Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Janet Morningstar & Robert Taylor

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Copyright © 2012 Janet Morningstar and Robert Taylor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, audio recording or otherwise – without the written permission of the publisher or a photocopying licence from Access Copyright, Toronto, Canada.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloging in Publication

Janet Morningstar and Robert Taylor Spuraway 1911 – 2011

ISBN 978-1-77084-292-2

Published by Janet Morningstar and Robert Taylor

Printed by First Choice Books Victoria, British Columbia

Front cover Painting of 1911 log house [Spuraway], believed by Lilette Mahon, built by Japanese carpenters for Edward Mahon Courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives Inventory #7738

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 3 Preface 4 Acknowledgements 5 Summary 6

Chapters 1 The Early Years 1891 – 1910 7 2 The Mahon Years 1910 – 1923 10 3 The Herrmann Years 1924 – 1945 27 4 The McDermott Years 1945 – 1953 36 5 The Gibson Years 1953 – 1965 39 6 The Estate Apartments 1966 43 7 Strata Property 1980 49 8 The Centenary 2011 51

Epilogue 60

Appendices 63 The appendices are numbered consistently with the relevant chapter 1.1 Plan for the Crown Grant 1891 1.2 Crown Grant 1891 2.1 Plan for the Southerly 40 acres 1910 2.2 Census 1911 2.3 Express Newspaper 1911 2.4 Fireplace mantel 2.5 Railway right-of-way plan 1923 2.6 West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls 1912-1923 3 West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls 1924-1941 4 Renovation Plans 1945 6.1 Province Newspaper 1966 6.2 Spuraway International Land Corporation Brochure 1966 6.3 Apartment Building Plan detail 1968 6.4 Reference Plan Portion of Lot 3 1964 and 1965 7 Strata Plans 1978 8 Centenary Guest List

A Works Consulted and Further Reading B References

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Preface

The log house built in 1911 that became Spuraway is mentioned in various local sources. However, as far as the authors are aware there is no publication dedicated solely to the history of the log house and Spuraway.

History is a delicate thing and one of the goals of this publication is to gather the history of Spuraway into one place, thus protecting and preserving. The authors relied on contemporary and original documents whenever possible and these sources and references are included. During the research the authors discovered a number of inconsistencies in the records and have included all in this history.

This book is a collection of evidence; a reference for those interested in their environment and why and how these things came to be. It is the fascinating story of a house that reflects the history of the North Shore: First Nations, the lumber industry, the Capilano Japanese community, the incorporation of the District of West Vancouver, the railway, the development of a farm and equestrian centre, the effects of The Great Depression, and finally the evolution into an apartment estate.

In addition, the authors looked at the history of the log house as part of the development of the North Shore and the events that affected life at Spuraway. The lot where the log house was built the following spring was purchased in December 1910, the month that the North Vancouver streetcar system reached Capilano Road close to the Keith Road Bridge. The same owner, Edward Mahon, purchased and developed the Capilano Suspension Bridge property during this period where members of his family lived and operated the business. The Japanese community living near the Capilano River and delta played a major role in this story during the first part of the twentieth century.

It is the log house that grew into a mansion that is the centre of the story. Built by Japanese carpenters, the most distinctive feature is log construction combined with a curved oriental-style roof and huge overhanging eaves, and includes an unusual carved stone fireplace of Aboriginal and Japanese Ainu folk- art themes. This house is one of the oldest buildings in West Vancouver and is largely original.

In the 1920s the log house was enlarged, other buildings were constructed and the estate was named Spuraway by its second owner. The estate was a family home, a farm, an equestrian centre, and served as a community centre as the owners welcomed friends, neighbours, and community organizations to enjoy the facilities. Four families owned and lived in the log house, left their enhancements, and brought it to life during its time as a private residence.

Named the Spuraway Club in 1966 when the nine-acre site was developed into a residential community – an apartment estate – the log house continues to be a private club for the residents and has been renamed the Lodge.

A centenary celebration of the story of Spuraway was held in April 2011 which led to the creation of this history.

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the staff of the West Vancouver Archives, Shaunna Moore and Carol Howie, and the North Vancouver Museum & Archives, Daien Ide & Janet Turner, who provided advice, guidance, and endless patience in ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of the information from the Archives included in this history. The staff of the Japanese Canadian National Museum, especially Linda Kawamoto Reid, researched the history and identities of the Japanese builders of the log house, interviewed their descendents, and filled a void in the record.

The authors are indebted to the following organizations that provided information, photographs, and documents: the Squamish Nation, the West Vancouver Memorial Library, the West Vancouver Historical Society, the Vancouver Public Library, and the Vancouver Archives.

Walter O. Volovsek, historian and author of The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon, kindly gave his consent for use of his work, as recognized in the references, and provided invaluable advice for the authors. Mr. Volovsek extends his acknowledgement for the support of the Mahon family, especially Marolyn, in giving him privileged access to all records dealing with the lives of Edward, Lilette, and Bryan Mahon.

The log house (Spuraway) families were most generous in allowing the authors to use their memories, material, and photographs to create an accurate history. The Mahon family: Marolyn Mahon, Lilette Mahon Player, & Ross Mahon The Herrmann & McDermott families: Valerie McDermott & Brian McDermott The Gibson family: Gordon Gibson Jr.

The writer Eleanore Dempster, author of the Laughing Bridge, a Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge, also gave permission to use her work as referenced.

Gary Van Norman, son of the architect Charles Van Norman responsible for the 1945 renovations to the house, provided copies of land titles, information, and architectural plans.

The people involved in the development of the 1966 estate apartments by International Land Corporation and Logie Brothers Construction, Gil Bradner, Bob De Wolfe, Fred Russell, and Lynda Lehn (Logie) were gracious in granting interviews to the authors and also provided memorabilia.

Bill Chapman, of Chapman Land Surveying Ltd, the company that surveyed the property for the strata development, provided 1978 plans of the property.

