Comments on: The Life and Death of the Englesea Lodge (1911-1981) https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/ Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Carolyn Affleck https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-61570 Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:09:54 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-61570 There is speculation that the same arson scheme is responsible for the Jericho hangar fire of October 12, 1979. It was quite dramatic, with flames shooting way into the air, and there was not a lot of easily accessed information out there until John Mackie wrote a “this week in history” piece last year. I have a good photo to share, if you’re interested.

]]> By: Jan Gates https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-61560 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 03:46:32 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-61560 In reply to Judith Stein.

You are probably referring to Royal Mansions, the brick building on the corner of Bute and Pacific. I lived there in the late 70s to early 80s and remember being awakened by all the fire trucks heading to the Englesea Lodge on that day. Very large apartments in Royal Mansions and with the pocket doors opened between the living and dining rooms the living area was huge. Loved the leaded glass in the front doors and the rickety elevator.

]]> By: Louise Sowerby https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-60408 Thu, 25 Apr 2024 22:39:39 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-60408 My parents married in May, 1946 post war and moved into Englesea Lodge. I was born in Oct.1947 and spent the first 3 years of my lifethere. My parents loved it and spoke very fondly of it through the years. My daily walks were mostly in Stanley Park and my dad played tennis there with his friends. My brother was born 11 months after me and suddenly their studio suite with a Murphy bed was not big enough. They purchased a house when I was 3+ and we moved. My mom made some lifelong friends there. I’ve always felt a part of the building and the community because mom spoke so lovingly about it.

]]> By: Judith Stein https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-57300 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:06:37 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-57300 Hello,
I am interested in learning the history of another heritage apartment building located on the corner of Bute and Pacific Ave .Still standing and occupied….Had a heritage style elevator, stained glass windows and milk box in apt entry way, Living and dining room with pocket doors,hardwood floors and truly magnificent….Lived there mid 80,s

]]> By: Gregory Melle https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-57086 Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:56:15 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-57086 In reply to Pam Ratcliff.

Hippocampus was a block south of King George Secondary on Denman so it got a lot of student customers. The relish that the Hippocampus put on their corndogs was the divine. In my memory it was the best food ever.

]]> By: Jesse Coomes https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-50461 Tue, 17 May 2022 16:15:21 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-50461 In reply to Dianne Krause.

Good morning Dianne .
This is a long shot … my name is Jesse Coomes and I was reading this post of yours. So wonderful! I too remember this iconic and special building that was allowed to tragially burn to the ground… so very sad !!! On so many levels!
I am reaching out to you because I noticed in your article that you attended King George school?
I am the Curator of the King George school Archives and we’re always looking for and reaching out to ANY alumni! We are a small museum like Archives right in the New school off Barclay street. We’re there every Tuesday’s 11-2pm if you’re interested in stopping by anytime ?? Your time, history, and stories would be hugely valuable to the archives and everyone !??
Feel free to contact me also by text or phone call at 236-335-8242 or just simply send me an email at ; pocketwatchman1@hotmail.com too . Thank you, best regards for now Jesse Coomes

]]> By: john macleod https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-50321 Sat, 14 May 2022 20:53:04 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-50321 |I remember and I’m sure it was arson.

]]> By: Dianne Krause https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-49532 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:29:44 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-49532 My parents Ben and Beverly Kittila, were the Managers of Anglesea Lodge through the early 1970s. My perspective was as a 14 year old girl. I lived beside my parents in a bachelor apartment of my own.
I knew the building well, as I often did the garbage run with Dad and spent time with him in the boiler room. Saturdays I spent time polishing brass door handles!
It was a fabulous place to live. Out the back door was the ocean and out the side door Stanley Park. Of the building itself, I remember the gargoyles I on the roof. The neighborhood was contemporary, shops and businesses, some restaurants. It was a wonderful magical place to live.
I attended King George Secondary School close by. Popcorn venders on Beach Avenue would peddle a bicycle popcorn machine. It was Great popcorn as I remember!
My dad once brought me upstairs knocked on the door and introduced me to a creepy guy. He was soft spoken and when I shook his hand it felt like soft butter and the hair on the back of my neck stood up! He was an actor my dad explained.. well I was sure he would work with Boris Karloff! Another day he knocked on another man’s door, and did the same kind of introduction. This time I saw the most handsome man I had ever seen!! Dad said “Dianne, this is Mr John Payne. I just wanted you to meet him.” At 14 I had no idea who Mr Payne was, it wasn’t until I grew up that I realized I met a famous movie star!
My dad also introduced me to a fella who lived in the basement, his name was John Thomas and he was a stuntman. He could sometimes see John and another guy in the parking lot fighting! Like literally throwing each other around! My dad would run out to break up the fight, only to find out he had been set up and they never really hurt each other! Sometimes we would get up at 230 am to watch scenes being filmed in different locations. I remember cables and lights everywhere! It really was cool and it was fun!!
So living life in Anglesea Lodge was a good life. It was very enjoyable and I loved to be able to sit on the beach with the feeling of the waves washing over me. It really meant a lot to me.Thank you Dad and Mom, for the experience.
I love you very much.

