Saturday Travel Feature
The Strip
Las Vegas, Nevada

Neon signs define Las Vegas, the entertainment capitol of the world.  And the most dense areas of neon signs in Las Vegas are the old and the new "strips".  The old strip is on Fremont Street with its Gold Nugget Casino, anchored by the  Plaza  Hotel and roofed by the light show "The Fremont Experience".   The new strip has now assumed the name and is just called "The Strip".  It is Las Vegas Boulevard.  Both old and new strips ooze neon.  But what happens to the neon signs when a casino is demolished or a sign is obsolete?  They go to the Neon Museum Boneyard, of course. 

"These are exciting times at the Neon Museum!

"First, we are happy to report that the Bow and Arrow, the Binion’s Horseshoe, and the Silver Slipper  have all been restored to their original condition and are now located on medians along Las Vegas Blvd. North. The restoration of these signs is just the first phase of what will be a series of signs restored for placement along the downtown Las Vegas Scenic Byway. It is a thrill to experience the signs as they were meant to be seen-floating lights dancing in the sky along the boulevard. Here’s to making the downtown Las Vegas skyline that much brighter!

"In other exciting news, construction on the city of Las Vegas’ Neon Boneyard Park began on February 8. The park will sit adjacent to the La Concha on Las Vegas Blvd. North and will complement the campus of the Neon Museum Boneyard and visitor’s center...The Neon Boneyard Park project signals the first phase of the development of the beautiful Neon Museum and Boneyard campus.

"Finally, we are pleased to report the acquisition of two new signs: the Apache Motel and the Queen of Hearts. The Queen of Hearts and The Apache Motel previously sat downtown on the site of the future City Hall. Anne Meyers’ Queen of Hearts opened in the mid-70s, but the building originally opened in 1964 as The Casbah with Moroccan-themed architecture. The Apache Motel is a fantastic example of classic roadside signage." (Link.) 

Photo: Taken in Las Vegas in 1998 by SW.
Link : http://www.neonmuseum.org/news.html

Friday, December 17, 2010
Grand Double Lot

The home on the double lot at 1420 Grand Boulevard was owned by the Millars for at least 58 years. The  white house stretches across the the expanse of the two lots.  It sits on the east side of the Boulevard.  Large  front windows with a view of Grand Boulevard are split by a wide brick fireplace.  Wrought iron work
decorates the front facade. 

John J. and Gladys I Millar owned the  home from 1950 to at least 1995/1996. At this time John Millar was the secretary-treasurer at Tahsis Co.  In 1960 John Millar was the secretary-treasurer at Gibson Brothers.  In 1971 John Millar was the sales manager for the Maui Lu Resort.  And in 1980 he reported that he was retired.  In 1991 only one owner was reported in the City Directory, and that was Mrs. Gladys Millar, retired.  Gladys I. Millar was not living alone in the house in 1995/1996, Susan Harvey was a resident.  Susan Harvey was an employee at Earl's Restaurant.

The web site of REMAX Realtors reports that the house was sold for $999,000.  The Rezoning Application Information Meeting Sign in front of  the house Grand Boulevard indicates  subdivision of land into 2 lots with a single unit with an accessory secondary suite to be built on each.


Photo: Taken in December 2010 by SW.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

St. Georges Duplex

The one storey duplex at  St. Georges Avenue sat on the corner with East 17th Street in the City of North Vancouver. Tall maple trees shaded the front and north sides of the home.  There is no listing for the duplex in either the Building Permit Book or the 1945 City Directory at the North Vancouver Archives.  However, by 1950  residents are listed at 1644 St. Georges Avenue which was the north end unit.  The residents were George W. and Lida A. Morgan.  George Morgan worked as a manufacturers agent at #24 441 Seymour St. in Vancouver.