In the weeks leading to the Centenary of the log house a number of people provided lectures and presentations in the Lodge (the log house) which added greatly to the sense of history: historian and SFU professor Henry Ewert, author of numerous history books, including The Story of the BC Electric Railway Company, presented the development of the North Shore Street Car System; Sharon Proctor, author of Time Travel in North Vancouver presented Edward Mahon and the Planned Observatory on Grouse Mountain; Jim Carter and Francis Mansbridge of the West Vancouver Historical Society presented excerpts from the new book, Cottages to Community, that celebrates West Vancouver‟s centenary in 2012; and Don Grant of the Hollyburn Heritage Society explored the Early Days of Skiing on Hollyburn.

The authors are indebted to Barbara Murphy for her careful and meticulous proofreading and thoughtful suggestions, and to Reika Nishio for her research of the Japanese community and providing the web access and IT services for the on-line edition of the book.

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Summary

First Nations Lands

1891 Apr 25th Crown Grant registered for District Lot 763 (160 acres) 1892-1907 Keith Road was planned as the main North Shore highway from Deep Cove to Eagle Harbour, and Keith Road Bridge and other bridges constructed

1910 Edward Mahon bought the southern ¼, 40 acres, of Lot 763 and acquired controlling interest in the Capilano Suspension Bridge lots on the opposite side of the Capilano River 1911 April The log house was built, on the southern ¼ of Lot 763, by Japanese carpenters simultaneously to the building of the Teahouse at the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The original house included an Aboriginal-style carved fireplace mantel 1912 Mar 15th The District of West Vancouver was incorporated, including District Lot 763 1917 Edward Mahon negotiated a railway right-of-way, through Lot 763, used by the Capilano Timber Co 1917 Keith Road Bridge was severely damaged by the river and was rebuilt 1923 Jul 23rd The 40 acres were subdivided into Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. The log house was in Lot 3

1923 Dec 24th George Herrmann purchased Lot 3 and at an unknown date named the property Spuraway 1924-1929 Lot 3 was developed into a farm and equestrian centre with additional buildings. The original small North Wing was demolished and a larger cedar-sided wing added to the log house changing it into a spacious home 1930s The Great Depression affected Spuraway 1933 Dec George Herrmann sold the last of his horses due to the Depression 1935 Nov 4th Fire damaged the roof of the original log house but it was rebuilt

1945 July 18th Lot 3 (Spuraway) was sold to the Herrmanns‟ daughter Adele and son-in-law Ernest McDermott 1945 The McDermotts engaged architect Charles Van Norman to enclose the open patio to create a bar and also to renovate the kitchen

1953 May 29th Gordon Gibson Sr. and Louise Gibson purchased Lot 3 1950s A new master bedroom with en suite bathroom was created in the house 1953-1960 The TransCanada Highway and bridge were constructed. The removal of the Keith Road Bridge turned Keith Road into a cul-de-sac.

1965 Jan A local company, International Land Corporation (ILC), purchased Lot 3 1965 & 1966 ILC created an estate environment which included eleven townhouse buildings. The Herrmann-era gymnasium complex was retained as recreational facilities and the log house and north wing addition became a private club for the residents. Other buildings were demolished 1968 ILC created a six-story apartment building 1980 The property became a strata corporation 2009 The Herrmann-era gymnasium was demolished and replaced by a garden

2011 April 16th The Centenary of the log house

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Chapter 1 The Early Years 1891 – 1910

Spuraway stands on land which comprised rocks, trees and water and for thousands of years was inhabited by First Nations hunters, farmers, and fishers. In 1891 the 160 acres of New Westminster District Lot 763 were purchased for one hundred and sixty dollars. The illustration of the lot (right) 1 is found in the New Westminster Land Title Office together with the Grant from the Crown, a title of ownership (below).i

The area illustrated, in today‟s geography, is bounded to the north by a line level with Stevens Drive; to the south by the boundary of West and North Vancouver running east from near the corner of Keith Road and 3rd Street; to the west by 3rd Street; and the east boundary follows the Capilano River for most of its length. The 1891 Crown Grant reads:

“Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, and so forth.

To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings.

Know ye, that WE do by these presents, for US, Our Heirs and Successors, in consideration of the sum of One hundred and sixty dollars to Us paid, give and grant unto John Robb his heirs and assigns, All that Parcel or Lot of Land situate in New Westminster District, said to contain One hundred and sixty acres, more or less, and more particularly described on the map or plan hereunto annexed and coloured red, and numbered Lot Seven hundred and sixty three (763) Group One (1) on the Official Plan or Survey of the said New Westminster District in the Province of British Columbia, to have and to hold the said Parcel or Lot of Land, and all and singular the premises hereby granted, with their appurtenances, unto the said John Robb his heirs and assigns forever.

… this 25th day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and ninety one.”

1891 Crown Grant detail 2 Land Title and Survey Authority of BC

1 See Appendix 1.1 for a detailed illustration 2 See Appendix 1.2 for a detailed illustration

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Edward Mahon3 had arrived in B.C. late in 1890, with a mandate from his brother John to seek out and manage investment opportunities. He ventured to the West Kootenay district the following year to check out on mining prospects, and acquired a pre-emption from Albert McCleary, which he planned to turn into a townsite named after Castlegar, the Mahon family estate in County Galway. For most of the remaining decade, his attention alternated between mining in the Slocan and Boundary districts (generally during the summer), and land development on the North Shore. His younger brother Gilbert joined him in looking after the mining interests. ii

The District of North Vancouver, which included District Lot 763, was incorporated in 1891 and the area that is now West Vancouver comprised Wards1 and 2 named West Capilano.4 The North Vancouver Land & Improvement Company was established, with the principal shareholder being John Mahon of England and his brother Edward named the first president of the company.

A contract to build Keith Roadiii from the Capilano River to Eagle Harbour was let in 1902. Additional contracts were let to build bridges over the river.iv The first of a series of Keith Road Bridges across the Capilano was built in 1892,v Keith Road had originally extended from Deep Cove to Eagle Harbour, but parts were little used and had become overgrown. The bridges to Eagle Harbour had been washed out by floods and there was no money to rebuild them.vi

The photo left shows City Fathers and invited dignitaries on south side of first City Hall, posed on occasion of incorporation of the City of North Vancouver. Edward Mahon is seated second from the right.

