Monday, November 22, 2010

Naas Family-40 Years

The house at 527 North Dollarton Highway at the entrance to Deep Cove with a view of Burrard Inlet was built in 1954.  (See Link.) In 1955 W. G. Babcock built a $300 garage and in 1962 an $800 house addition.  Those listings are in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives.  However, in the 1950 and 1960 City Directories the street of North Dollarton Highway was not even listed.

Front yard view of Burrard Inlet

In 1971  the 527 North Dollarton Highway  owner was again recorded as E. Nass.  Einar and Sylvia Naas were listed as the owners in 1980.  At this time Einar Naas was employed as a salesman at Davidson and Company.  In 1991 and 1995/1996  Einar Naas was listed as retired and still the owner.  Robin Naas, a clerk at N R was  listed as a resident.  The 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory continues to list Einar Naas as living at 527 North Dollarton Highway.  That is 40 years ownership of the house for the Naas family at the entrance to Deep Cove with the view of Burrard Inlet

A 2010 real estate ad describes the property as being on a 15,015 square foot lot and the house having 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.  It was listed for sale at $925,000. (See Link.)

Demolition: Permit applied for in October 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010.
Link: http://www.teamtaylorrealty.ca/Properties.php/Details/17

Note the flying buttresses on the rear of the church

Sunday Church Feature
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Paris, France

"Notre Dame de Paris (French for Our Lady of Paris), also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra (official chair), of the Archbishop of Paris, currently André Vingt-Trois. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe. It was restored and saved from destruction by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, one of France's most famous architects. The name Notre Dame means "Our Lady" in French, and is frequently used in the names of Catholic church buildings in Francophone countries. Notre Dame de Paris was one of the first Gothic cathedrals, and its construction spanned the Gothic period. Its sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism, unlike that of earlier Romanesque architecture.

Rose Window and panel windows beneath

"The cathedral suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French Revolution in the 1790s, when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. During the 19th century, an extensive restoration project was completed, returning the cathedral to its previous state." (See Link.)

"Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses (See top photo.) around the choir and nave. After the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern.

Tourists in front of church, note rose window and panel windows beneath

Construction: Ground breaking in 1163 and completion in 1345.

Photos: Copies of 1978 post cards.
                 Photo of tourists, Laura Wilson who had her 8th birthday in Paris that
                 year, and brother Richard Wilson age 9 taken by mother Suzanne
                Wilson in 1978.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_de_Paris

Hotel Angel on the Bridge

Saturday Travel Feature

Henley-on-Thames

England

"Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead. It is near the corner between the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire

"The first record of medieval settlement dates to 1179, when it is recorded that King Henry II "had bought land for the making of buildings". King John granted the manor of Benson and the town an manor of Henley to Robert Harcourt in 1199. A church is first mentioned at Henley in 1204. In 1205 the town received a paviage grant, and in 1234 the bridge is first mentioned. In 1278 Henley is described as a hamlet of Benson with a Chapel. It is probable that the street plan was established by the end of the 13th century.
As a demesne of the crown it was granted to John de Molyns, in 1337 whose family held it for about 250 years. It is said that members for Henley sat in parliaments of Edward I and Edward III, but no writs have been found to substantiate this.

"The existing Thursday market, it is believed, was granted by a charter of King John. A market was certainly in existence by 1269, however, the jurors of the assize of 1284 said that they did not know by what warrant the earl of Cornwall held a market and fair in the town of Henley. The existing Corpus Christi fair was granted by a charter of Henry VI.

"Henley Bridge is a five arched bridge across the river which was built in 1786. The church of St. Mary is located nearby and features a tower built in the 16th century. (See photo above.)

"Henley is a world renowned centre for rowing, each summer holding the Henley Royal Regatta, one of the highlights of the social calendar of the English middle and upper classes. The regatta is held on a stretch of the river that is naturally straight. The event became Royal in 1851. In that year Prince Albert became the patron of the regatta." (See Link 2.)

Captain Alan Wilson, 1st Mate Suzanne Wilson

and Gay Belinda Class Cabin Cruiser, 1978

In the 1970's Bert Bushnell winner of a gold medal for rowing in the 1948 Olympics ran a cabin cruiser for hire at Ray Mead Road in Maidenhead, England.  (See Link 1.) A family could rent a boat to live on for a week and navigate the many locks and visit the many little towns on the Thames River.  After a 30 minute lesson the cabin cruiser was yours, for better or worse.  Ambitions of cruising all the way to Oxford  were turned into the reality of making it as far as Pangbourne, and feel lucky, a total travel distance there and back of 20 miles in one week.  But in that 20 miles you could: moor at the Angel on the Bridge riverside pub , do brass rubbings in tiny old churches, , say hello to the lock master with the black eye patch, visit with the river's swan master, feed the cows in the field next to where you moored for the night, and catch minnows.  The weirs and locks were their own challenge (and reason for the few number of miles travelled).  The weirs (small dams) needed to be dodged and the line up at the locks often necessitated balancing on a 4x4 beam while hanging onto the boat with a rope unit it was your boat's turn to go into the next lock.



Photos:  Of Henley-on-Thames, a 1978 post card.  Map.  Captain and 1st Mate
                 taken in 1978 by Richard Wilson.
Link 1: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/bert-first-struck-gold-in-1948-now-he-wants-it-all-over-again-487686.html

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henley-on-Thames
Link 3: http://www.rg9.co.uk/angel

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