In 1960 the north 1644 unit was reported "Vacant".  However the owner lived in the 1640 St. Georges Avenue which was the south unit. The owner was Mrs. A. L. Tussudowner.  She was the widow of G. B. Tussundowner.  In 1971 the 1644 residents were William J. and Mary E. Gannon.  William Gannon was an accountant at Canadian International Commercial.  At that time the residents at 1640 were Gemma J. and Peter Renardy.  Gemma Renardy was employed as a kitchen helper at Lion's Gate Hospital.  Peter Renardy was an iron worker at Riverside Iron Works.

In 1980 the 1664 resident was Mrs. Marg Trainer.  Marge Trainer was employed as a sales clerk at Grouse Mountain.  There was "No Return" to inquiries by the City Directory at the 1640 address.  Again in 1991 there was "No Return" to inquiries by the City Directory at the 1640 address.  However, the owners lived at 1644 St. Georges.  They were Jon and Christina Robertson.  Jon Robertson was the broadcaster for Post Haste.  Jon and Christina Robertson continued to own the 1644 duplex in 1995/1996, and Jon continued broadcasting for Post Haste.  The resident at the 1640 unit from 1991 to 1995/1996 was D. S. Kinar.

The photo of 1644 St. Georges 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.  Approximately 800 of these were accompanied by some history from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs.  This was true in the case of 1644 St. Georges Avenue.  

Scheila MahManish and Hossein Behrooziniz moved into 1644 St. Georges Avenue in 1998 and this is the story they told for the Year 2000 Photo Project, Your House/Our Home.

"Scheila MahManish, Hossein  Behrooziniz , and their two children, Bita and Houman, moved int 1644 St. Georges Avenue when they came from Tehran, Iran two years ago.  The whole family is musical."Hossein (See Link.) is a professional flutist.  His most recent CD is "Midnight Sun".  Although Scheila doesn't play she made a traditional Iranian string instrument from wood.  Brita has played the piano and now plays the trombone.  Houman sings with the B.C. Boy's Choir 2000.

"Scheila is an artist who makes beautiful pictures of flowers and people with wood inlay.  Bita attends Sutherland Secondary School and is a medal winner for the Chena Swim Club.  Houman attends school at Queensbury Elementary."

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 1644 St. Georges Avenue had been demolished and a new series of row houses had been built.

Photo: Taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by
               SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61480406890

Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The McPherson's Forever

The house with the enclosed entrance porch and the side picket fence was built at 823 East Keith Road in 1939.  The owner at that time was A. McPherson and the cost of the house $235.  In 1941 A. McPherson added a $75 garage.  He continued to live there for at least 56 years, at least until 1995/1996.

In 1945 Andrew M. and Mary M. McPherson were the owners.  At that time Andrew McPherson worked as a molder for W. McPhail and Sons.  In 1960 Andrew McPherson reported to the City Directory that he was working as a shipper at Canadian Pittsburgh Industry.  In 1971 his employment was that of a dock warehouse man at the same company.  And in 1980, 1991, and 1995/1996 Andrew and Mary reported that they were retired.

The photo of 823 East Keith Road 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. 

Demolition: Demolition Permit applied for in 2003.
Photo: Taken for the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Note: 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 823 East Keith Road  had been demolished and a new craftsman style home had been built.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Grand Boulevard

Grand Boulevard "was developed by the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company as a high class residential enclave.  A number of grand houses were built, mostly on key corner lots, before the 1913 Depression halted further construction.  A number of more modest infill houses were built during the 1920's." (See Reference.) 

The  green strip boulevard  extends from East Keith Road to East 19th Street.   And from approximately 1908 to 1947 a street car traveled up the center of this boulevard carrying passengers from the foot of Lonsdale Avenue to Lynn Valley.

The house at 817  Grand Boulevard was built after the time of the streetcar.  There is no listing in the Building Permit book, but by 1955 it was listed in the City Directory. The owners of the home at that time were Roy H. L. and Dency M. Arnold.  Roy Arnold was the proprietor at Kiddies Shoeland.  In 1960  and 1971 the owners were Vernon R. and Kathleen R. Hill.  During these years Vernon Hill worked at solicitors Macrae, Montgomery, Macrae, Hill, and Cunnningham.