Courtesy of North Vancouver Archives 1907 Photograph # 1863

Edward Mahon bought the Capilano Flume5 Companyvii in the spring of 1908. Along with the flume he also acquired a sawmill which he leased to Japanese loggers, as we learn from a letter dated May 4th, 1908:viii “. . . I have bought the Capilano flume which runs from about a couple of miles north of the Dam down to the First Narrows together with some timber up the Capilano. I have also bought a little mill and am leasing it to some Japanese, who are going to cut timber on their own property up the Capilano and pay me $2.00 per thousand for the use of sawmill and flume. . . . “

3 Pronunciation: Mahon rhymes with dawn 4 The District of North Vancouver at that time included the three current municipalities of the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and the District of West Vancouver, excluding Moodyville. 5 Built 1906 by “Capilano Joe‟s Indians and the Japanese”

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Edward Mahon (standing foreground) and W T Farrell (the sawmill superintendent, with a cane6) on the platform, and Japanese loggers at the Capilano Sawmill, circa 1908 The sawmill was leased to Japanese contractors Photograph courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives # 151-64 and Bryan Mahon

Japanese contractors at the mouth of the Capilano River; shingle bolt flume in the background, circa 1910

The photographer managed to capture the moment of a shingle bolt hitting the water

Photograph courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives #151-225 and Bryan Mahon

The eastern discharge [of the flume] used to flow just to the west of the present Capilano Road and thence to an ever changing delta on the shore line now occupied by the Vancouver Wharves and the sulphur storage Roy J.V. Pallant Lower Capilano Heritage Group 1995

A regular ferry to West Vancouver service was established in 1909

6 Express newspaper. W. T. Farrell, superintendent of the sawmill, slid some 80 feet in the canyon, and fell about 15 feet on a rock, sustaining severe injuries. He was engaged at the time on the flume. August 25th 1908. Found in Dick Lazenby‟s research of newspapers. North Vancouver Museum & Archives (NVMA)

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Chapter 2 The Mahon Years 1910 – 1923

Edward Mahon purchased the “… southerly one-fourth (¼) portion of Lot Seven Hundred and Sixty-three (763) … said to contain Forty (40) acres more or less as shown on the map or plan7 [right] hereunto annexed” for the amount of $26,000.8 Dated the Thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ten”.ix

In 1911 a real estate boom in what was already termed West Vancouver saw lots advertised for $2000 per acre in Dunderave Express Newspaper 1911 West Vancouver Memorial Library

The purchase of the southerly one-fourth (¼) portion was part of a much broader land development, but also included family and marital plans. Edward married Lilette Rebbeck in April 1911, four months after buying the property. Before purchasing the 40 acres in December, Edward Mahon had, over the previous summer, purchased the Capilano Suspension Bridge business and property (district lots 601 & 607) as described later in this chapter.

North Vancouver was undergoing a period of optimistic growth.9 The BC Electric Company had operated a North Vancouver street car system since 1906. In April 1910, the Company announced it would extend the western line to Capilano Road, close to the Keith Road Bridge.x This would increase the value of the 40 acres and the Capilano Suspension Bridge property dramatically.10

The Keith Road Bridge was the only road connection between the centre of development around Lonsdale and the ferry quay and the area west of the Capilano River.11

“It was estimated that this proposed line to the Capilano River would cost $38,000, and that land bonuses from James Fell and Edward Mahon would amount to $38,000.” xi

Right: Advertisement from the Express newspaper 1911 Courtesy of the West Vancouver Memorial Library

The Capilano street car service opened in December 1910, the same month as Edward Mahon‟s purchase of the southern 40 acres of Lot 763 (where Spuraway now stands).

7 See Appendix 2 for the plan in greater detail. The 40 acres includes the property where the log house was built 8 $650 per acre 9 Express Newspaper. North Vancouver is having a record month so far as building is concerned. The new boulevard, which is being opened up by Mahon, McFarland and Proctor is progressing rapidly. March 17th 1911. 10 See Appendix 2.3 11 The area west of the Capilano was already referred to as West Vancouver: the Express Newspaper in 1911 carried a regular column titled “West Vancouver News”

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“At the very end of the Capilano line at its south side, the Capilano post office opened in 1911, a convenience for sightseers and a boom for residents moving into the area, lured by the street car service.” xii

Capilano streetcar terminus 1912 Capilano Streetcar at end of line on School St. 1925 Courtesy of the North Museum & Archives Courtesy of the North Museum & Archives Inventory #6480 Inventory #3838

Left: The North Vancouver streetcar system xiii

The log house that became Spuraway was built in early 1911 on Keith Road immediately west of the bridge; this would have provided convenient access to the streetcar and transportation to the Lonsdale ferry.

The North Shore Express Newspaperxiv published, on April 18th 191112, an article believed to be the earliest reference to the house that became Spuraway under the heading

“New Departure for Residential Novelty

House of Mr. Dillon, Keith Road – Something you read about but seldom see – Japanese labour employed

Not far from the termination of the Capilano rail car line and situated on the Keith Road, a house unique in the annals of North Vancouver13 house construction is being erected. To the observant

12 See Appendix 2 for a copy of the newspaper 13 At that time the area was part of the District of North Vancouver. In the following year, 1912, the District of West Vancouver was incorporated; District Lot 763 containing Spuraway was on the southern and eastern boundary of the new municipality

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pedestrian wending his way to and from civilization perhaps nothing more remarkable about the structure is noticeable than the quaint pagoda-like dip of the roof projecting far out from the walls in the architectural style peculiar to the Orient and Merry Widow bonnets or the fact of logs being used in place of the conventional building materials.

The interior of the house, however, is where the skill, art and conscientious efforts of the Japanese carpenters (for by such is the house being built) in which even the minutest details have remained unslighted, strikes most forcibly the artistic sense of the things that are In the older days of art, Builders wrought with greatest care Each minute and unseen part For the Gods see everywhere recurs to us as very applicable in the present instance, for the insignificant and infinitesimal details are finished with the same degree of care and skill as the larger and more promiscuous ones.

Every bit of woodwork is made of the crude natural wood, free from the degrading touch of unthinking mechanical implements, and shaped with hand saw, plane, and other elbow grease-driven tools in such a manner as to produce an effect at once rustic and refined.

Massive mantels14 with beautiful and hideous representations strangely contrasted carved upon them15, ceilings evenly subdivided by beams of second-growth cedar with no other preparation than that of removing bark, wood carvings along the corniced borders and a tastefully constructed stairway in coloured woods form optional food for the delighted lookers who seem to feel the oriental glamour which is pre-eminent in this creation of prosaic continent.

