leading to it.  As can be seen in the house photo that the garage was filled in to extend the living space.  This was also a typical conversion.

The 1960 owners of the house at 2895 Edgemont Blvd. were Chase H. and Flora Gowe.  Chase Gowe worked as a weighman at the Board of Grain.  In 1971 the owner was Mrs. M. L. Browne.

By 1980 Edward and Beryle Knight were the owners.  Edward Knight was a sales representative for Evergreen Press.  They continued to own the house at least until the publication of the 1995/1996 City Directory.  In 1991 and 1995/1996 Edward Knight reported that he was the sales representative for Ronald's.

The 2010 real estate ad (See Link.) describes the house of 2,400 square feet on a 8,050 square foot lot as having 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.  It was advertised for sale for $849,000, and that was a reduced price.

Reference: Journey of a Family, St. Catherine's (Capilano), North Vancouver,
                      A Parish History.
Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.
Photos: Of house taken in November 2010 by SW.
                Of Reverend H. J. Greig, see Reference.

Link: http://www.mikegiesbrecht.com/Properties.php/Details/205

Monday, November 15, 2010

Certiwood

Certiwood owned by the Canadian Plywood Association was at 735 West 15th Street.  "CertiWood™ is Canada's Most Experienced Engineered Wood Products Testing and Certification Agency." (See Link 2.) The buildings unique multiplaned roof sat in the center of the City of North Vancouver and juxtaposition to the greenery of Mosquito Creek Park across the street. 

Adjacent to the main building was also the Certiwood CanPly Plywood House, another building of unique design. (See photo below.)  The business  moved  on June 28, 2010 and an application for rezoning to allow for the building of 60 dwelling units housed in three three-storey buildings on the 1,026 acre lot was filed.

There is no listing of the 735 West 15th Street address in the Building Permit Book or the 1950 or 1960 City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives.  In 1971 the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. (laboratory) with A. J. McGraw as manager is listed in the City Directory.  The headquarters of the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. was at 1055 West Hastings St. in Vancouver with  the President being  G. L. Draeseke.  The 735 West 15th Street address continued to be listed under the ownership of the Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. (See Link 3.) until the present time.  In 1995/1996 it was further explained to be a "B.C. plywood tech centre".  The Council of the Forest Industry of B.C. headquarters is now at 700 West Pender Street in Vancouver.

"Landmark plywood centre has had its day/City approves 60 townhouses, by Benjamin Alldritt, North Shore News July 7, 2010. 

"The CertiWood building, at 725 West 15th St., was opened in 1962 as a dedicated testing centre for plywood, a new building material at the time. The building features a unique multi-faced roof that was intended to show off the structural uses of plywood. It was designed by architect Ron Thom, who went on to build several private homes on the North Shore as well as numerous university and college buildings in Eastern Canada. He was named to the Order of Canada in 1980.

"But the Canadian Plywood Association has long since finished their tests and wants to move their offices into a more appropriate building. The CertiWood structure is not on any of the city's heritage lists, although staff had been considering it.

"The developer, Adera Equities, has taken a few stabs at a plan for the lot. In October of 2009, they brought forward a plan for a building with a floor surface ratio of 1.4 times the lot size, considerably larger than the 1 FSR settled on for the area by the recent Marine Drive planning study.

"Adera also managed to irritate several councillors by trying to drum up neighbourhood support for the larger design after it was rejected.

"The plans that were unanimously approved at city council June 28 call for three three-storey buildings with a total FSR of 1, as required by council. The developer also got approval for another 5,586 square feet of building in return for a range of environmental features. The townhouses will be the first residential building in British Columbia to be built to a LEED platinum standard. The project will include solar water heating, waste water heat recovery, and a particularly effective heating envelope.

"Although he voted in favour of the project, Coun. Rod Clark said he was unconvinced the city was getting enough in return for the density bonus. "It seems like a lot for environmental benefits," he said. "I don't see these as city benefits so much as for their marketing brochures. If we're giving up 12.5 per cent, I want to see benefits.