Rear of 817 Grand Boulevard

In 1980 the owners were Walter H. and Chao-Hwa Shui.  Walter Shui was employed as an engineer at Crippen Engineering.  Angela Shui, a student, was also a resident of the house.  The Walter Shui family also lived in the house in 1991.  Te and Joyce Wong bought the house in 1991 and were still listed as the owners in the City Directory in 1995/1996.

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 817 Grand Boulevard had been demolished and a stately new single family home new had been built.  See below and the Link for more photo of this new home.

Link: http://realpro.ca/realestate/listings/show/+/817+GRAND+BV,+North+Vancouver,+Vancouver/291041

Photos: Top and middle photos taken for the Y2K Photography Project, Your House/Our
                 Home by SW and available for viewing at the North Vancouver
                 Archives. Bottom photo from Link.
Reference: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.

Monday, December 13, 2010
1927 Heritage Style Home

This heritage style home was built for $3000 in 1927 by C. G. Cooper.  By 1931 Gilbert W. Armstrong, a shipper at G. B. Gregg, was living in the house.  By 1940 Norah S. Armstrong was also a resident and Gilbert was working as a salesman at G. R. Gregg.  In 1945 and 1950 Gilbert Armstrong was the owner and was now working as a warehouse man at G. R. Gregg and Co.

There were new owners of 219 West Keith by 1960, Frank N. and Juliane Ofner.  Frank Ofner worked as a laborer for North Vancouver City.  In 1971 a student, Miss A. Zimmer was the only resident.  In 1980 there were again owners, this time Herbert G. and Doreen Toms.  Herbert also worked as a laborer at North Vancouver City, as had Frank Ofner.

In 1990 Jacoueline A. Wheelwright bought the house.  She owned it at least until 1999/2000.  In 1995/1996  Eva Conner also lived at 219 West Keith Road.

The heritage style house on the south side of Keith Road and across the street from Queen Mary Elementary School was sold in about 2003 for $439,000.  The real estate ad (See Link.) further describes the house as: having 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a wood fireplace, a new wood shingle roof, original wood windows, an open staircase and view of the city. The total square footage of the 2 storeys and the basement was 2,100 square feet.  Views of the interior can be seen on the Link.  In addition the ad indicates that the property could used for a triplex.

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 219 West Keith Road had been demolished and a new side by side duplex  had been built.

Photo: Taken  for the  Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home
                      by SW and available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link:http://www.iloveheritage.com/my_listings_219W_Keith.htm (Year unknown.)

Sunday Church Feature
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Mill Bay, B.C.

"St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, built in 1887 and consecrated in 1889, is the oldest building in Mill Bay. It was built to serve the French Canadian workers at the mill in Mill Bay on land donated by Mr. Gabereau. The church was consecrated in 1889 by Bishop John Lemmens, bishop for the west coast from Oregon to Alaska. Travel was difficult so visits by the Bishop were infrequent. The oldest gravestone dates to 1891." (Link 1.)



"Mill Bay is a commuter town of about 3,200 people located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada about 30 km (19 mi) north of Victoria, British Columbia, the capital.

"Mill Bay was founded in the 1860s with lumber and milling as its primary industries, done at the mill on the bay. It is known for its ferry to Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula and the historic Malahat Drive, which is also a source of criticism due to frequent closures from either automobile accidents or weather conditions.^{[citation needed]} Numerous suggestions have been made by various groups regarding a 'bypass' route (possibly a bridge), though as of 2007, the Brentwood-Mill Bay Ferry and the Malahat remain the only routes to Greater Victoria from the rest of Vancouver Island. The MV Mill Bay that has served the ferry route since 1956 is named for the town." (Link 2.)

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is at 790 Kilmalu Rd., just off Highway #1 leading north from Victoria, the capital of B.C.  It is also near the town of Shawnigan Lake.

Photos: Taken in 2005 by SW.
Link1:http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM697X_St_Francis_Xavier_Church__Mill_Bay_B_C
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_Bay,_British_Columbia