The carpenters of the new world might well profit from studying the methods of the artists of the yellow race who have generously enthused their generation-taught knowledge into each latticed window or mortised joint. Some $12-(MM) it is said has been expended upon this residence which is owned by Mr. Dillon of North Vancouver, while more must be spent before the completion of the work.”

The land titles do not include a Mr. Dillon. Edward Mahon is recorded as buying the lot in 1910, selling it in 1923, and remaining on title, presumably as a mortgagee, until 1929.xv The authors were unable to locate a Mr. Dillon in the 1911 Census or in any of the contemporary city directories.

Perhaps Edward Mahon had a vision of an idyllic retreat in the forest, to which he could escape to relieve the pressures of business. According to his son, Bryan, he mentioned his ideas to the Japanese workers and they resolved to construct such a place for him, Bryan would recall much later:

“Dad mentioned to his employees that he‟d like to have a little log house up the Capilano, but he didn‟t supervise them because he was busy with other affairs. Perhaps out of respect for him they built a cabin house which was much larger than a little house. Since they were Japanese they made a roof curled up at the edges in the oriental style. It had quite an individual character. It was very much larger than he had in mind. Dad finally sold the log house to a Mr. Herrmann. Mr. Herrmann liked horses, so he made a riding ring and that‟s how it got the name Spuraway.

14 It is not known whether “mantels” suggests a second such carved fireplace now lost 15 The original fireplace is preserved in the parlour of the house 2011

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At the log cabin they cleared a large area and [Dad] imported azaleas and rhododendrons from the Orient and made a big nursery. Then, after developing the plants, they replanted them all up and down the boulevards in North Vancouver and some of them are still growing.” xvi

The fact that the building is identified as belonging to a „Mr. Dillon‟ is very peculiar, as Edward Mahon was a well-known personality in North Vancouver.16 The costs associated with it are inconsistent with the claim that it was entirely a gift from thankful Japanese friends, and the quality and size of the house, the latticed window,17 and the ornate fireplace seem inconsistent with a casually-built cabin. But there may be an explanation.

“In 1905 Edward Mahon had travelled to Ireland to be the best man at the wedding of his older brother William (Fifth Baronet) to Edith Dillon, one of Lord Clonbrock‟s (Luke Gerald Dillon, 4th Baron Clonbrock) three daughters.

Could the building have been commissioned by Lord Clonbrock, to be presented to Edward as a wedding gift when he married Lilette Rebbeck on April 26th 1911 xvii only a few days following the newspaper article? Sir William Mahon and Lady Edith (nee Dillon), the married couple, had visited Edward the previous autumn and possibly hatched the idea at the time. If such discussions did indeed take place, Edward must have been privy to them, as he purchased the lot18 for the building after his guests had left.

Sir William was involved in property development on the North Shore. On August 31st 1910, he purchased Lot 3 of Block 14, property facing the northern end of the Grand Boulevard, North Vancouver.xviii

There is no disputing the fact that the ornate structure was designed and constructed with a great deal of skill and devotion to perfection. It may thus have represented a gift from both Edward‟s larger family and the Japanese workers.” xix

A related piece of history is that Edward Mahon had a controlling interest in the Capilano Suspension Bridge property by the fall of 1910 with his future mother-in-law as manager.

“Then, between September 1910 and July 1911, an intricate financial package was put together involving … Edward Mahon and Edward‟s brother of London, England. When the final documents were signed, Edward Mahon had purchased the property.xx

The Teahouse at the Capilano Suspension Bridge was constructed in the spring of 1911, by William T Farrellxxi the superintendent of the sawmill, and opened in time for the May 24th weekend – the same months as the log house (Spuraway) was being built. The authors speculate on the connections between the Capilano Suspension Bridge property and the log house property. It is clear that there were close relationships between Edward Mahon, who owned both the suspension bridge property (District Lots 601 & 607) and the Spuraway property (District Lot 763) on the opposite side of the river, and the Capilano flume & sawmill; William T Farrell, who built the 1903

16 The Express Newspaper during this time carried weekly real estate advertisements for Edward Mahon‟s company, The North Vancouver Land and Improvement Ltd, Mahon, McFarland & Proctor, for property in the Grand Boulevard area in North Vancouver City as well as Capilano 17 The latticed windows described appear in the early painting of the log house (p.19) and the 1920s photograph on page 29. Many of the latticed windows are still to be seen in the house 18 December 30th 1910

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011 suspension bridge,xxii was a partner in the Capilano Lumber Company, was Superintendent of the sawmill owned by Mahon, was a member of the syndicate which built the Capilano Flume in 1905 with Japanese contractors – one of the flume bridges was named Togo after the Japanese admiral,xxiii and he built the Teahouse at the Capilano Suspension Bridge in 1911 for Edward Mahon; and the Japanese loggers and contractors who built the flume and the Togo bridge, operated a logging business in the Capilano Valley, operated Mahon‟s flume & sawmill, and built the log house (Spuraway) in 1911. xxiv Several photographs in this history include all three. The log house and the Teahousexxv were under construction simultaneously, and they share a number of similarities. 19

It seems logical that W T Farrell and the Japanese contractors would have built both. The authors have no documentation to that effect, but it would be completely inconsistent for Mahon and Farrell to have brought in different contractors to build the Capilano Bridge Teahouse when the familiar and trusted labour and skills were already on site.

As described earlier, Lilette Rebbeck was Edward‟s future wife. His future mother-in-law Elizabeth and Lilette were then resident at the bridge property with Elizabeth managing the business. The two properties, on opposite sides of the river canyon, were a short walk across the suspension bridge or the Keith Road Bridge.

“Elizabeth Rebbeck, her daughter Lilette, and three Japanese servants, Toby-san, Yui-san, and Yanke-san, moved from Victoria to the cottage at Capilano canyon in October 1910.” xxvi

Left. Yui-san and child at Capilano, circa 1911 Photograph courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives # 7748 and Bryan Mahon

One of the neglected and missing parts of Spuraway‟s history was the individual identities of the 1911 builders of the log house. The local Japanese community lived along Capilano Beach, immediately east of the river delta.