"This is a good project," said Coun. Craig Keating. "It adds to the neighbourhood. It's a beautiful building."
balldritt@nsnews.com

© Copyright (c) North Shore News (See Link 4.)

Demolition: Permit applied for in October 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link1:http://www.certiwood.com/

Link2:http://www.nsuc.ca/new_building/nbtf_pdf_files/canply_brochure.pdf
Link3:http://www.cofi.org/
Link4:http://www.burnabynow.com/story_print.html?id=3245608&sponsor=

Sunday Church Feature
Community United Methodist Church
Leavenworth, Washington

The  Community United Methodist Church at 418 Evans Street sits two blocks north of the Gazebo in the center square of the Bavarian style town of Leavenworth, Washington. It has been there for over 100 years.

"1907: Rev. Melvin Rumohr arrived on Memorial Day to organize a
                        Methodist church in Leavenworth.
             First service held a few weeks later with 20 people received
                        into membership.
           Sunday School began two months before his arrival, with five teachers
                       and nearly 40  children  attending.
           Annual conference held in September. Church incorporated as
                       First Methodist Episcopal  Church of Leavenworth, WA.
           Land purchased as building site for a church. Rev. Rumohr bought
                      adjacent lots and built a home for his family.
1908: Methodist Episcopal Ladies Aid Society organized.
          Choir organized by Mrs. Martel, a fine organist.
          Church built, at Evans and Whitman Streets. First services held Dec. 9.
1909: Church dedicated June 10, one of three Methodist churches in the
                     valley dedicated that day.  Others in Peshastin and Cashmere.
          Organ purchased. Bell installed in the belfry.
1912: Parsonage built.
1929: First women pastors appointed: Bertha Reich and Winifred Dove.
1946-49: Four lots purchased at Evans and Summit Streets for new, larger
                    church. Existing house on the land became the new parsonage.
         Church construction took three years; Rev. Rumohr was on the
                    building committee.
1949: First services held in new church on Easter Sunday. Rev. LaVern E.
                    Tooley was pastor; he built altar, pulpit and lectern.
1950: "Art" window installed in the sanctuary.
1954: New church dedicated, after mortgage was paid off (required before a
                    building can be dedicated).
1959: Golden Jubilee of the church celebrated (50 years after dedication of
                   first church). Rev. Rumohr participated.
1969: New parsonage purchased.
1986: Church exterior stuccoed.
1997: Celebrated 50th anniversary of laying the cornerstone of present church building.
2006: Lift installed for handicap access.
2007: Celebration of Centennial Year." (See Link.) 

Thank you: To Jane, church historian, for reference to history of Community United Methodist Church.
Photo: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

For more information on Leavenworth, Washington see these Blog Posts:
        Saturday Travel Feature, "The Gazebo", November 6, 2010.      
        Sunday Church Feature, "St. Joseph's Catholic Church", November 7, 2010.
       Satuday Travel Feature, "FestHalle", November 13, 2010.

Saturday Travel Feature
FestHalle

Leavenworth, Washington

"Located in the beautiful Bavarian village of Leavenworth in the Eastern Cascade Foothills of Washington State, the Leavenworth Festhalle is a multiuse facility that includes a large 10,000 square foot open event hall, restrooms, lobby, and outside patio area.  Its planned usage includes festivals including Oktoberfest, Autumn Leaf festival, Accordion Festival, Leavenworth Summer Theater Productions, Sausage Fest, Wine Fest, River Fest, Upper Valley Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce functions, Cascade School District events, Weddings, etc.  The Festhalle is also available for use by large conferences, meetings, and large gatherings that may be coming to Leavenworth.  Services including facilities rental, logistics, catering, audio visual, and more may be arranged." (See Link.)

The FestHalle is the performance home of the Summer Theater group that is presenting "Amahl and the Night Visitors" this holiday season.

Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link: http://www.leavenworthfesthalle.com/     

   For more information on Leavenworth, Washington see these Blog Posts:

        Saturday Travel Feature, "The Gazebo", November 6, 2010.      

        Sunday Church Feature, "St. Joseph's Catholic Church", November 7, 2010.

        Sunday Church Feature, "Community United Methodist Church", 11/13/10.