]]> By: Claire Heffernan https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-42306 Thu, 11 Nov 2021 07:51:27 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-42306 I thought Englesea and the Sylvia looked very similar and you confirmed that they were in fact designed by the same architect. The irrational mania by some in the parks board to insist on building this portion of the seawall by completely destroying Englesea is a tragic example of just how inflexible, unimaginative and downright insane some people can be. I guess they never heard of a raised walkway that could have been constructed in the intertidal zone in front of the hotel. Instructing the fire department to not put out the fire? What could be more obvious. Criminal act.

]]> By: Lizanne Kikstra https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-10238 Sat, 15 May 2021 01:11:39 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-10238 Such fascinating history. I would have never realized this building even existed if not for your article and great photos. Hope the few remaining heritage buildings stay where they are and don’t end up suspiciously burning down. Love the West end .

]]> By: Englesea Lodge – Beach Avenue | Changing Vancouver https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-4783 Wed, 17 Apr 2019 05:44:01 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-4783 […] died in 1950 aged 85; Annie was 88 when she died in 1960. Eve Lazarus chronicled the end of the Lodge in 1981. The City of Vancouver had acquired all the property along the waterfront, and while the […]

]]> By: chris stiles https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-4567 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 18:00:32 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-4567 In reply to Pam Ratcliff.

Yes Pam. My parents owned and operated the Hippocampus Deli. Eve Lazarus will be doing a blog about the Hippocampus and my dad, Fritz

]]> By: Pam Ratcliff https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-4411 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 23:35:48 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-4411 In reply to chris.

Was that the Hippocampus Deli? Our family loved that place!

]]> By: James Little https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-3554 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:43:41 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-3554 The link to the Vancouver Archives’ Harland Bartholomew books is greatly appreciated. What a treasure trove of great information. I have been looking for those, in an online format anyways for years!
Thank you for posting that with this story.

]]> By: Brock Lunsden https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-3396 Wed, 18 Jan 2017 00:09:53 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-3396 My great aunt and grandmother lived in Engelsea with a stunning view looking east down the beach. My sister and I spent many many wonderful evenibgs there and a couple of New Years eves. Most mornings an elderly gentleman who lived across Beach ave would cross the street and go swimming in English Bay, rain or shine. I recall their apartment was large with high ceilings and large cornice moldings. The lodge entrance had a beautiful staircase up to the first floor. Walking into the park from their front door was always a treat or playing on the beach while the adults talked was amazing. Like many West Enders, Joe Fortes taught my Aunt to swim.

]]> By: Christopher Small https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-3174 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:08:04 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-3174 I’m really amazed by your rigorous respect for history rigorous research and heartwarming storytelling (with a new perspective and fresh pair of eyes)
I’m suddenly a fan of yours having only recently being acquainted with your “Each Site has a Story” when stumbling upon The Cube house along Pt Grey Road designed by Tony Robin, MAIBC. You brought insight and fairness into an issue drought with controversy and negative criticism etc.

So I really enjoy your particular “filter” the way you re-present an account even if it’s a story many of us longterm Vancouverites feel are cognizant of. Your POV and deeper information unearths more context and meaning without being a bore.

So kudos!
You’re an amazing writer/researcher and story teller!
Very captivating!

]]> By: James M James https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-2959 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 01:43:30 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-2959 “When she returned|from overseas, people|complained that she stood|too closely, sometimes they could feel her breath, soured by late afternoon,|a moist jet of speech…|With time she retreated and people|began to feel better again.”

Anyone know the story behind the blue plaque with the above statement?
Located at about 224 Keefer St, in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

]]> By: Stephen https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-2686 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 17:25:40 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-2686 I moved to Vancouver in August of 1981 and rented an apartment near the Sylvia Hotel. The Englesea was a burnt out hollow shell at that time due to the extensive fire that Febuary. As a UBC film student I decided to borrow a video camera from the school and along with my professor Dr Yamaguchi document the demolition of the grand old building that winter. My professor lived in a third floor apartment in the 2000 block of Beach Ave with a generous balcony providing the perfect viewing platform to record sad spectacle of the last Edwardian waterfront building disappearing before our eyes. It could have been restored and repurposed but it now lost forever. Unfortuneately, I lost touch with Dr Yamaguchi over the years and with her, our extraordinary documentary film of the Englesea during its final days! Maybe other people have photos? The present green space was also the site where a notorious condo owner on Beach Avenue had several tress poisoned to improve her view of English Bay. I now live on high a south facing floor at Panorama Place (one block behind Beach Ave directly on Stanley Park) and look out my windows every day and reflect on my beloved neighbourhood’s colourful history and give thanks for living in one of the beautiful places in the world!

]]> By: Wendy https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-2365 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 20:51:28 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-2365 In reply to chris.

That sounds beeeeautiful!!!

]]> By: Wendy https://evelazarus.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-englesea-lodge/#comment-2364 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 20:47:39 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=2631#comment-2364 Funny, I heard Joe Fortes lived in a “shack” on the beach. That property would be worth +$10 mil nowadays!!!

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