19 The log house is constructed of horizontal logs and the Teahouse of horizontal 3x8 boards rounded like a log in a similar fashion. Another, unrelated, coincidence is that the architect Charles Van Norman designed the changes to the Spuraway log house in 1950 and the extensions to the Capilano Bridge Teahouse in 1953

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The Watanabe home and family at Capilano Beach, circa 1912-13 Left to right: unknown man, Kurataro and Seki Watanabe, and their children Sam and Koto. Note, stacked cedar shingle bolts in background Photograph courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives # 12975 and Dan Tokawa

The Watanabe home and family at Capilano Beach. Boat in foreground, circa 1912-13

Left to right: unknown man, Kurataro and Seki Watanabe, and their children Sam and Koto

Photograph courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives # 12974 and Dan Tokawa

Could Kurataro Watanabe be one of the contractors who built the log house (Spuraway) and the Teahouse at the suspension bridge property?

My mother‟s father, Kurataro Watanabe, was born around 1879 at, what used to be called Shirahama mura, Sosa Gumi, Chiba Prefecture Japan. In his youth, he was in the Imperial Guard – remarked about the harsh treatment by superiors. Later became a foreman of local fishermen. In Japan, he married Seki Okida and had one son, Toru who stayed in Japan. Kurataro emigrated on or before 1902 and became a naturalized British Subject in 1914. Seki followed him in 1910.

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I have always known that he helped build the shingle bolt flume along the river cliff, from a sawmill near the dam. In fact, the flume discharged right in front of my grandparent‟s shack on the water‟s edge. My grandparents, my Canadian-born uncle and aunt, and family friends are in the picture.20

They both died tragically in 1933; Kuratoro had cancer and Seki had a stroke or head injury. They were members of the Nichiren Buddhist Sect. Apparently there was a small Japanese community on Capilano Beach. I remember mom mentioned that there was a Japanese bathhouse which was sort of a “resort destination” for the Japanese on the Vancouver side. Mrs. Miyo Onagi, attended the birth of my mother in 1920, which may be the Mrs. Naghi mentioned. [see below]

Dan Tokawa via the Japanese Canadian National Museum

The 1911 Canada Censusxxvii provides the following information, the names of six Japanese carpenters living in the Capilano Valley, with the date of their immigration to Canada: Naghi * male 51 years carpenter 1899 Naghi * wife female 30 1910 Tahara male 29 carpenter 1904 Yamanicho ** male 28 “ 1906 Kerfuda ** male 40 “ 1897 Watanabe J male 22 “ 1906 Yamamoto male 21 “ 1906 * presumably a misspelling of Nagi or Onagi ** presumably misspelling as the names are not known in Japanese xxviii

A 1994 research paper provides additional information.xxix

Capilano Valley was another location of employment, in proximity to a settlement located at the mouth of the Capilano River. Here lived a cluster of independent Japanese families. As an early inhabitant along the Capilano River, Joan Tose remembers a challenging yet contented childhood living in a shack along the coast … with the patrician working for local mills when work was available. … making shingle bolts

Early inhabitants of North Shore Capilano Kajiwara (boat builders and fishers), Fukuda Watanabe (Tose) (fishers) Ishi (boat builders) Hiromatsu Ikuta

20 See page 8 for the photo of the flume and Japanese persons

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The following information is from Bill Kajiwara, via the Japanese Canadian National Museum.

Bill, one of Hyozo Kajiwara's sons, believes it was quite likely his father helped build the log house. Hyozo was a boat builder and lived in Capilano right on Burrard Inlet where the sulphur plant is now. He was also a fisherman; they lived in a raised house on the flats. Hyozo was from Nagasaki ken, born around 1878 and is buried at Mountainview Cemetery.

He also mentions his father in law, Shingo Kunimoto who also lived in Capilano. He apparently was contracting logging up there, sending shingle bolts down a flume. His father in law, Shingo, was up by the second bridge in Capilano. Shingo was born in 1886 and was from Kumamoto ken, and married Tsuchie in Victoria on Nov 11th 1911. His occupation is listed as a contractor, having immigrated in 1907.

He also remembers the names of the people who lived in Capilano - Shizo Matsumoto, the Ishii brothers (lots of them, had the Ishii boatworks), Hiramatsu, Ikuta, and Fukuda. He also remembered the Watanabe family21 but did not know them well; he remembers (Sam) Isamu who was the son. The father's name was Kurataro – as in the photo, and his wife was Seki; they also had a daughter Koto who married a Shimizu. Kurataro was from Chiba ken and came to Canada in 1892. His wife came in May 1910 and Isamu was born on May 30th 1912 at Capilano Beach. Seki died March 30th 1933 at Capilano Beach.

An earlier Japanese teahouse, set off by a Japanese garden and a viewing tower, was built in North Vancouver in 1909. The structure and grounds were opened by Rev. Goro Kaburagi, Japanese Methodist Minister and prominent educator, in the presence of civic and community leaders. The teahouse, located in the East 21st Street and Lonsdale area and later renamed Scout Hall, was demolished in early 1965. The inscription beside the craftsmen and their tools says: Japanese Garden (Limited Liability) Company.xxx

The Tea House, Japanese Tea Gardens at 21st Street and Lonsdale Ave. 1909 Courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives. Photo # 2379

21 See photographs in the previous pages

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Construction of Japanese Tea Gardens at 21st Street and Lonsdale Avenue. Japanese workers with sign in calligraphy: Yugen Sekinen Japanese Garden Limited Liability Co. 1909 Courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives. Photo #2382

Boat builders would have been the most skilled carpentersxxxi and along with the logging and sawmill carpenters and the Japanese Garden Company available it is reasonable to suggest these lists and photographs contain the names and images of the craftsmen who built the log house and the Teahouse at the Suspension Bridge.

