https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/timescolonist/name/douglas-barron-obituary?pid=191767515
The Doug Barron?

Yes, I think everyone who ever lived there knew it had been a brothel. When I moved there in 2000, I went to the city archives, but they had no blueprints or anything else. I wonder if, when it was designated a heritage property (after it was sold in 2004), if any blueprints ever showed up. While the archive office itself had no information, it was suggested that I look in the Henderson Directories (housed in the archive office). There, I did find Christina’s name as the owner when it was built in 1913. Normally the profession of the owner was listed, but there was just a blank for her, which I found amusing. When I lived there, there were a lot of original features: my bedroom and living room each had a beautiful original fireplace mantel and the ceiling of my bedroom had the original very fancy crown moulding. The bathroom had the original stained glass window. The apartment downstairs from me would have been the bar/lounge during its brothel days: the liquor cabinets were still there, with the leaded glass, and fortunately, none of the wood had been painted in that suite, the original dark wood beams and sideboard were still there. I did hear that the suite I lived in underwent a lot of renos by the new owner after i moved out, who apparently lived there for awhile. No idea if other suites were reno’d. Would be a shame if the many original features were removed. The owner when I lived there (Doug Barron) preserved it well, there was even a very old birdbath in the yard, likely installed when it was a brothel. There was an arch still intact through which a secret door had been installed when it was built, so that a horse and carriage could discretely park while the clients visited. That door became the entrance to one of the downstairs suites. The original wavy glass in their ancient windowsills were still in the house when I lived there– that was the one feature that was not charming, just extremely cold in the winter, as the wind would blow through all the cracks. I have no idea if Doug Barron is still alive: someone told me that he had died, but I couldn’t find an obit or any kind of death notice online. I hope, if he did pass away, that someone found the original blueprints which he had. I always wanted to go up into the attic, and even asked Doug once, when he was over at the house repairing something, if I could go up there, but he said there was nothing up there. I really wondered if that was true. Anyway, it was very nice to find your blog and the info on 59 Cook Street– certainly the most unique place I ever lived.

A very Merry Christmas to you and your family Eve and a prosperous New Year.

Earl Haas
Lake Stevens, WA>

She left a handwritten note that said the following:

Should anything happen to me I leave all my jewelry and possessions to my Niece Reba Haas.
Any money left it is to be divided with Brother John Henry and Brother Charlie Haas after funeral expenses are paid. Some keepsake is to be given to Raymond Haas.

I leave one dollar to any relative putting in any claim.

Signed by
Christina L. Haas, note (found among her possessions after her death) in her home just up the road from the old abalone Pub. Formally called the cobweb palace.

I might note that Christina left Victoria prior to 1920 and lived another 18 years in Westport, Mendocino County, California.

After buying her brother a home in Fort Bragg, 15 miles to the south and living expenses for 18 years her estate value was about 3,000.00 when she died. This included her home in Westport.

The probate also mentioned money invested in mortgage loans in Vancouver, BC in the principal sum of 725.00 at 8% per annum bringing in an estimated annual income of 58.00 dollars.

She passed away in 1938 in Westport, Ca. when I was five.

I do not remember Tina but heard many stories of her life.

She was not very well liked by the family except her Brother John Henry.

Tina never married. She led a good life during the depression years between 1925 and the 1930’s
when everyone else in the little Hamlet of Westport was struggling.

Her Dad accidently shot himself in 1875 in Mendocino County.
Matthew Haas, her Dad, had an estate valued at 800,000 dollars in todays dollars.
Her share of the estate is what she used to purchase the Victoria properties.

When she sold the brothels and returned to Mendocino County she lived with John Henry for awhile
then bought the house that my Dad and his then wife Pearl put up for sale during their divorce.

My Dad hated Tina for doing this and raved to me and others as I can recall subsequently.

Tina died in 1938 and for some odd reason the house burned to the ground shortly after her deathv
I am 83 years old now and live in the Pacific Northwest