Comments on: Our missing West End residential heritage: What were we thinking?

By: Pete Bosdet

Pete Bosdet — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 03:22:23 +0000

Yes, my older Brother John died of cancer a fair number of years ago…I remember your name but can’t find 3 of my school annuals to check out your picture…I spent 20 years in the Forces, and another 20 years in Corrections (CO2 ahahahah..not an inmate)…and a smattering of other jobs in between…now retired in Victoria…Daughter is is Halifax and 2 Grandkids and 7 GreatGrandKids…Son is in the Navy (soooo disappointing should have been Air Force) out here in Victoria and he’s a PO1…my wife died in 2010 and I am now (this last 6 months living with my Partner Belle)…so that’s the short of it….

By: Pete Bosdet

Pete Bosdet — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 03:14:18 +0000

In reply to Robin Lawrie.

YUP that’s me….was fun for sure (the curling)…I tried once to get hold of Clive but never got an answer…was when his wife died…I’ve spent 20 years in the Forces, another 20 in Corrections and am now retired in Victoria…living with my partner Belle…hope you are hokay dokay….

By: Sharon waldman

Sharon waldman — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:13:35 +0000

In reply to Peter Bosdet. Hi Peter, I remember you from KG. My name was Sharon Doucette. I lived for two years at 968 Cardero, next to the Feuchuk's. I think you had an older brother?

By: Doug Parks

Doug Parks — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 20:18:14 +0000

In reply to Barb Woodley. Nice to hear from you Barb. Steve and I spent a lot of time together, Ive crossed paths with him a few times over the years. Ill need to dig but I think I might have some kind of book celebrating Guardian Angels Church. My wife an I have gone back to take in a mass on our way to spend the day at Stanley Park. Ill say hi to Brian please pass on my best wishes to Steve and your older sister , Lynn?

By: Doug Parks

Doug Parks — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 20:11:04 +0000

In reply to Daral. Hi Daral, Im back at thia post because someone responded to my post. So here we are 4 1/2 years later. I thought I would reread all the comments. Im interested in your background when you say demolishing beautiful old estates is okay if the replacement apartment houses more people for less. I cant argue with your premise but I dont think it stands the test of time. Even a studio apartment in the West End would be considered unaffordable these days. Totally agree with Eve on not tearing a building down because of its tenants or owners. Sort of like burning a book

By: Barb Woodley

Barb Woodley — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:54:13 +0000

In reply to doug parks.

Hi Doug! I was wondering about the same thing – I also went to Guardian Angels and the the magnificent convent building kitty corner to our little pink schoolhouse. On a recent walk through my old neighbourhood of 1261 Barclay and the area of Guardian Angels, it got me thinking and googling but I haven’t found any pictures. Guardian Angels parish has a 40th anniversary book with the history of the church and school but I haven’t found the book. Ah, memories! I hope you, Brian and your families are well.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Sun, 17 May 2020 19:50:45 +0000

The today picture looks more like Chilco. I live in the Art Deco building corner of Gilford and Nelson. Just asking…..

By: Robert Moen

Robert Moen — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 07:33:00 +0000

Hello Eve,

Thanks for your interesting writing on Vancouver history.

I did find some pictures of the Rogers house at 2050 Nelson Street, and they are available at this page on my West End Vancouver site: https://westendvancouver.wordpress.com/streets-i-to-z/nelson-street/2000-block-nelson-street/2050-nelson-street/

Robert Moen

By: Robin Lawrie

Robin Lawrie — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 18:08:55 +0000

In reply to Peter Bosdet.

Hi – I’m guessing you’re the same Peter Bosdet who graduated from KG high school in 63? I’m Bob Lawrie and I remember you well. I moved to England to follow a career in publishing in ’68. I work under the name of Robin Lawrie if you want to Google me. If my memory serves we used to go curling with Clive Mostyn and John Harrison. I’m still in touch with Clive. So what have you been up to?

By: Peter Bosdet

Peter Bosdet — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:47:46 +0000

I was born at 845 Cardero Street and grew up there and at Bute and Nelson…the Bute and Nelson building is long gone but last year when I got a chance to visit Vancouver again the old building was still there on Cardero…mind you a lot of the outside has changed…no hanging balconies, no rough stones on the bottom floor…and I suspect it’s now a security building…would so have loved to go inside and check out the old hardwood floors and bannisters…amazingly some of the old wooden houses across the street are still there…the 40’s and 50’s were a time of fun in the West End….