Both buildings were under construction simultaneously. Based on the newspaper article, the log house was close to completion in mid April 1911 and the Capilano Bridge Teahouse was built in the spring of 1911 and completed in time for the May 24th holiday.xxxii

Photo of the log house (Spuraway) under construction circa 1911 Courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives, Photo # 151-2A and Bryan Mahon

18

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Photo of a painting of the 1911 log house Artist likely to have been Lilette Mahon (nee Rebbeck) Courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives Photograph # 151-2 and Bryan Mahon

Lilette Rebbeck (who later married Edward Mahon) was one of the fortunate Victoria children who attended Saturday morning art classes taught by Emily Carr prior to her departure to Europe. Lilette‟s early sketches survive, as do her recollections of that mentoring process, which greatly enriched her life. xxxiii

The painting dates presumably from some time after the building was completed as the garden has been planted and garden wall and steps built. If Lilette was the artist the figures depicted are intriguing: are the two female figures on the left Lilette‟s mother Elizabeth and sister Gundrid, the boy in front of the balustrade her brother Waller, the man walking in the garden Edward Mahon, and the female figure on the patio a self portrait?

Left: The eaves on the south side of the house

Photo 2011 courtesy of Lilette Mahon Player, granddaughter of Edward Mahon and Lilette Mahon (nee Rebbeck)

19

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The original log house included a sophisticated and complex stone fireplace mantel.

The unusual design is described in the 1911 newspaper article “Massive mantels with beautiful and hideous representations strangely contrasted carved upon them”

and in the May 1931 issues of Canadian Homes and Gardens magazine “The mantel of the living room fireplace was supported by totem-poles carved from New Zealand limestone by a local Indian craftsman.”

Left: detail from the parlour fireplace mantel Below right: the fireplace and mantel Photographs Robert Taylor 2011

The vertical carvings on the two floor-to-ceiling vertical portions of the mantel have an Aboriginal- like theme. However, they are not recognized as the work the late Elder Chief Mathias and are not in a formation that would suggest any Squamish Nation storyline or legend.xxxiv Also, they are not recognized as Haida art. xxxv

The horizontal carvings are quite different.

The most plausible explanation is that one of the Japanese carpenters was Ainu from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido where there was an established folk-art of carving representations of animals. He created the mantel design influenced by totem poles of the local indigenous peoples.

During the first half of the twentieth century, severe economic straits forced Ainu carvers to carve bear and other figurative art for the tourist trade.

The Ainu have always been interested in the wood carvings of other native peoples, especially those of the Northwest Coast Indians whose symbolism they did not understand but which they admired as works of art.xxxvi

See Appendix 2.4 for more-detailed photographs.

20

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The log house became part of the municipality of West Vancouver when it was incorporated on March 15th 1912, then with about 700 residents.xxxvii District Lot 763 formed the boundary between West Vancouver the District of North Vancouver immediately to the east and south.

The West Vancouver municipal records, Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls, show Edward Mahon on title from 1912 to 1929.22 District Lot 763 SP [southerly part] Mahon Edward

District of West Vancouver Assessment records 1912 Courtesy of West Vancouver Archives

The log house was built on Keith Road immediately to the west of the bridge over the Capilano River.

The Keith Road Bridge 1910 Photograph courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives Photo #11972

22 Appendices 2 & 3 include detailed entries for the years 1912 to 1941

21

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The first bridge opened September 1892 and was washed out in January 1896.

These photos show the second bridge, opened November 1904, rebuilt October 1907, condemned September 1916 – foot traffic only, and collapsed March 1917. The third bridge opened May 1918, had major repairs in 1927 and July 1929, and was limited to foot traffic only in 1938, and demolished in the 1950s

Found in Dick Lazenby‟s newspaper research (NVMA)

The loss of road access for a period would have had a significant effect on life west of the Capilano.

The photograph on the left shows the bridge in 1915 Photograph courtesy of the West Vancouver Memorial Library, 854.WVML

Right, the aftermath of the collapse in March 1917 – the rooftop of Edward Mahon‟s house [later Spuraway] can be seen in the top left corner.

Photograph courtesy of the West Vancouver Archives, Rupert Harrison collection. 0840.WVA.RAH and also the West Vancouver Memorial Library # 417.WVML

A West Vancouver telephone exchange was introduced in 1914 with thirty-five local telephones Province newspaper Dick Lazenby‟s research (NVMA)

The first Marine Drive bridge over the Capilano River was opened in 1915. Floods caused its collapse just over a year later. All bridges over the Capilano suffered collapses and ongoing damage, closures, and repair until the construction of the Cleveland dam in 1954 Authors

22

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Lumber was the major industry in the area and for about sixteen years a logging railway ran through District Lot 763, passing close to the log house.23

“In 1919 the Capilano Lumber Company had put into operation their mega project, the sixteen- mile long railway whose shadowy remains can still be seen near Keith Road and the Capilano River. xxxviii

By June 1st 1918, six miles of standard gauge logging railway was in operation from the valley (Capilano) to the North Vancouver waterfront near the old Vancouver Creosoting Company plant at the foot of Pemberton Street. … the company removed the railroad in 1934…” xxxix

An Indenturexl between Edward Mahon and Charles H Ruddock,24 dated the 18th June 1917, prescribes in great detail and measurements, the right-of-way through the Lot. A Certificate of Indefeasible Titlexli dated the 26th of July 1917 entitles Charles H Ruddock to Parcel „A‟ of District Lot Seven hundred and sixty three (763) subject to endorsement hereon. 25

Left: Capilano Timber Company Railway Circa 1918

Photo courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives Photo # 8049

Left: Railway train loaded with logs on a Capilano Timber Railway passing track. 1917 – 1930 Photo courtesy of West Vancouver Archives 019.WVA.JOH

Above: Bridge on the Capilano Timber Co.'s railway Circa 1918 Courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives Photo # 3005

23 See Appendix 2 for the right-of-way recorded in the District of West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls for the Capilano Timber Co Ltd and later the Sisters Creek Timber Co 24 Charles H Ruddock believed to be the US lumber dealer from Chicago 25 See Appendix 2.5 for a detailed plan

23

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

In 1923, a Certificate of Indefeasible Titlexlii dated July 5th certifies that Edward Mahon is entitled to The Southerly forty (40) acres, except parcel „A‟, of District Lot Seven hundred and sixty three (763).

However, a Certificate of Indefeasible Titlexliii later in the same month, dated July 23rd, certifies that Edward Mahon is entitled to Blocks One (1) three (3) four (4) five (5) six (6) and Block Two (2) a portion of which lies within the Municipality of North Vancouver District Lot Seven hundred and sixty three (763) and Seven hundred and sixty four (764)

No decision was reached as to the location of the steel bridges as span the Capilano. The was a recommendation that the bridges be thrown across the upper end of King's Island [delta at the mouth of the river], claiming this to be the most feasible route, with the best grade for the continuation of the driveway

Council discussion Province newspaper May 6th 1910 Found in Dick Lazenby‟s research (NVMA)

Two new bridges which spanned the Capilano River were considered splendid illustrations of superior design and workmanship. The larger one was 335 feet long with 180 feet of approaches. 1915

Pallant, Roy J V A Brief Chronological History of Lower Capilano

Plan of West Vancouver Municipality, between 1928 and 1937, by the Vancouver Map and Blueprint Co. Courtesy of the West Vancouver Archives fonds 1, 2. 4.

The municipal plan shows the new lots. Note the course of the river crossed by two Marine Drive bridges (very different than today), the railway right-of-way through Lot 3 (immediately to the east of the log house), and the Keith Road Bridge. Note also the small Lot 2, at the corner of Keith Road and 3rd Street, the southern point lying within North Vancouver.

The 40 acres had been subdivided with the log house in Lot 3. Over the following few years the lots were sold.26 The 1924 District of West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls show Edward Mahon owning Lots 1 and 2, and listed with George Herrmann on Lot 3. A list of Charges, Liens, and Interests attached to the Lot 3 Certificate shows Edward Mahon registered as a lender with a term expiring 15/7/33.xliv

26 Lot 5, the south east corner of the district lot, became Klee Wyck

24

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

It has been speculated that the house was built to provide Edward Mahon a residence on the North Shore for political reasons, based on the commemorative brochure for the opening of the first 2nd Narrows Bridge:

“ . . . At the next meeting of the Company, Mr. E. Mahon, now residing in West Vancouver, was added to the directorate and elected Chairman. The Company received government assent to its incorporation on May 4th, 1910, and Mr. Mahon was elected President.” 27

Edward maintained his responsibilities with the company until June 1913, when conflict-of-interest considerations led to the removal of all land company personnel from positions of influence. It is not clear from the reference above whether Edward had moved to West Vancouver for the purposes of being resident on the north shore, or the reference was meant to be to the West End of the city of Vancouver, where he had been living since 1898.xlv

The use of the log house from its completion circa 1911 to the purchase by George Herrmann in December 1923 is uncertain. From the contemporary directories, Edward Mahon continued to reside at 323 Burrard Street28 in Vancouver until 1928. It seems reasonable to assume it may have been used as a summer cottage, especially considering the closeness of Lilette‟s family at the suspension bridge, as well as a business address.

The photograph shows Edward Mahon in the parlour of the house. The furnishings appear to indicate a business or office use.

Left: undated photograph Circa 1911-1923 Courtesy of Mahon Family Records via Walter Volovsek

27 Burrard Inlet Tunnel & Bridge Co, inaugurated Dec. 21 1909 (incorporated in 1910). The reference to Edward is to the next company meeting after inauguration, presumably in 1910 or 1911 28 The site of the current Marine Building – construction commenced in 1929 and it was opened in 1930

25

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

A possible reason for the sale of Edward Mahon‟s treasured retreat cottage is given in a newspaper article, published much later. Although it contains several inaccuracies, the following interpretation may have some truth to it:

“Edward Mahon‟s plan was to clear off all 40 acres at Spuraway, transplant exotic plants from all over and fill the entire 40 acres with flowers. His passion for flowers lost him the one possession he loved above all – Spuraway. He bought land all over the Lower Mainland to build more garden paradises, until he discovered he had all kinds of land – and no money. It is said that the day he sold Spuraway there were tears in his eyes. Vancouver Times, November 20th 1964.” xlvi

26

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Chapter 3 The Herrmann Years 1923 – 1945

The Herrmanns lived in Shaughnessy, Vancouver, prior to moving to Keith Road, West Vancouver, and Mr. Herrmann was the manager of the Vancouver Creosoting company in North Vancouver. xlvii

A Certificate of Indefeasible Titlexlviii, with an application date of 22nd day of December 1923 and sworn on the 24th certified that George Elliott Herrmann is entitled to Block Three (3) of the Southerly forty (40) acres of District Lot Seven hundred and sixty three (763)

George Herrmann‟s name first appears in the West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Roll in 1924.

District of West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls 1924 District Lot 763 – 40 acres

Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Lots 2 & 3 [Lot 3 contains Spuraway] Geo. H. Hermann The Burrard Inlet Tunnel and Geo. H. Hermann Bridge Company ran into legal and Edward Mahon financial difficulties and by the end Courtesy of West Vancouver Archives of 1924 the three North Shore municipalities owned all the stock Note Lot 3 appearing to have both names.

A Certificate of Indefeasible Titlexlix dated 14th day of July 1926 certified that George Elliott Herrmann is entitled to Block Two (2) of the Southerly forty (40) acres of District Lots Seven hundred and sixty three (763) and Seven hundred and sixty four (764)

However, as illustrated above in the West Vancouver Rolls, George Herrmann is recorded as the owner of Lot 2 in 1924.

The Herrmanns used the log house as a summer cottage pending the construction of the north addition.l They named the property Spuraway, developing the estate into a home, farm, and equestrian centre during the 1920s. The authors have been unable to locate evidence indicating exact dates for the construction of the paddocks and stables, the gymnasium, a two or three-car garage, the port-cochere, a house for staff (built where there is now lawn south of Building 8 li),29 and the new north wing of the house using cedar siding instead of logs.30

29 See Appendix 6.3 for the location of some of these buildings 30 The north wing of the house was named the Herrmann Room in 2011

27

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

However, the West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls provide some indication. The value of Improvements on the property are listed as $8000 in 1925, reduced to $5000 in 1926, but increased to $13,000 in 1927 and $19,000 in 1928.31 In addition, the May 1931 issue of Canadian Homes & Gardens Magazine reports and describes the badminton court building32 as existing at that time.