By: doug parks

doug parks — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 04:35:08 +0000

I,m curious to find any photographic history of the convent that was on the South East corner of Davie at Broughton. I was in that building as a child and can remember the magnificent staircase. I can also remember a stable in the basement. Kitty corner across the street was a 4 room Catholic school. Guardian Angels . It had grades one to twelve in the 4 rooms. When I attended form 1961 to 1966 it finished at grade 6. I believe the school was on the lot until the 1980s. As for the convent the stone wall still exists.

I was born and raised in the West End and I wish I had a complete history and many more photos.

By: Rob Cardinal

Rob Cardinal — Sun, 03 May 2015 19:32:24 +0000

In reply to El.

EI…I just read your post……Sounds like your great aunt worked for Jonathan Rogers, if your photo was taken in the ’30’s……B.T. Rogers on Davie street, had sold that property by 1920, and moved to South Granville already……

By: Raymond Parker

Raymond Parker — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 22:10:17 +0000

Excellent post. Looking at these comparisons, it becomes obvious that the devolution of Vancouver’s architecture has been in progress for some time.

By: El

El — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 16:10:38 +0000

Great post Eve and I was very touched to see the Pillars mentioned. My Mother always told me it was torn down to make way for a highrise. I remember another old mansion on Thurlow (down from Davie toward the beach) that was also a convent in the early 1960s. Further down the street on Thurlow and Beach Ave was a magnificent mansion – my favourite – that was torn down sometime in the mid 70s I believe. I have a glass etching that I’m almost certain is a picture of that house. The Rogers “other” Mansion really has me interested. I have a picture of my great Aunt taken on the steps of the Rogers Mansion where she worked (1930s?). I thought it was the Davie street mansion but none of the stone staircases match what’s in the photo. Now I wonder if it was the Rogers home on Nelson that Rob Cardinal mentions!

By: Rob Cardinal

Rob Cardinal — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:33:06 +0000

In reply to Daral.

Daral……Just read your post, in reply to Eve’s article and my subsequent info. on the Jonathan Rogers house.
I understand your point on Social Justice, insofar as more people are able to be accommodated, on smaller parcels of land.
However the esthetic character should be preserved, in some measure.
Daral……..What would Europe look like, if they took it upon them selves to demolish buildings after they turned 100 years old?……Unfortunately your attitude toward older character buildings, just because they were built for ” Anglos” or WASPS, seems to fall directly into the hands of Overseas Investors, looking to make a quick buck!…These people contribute NOTHING to this city, Daral.

By: Daral

Daral — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:37:44 +0000

As far as I can tell there wasn’t a senseless “frenzy of demolition” so much as those places became untenable. (Of course there are many old residences still standing all over the city and even on the West End there, like at Mole Hill. Shaughnessy — the other early neighbourhood built exclusively for the elite — is still full of homes built just after the turn of the century.) I see this as social justice, not a crime. Was this a “loss” in any meaningful sense? (Certainly demolishing them was much less of a loss than the forests these old homes levelled in order to be built in the first place.) The few places you note were single family Anglo-owned mansions that have since been replaced by apartments in which many families can live more modestly. Seems like a gain to me. And some of this “lost” heritage is stuff I’m so very glad we stamped out. For instance, you mentioned Glen Brae. You didn’t note that it was a notorious headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan. Some of our “heritage” is best demolished and paved over. Wouldn’t you agree?

By: Rob Cardinal

Rob Cardinal — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 02:58:46 +0000

Eve…Excellent post of lost heritage!
A property long gone, you may want to check out, belonged to friends of my Maternal Grandparents……2050 Nelson st……built in 1907, bordering Stanley Park, It was the original Jonathan Rogers house……in fact Rogers widow, Elizabeth remained in the house until her death, 54 years after moving in, until her death in 1961!…. It was thought to be the last privately occupied mansion on ” Blue Blood Alley”…. . The heirs sold the house and it was demolished in 1962, making way for high rises………as it was a massive double lot, the current buildings are 2040 AND 2050 Nelson st……I have only heard about this property from my Late Grandfather, who visited the house, with his parents before WW1!…..I have never seen a picture, Have you?…..