The following description is from an undated, unreferenced, and anonymous essay believed to be from the West Vancouver Historical Society but believed to be accurate. 33

George E Herrmann was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 31st 1886. As a young man working in Seattle he visited Vancouver, fell in love with the city, and, in 1912, moved north with his wife, the former Miss Estella Lewis. Their only child, Adele Emmaline, named after both her grandmothers, was born at the Nicola Street Private Hospital the following January. The family lived at various residences in the city before George Herrmann purchased a two-storied log home and tract of property on Keith Road, which, by that time, formed part of the municipality of West Vancouver. He called it Spuraway – a name that had found in a book he had read.

George Herrmann fell in love with the place and over the years carried out extensive development of the property.

It must be remembered that in those early days Spuraway was a farm, relatively isolated, and removed from any shopping area; self sufficiency was essential and, for that reason, cows and chickens were kept, a vegetable garden cultivated, and an orchard planted. But it wasn‟t all functional. Beautiful flower beds and shrubs were planted, and there was a lily pond and fringing the formal gardens a variety of trees, many which had been imported from England by Edward Mahon.

West and north sides of the log house prior to the new north wing addition Unknown date but believed to be 1924 to 1928 Courtesy of Brian and Valerie McDermott

31 See Appendix 4 for complete details 32 Later referred to as the strata gymnasium 33 The authors have made minor grammatical changes

28

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Above: East side of the log house prior to the new north wing addition Unknown date but believed to be 1924 to 1928 Courtesy of Brian and Valerie McDermott

In this photograph, the log house has been transformed into a large home with the demolition of the original smaller north wing and the addition of the much larger extension. The figure in the photograph is either Estella Herrmann or Adele McDermott. Unknown date but from the Herrmann era Courtesy of Brian and Valerie McDermott

29

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The large addition to the north side of the house was added on by George Herrmann after the demolition of the original north wing.34 With the passage of time, the trellis would be obscured by foliage and the porch-like arbour in the centre, linking the old and new parts of the house, would be shaded in the summer by vines heavy with grapes from which Estella Herrmann made jams, jellies, and wine. The colourful tulip beds formed just a small part of the landscaped grounds. The majority of the trees fringing the formal gardens had been imported from England by Edward Mahon. California redwoods from that time still stand today.lii liii

To the right of the tulip beds lay a rectangular lily pond. Today it is the site of Spuraway‟s swimming pool.

View looking west from under the arbour at the rear of the house showing the lily pond. Date unknown but from the Herrmann era. Photo courtesy of Valerie McDermott.

Squash and badminton courts were laid out and a building constructed containing changing rooms, shower facilities, and a kitchen.35 A small extension was added to the northern wall of the house to provide a stairway when a furnace was installed; the house having initially been heated by fireplaces. A porte-cochere was built on the east side of the house, and inside was the latest of everything; for example granddaughter Valerie McDermott can‟t ever remember there not being a dishwasher. .

34 On pages 19 and 29 the images illustrate the small original 1911 north wing 35 These later became the gymnasium complex of the strata property

30

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The Herrmanns introduced horse to Spuraway – among them “Lady Radiant” sired by “Brigham Radiant” and much later “Silver” who would be ridden by the Herrmanns‟ grandchildren. As great horse lovers the Herrmanns hosted many equestrian events on their estate which boasted a stable with four box stalls and one standing stall, an exercise track, and two paddocks that stretched almost to 3rd Street. George Herrmann was a founding director of the Lions Gate Riding and Polo Club and Estella Herrmann, an avid golfer as well as an expert horsewoman, was a founding member of the Capilano Golf Club.

Estella Herrmann and Lady Radiant at Spuraway Undated photograph, Herrmann era Photo courtesy of West Vancouver Archives reference number 0269.WVA.PHO

View of the paddocks Date unknown but from the Herrmann era Photo courtesy of Valerie McDermott

All the posts that ringed the property were first creosoted making them rot resistant. George Herrmann was extremely safety conscious and would not permit the use of barbed wire or even wire mesh so that neither people nor animals could be injured. Instead, horizontal bars of round pipe were set between the fence posts.

31

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The 1926 map below shows Lots 3 (Spuraway), 4, and 5 (Klee Wyck), and the Capilano Timber Co railway line right-of-way. Note: the small lots on 3rd Street were added at a later date.

District of West Vancouver Municipal Map 1926 Detail from Atlas of West Vancouver. Courtesy of the West Vancouver Archives

The Great Depression affected the Herrmanns and in 1933 George Herrmann sold the last of his horses and lived alone in the house without staff to save expenses; “my wife and daughter are now in a very small place in southern California in an effort to prevent the necessity for a second serious and very costly operation on my wife”.liv These circumstances and the Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls “Improvements” figures support the hypothesis that the building of the other structures must have occurred in the years 1924 to 1929.

On the evening of night of November 4th 1935 the roof of the original log house was damaged by fire and the bedroom and living room by the water used to douse the fire. We have had some very bad luck, in that last night the roof on the old part of our house caught fire, demolished it and damaging the inside of one bedroom and slightly damaging the inside of the living room. Letter from George Herrmann to Edward Mahon lv

The log house, showing the west and south sides. The covered veranda is now the McDermott Room and the balustrade remains as original in the room.

Date unknown but from the Herrmann era Photo courtesy of Valerie McDermott

32

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The map below shows Lot 3 and Spuraway and the original course of the Capilano River in 1926. The area where the north end of the Lions Gate Bridge now stands was an island.36 The south-eastern boundary of the then new municipality of West Vancouver appears to have been based on the district lots to reasonably follow the river bank (prior to the change of the course of the river). The authors were unable to locate any evidence for the determination of the boundary, but discussions with various sources support the hypothesis that it would be easier to incorporate by keeping privately-owned district lots intact while following the river as closely as possible. 37

District of West Vancouver Municipal Map 1926 Detail from Atlas of West Vancouver. Courtesy of the West Vancouver Archives

The small lots on 3rd Street and Macbeth Crescent were added later. A new Capilano Bridge was opened. A concrete bridge had been built across the Capilano River in 1914. That bridge partly collapsed in 1919, was “cobbled up” and In 1930 the Second Narrows Bridge was lasted to this 1930 replacement. Marine closed after two separate collisions by Drive was now classified as a primary ships. It was out of commission for four

years highway. [The 1930 bridge was demolished and replaced in 2011]

The History of Metropolitan Vancouver

36 Express newspaper. District Council meeting. “Kings Island”. August 5th 1910 37 Province newspaper: Capilano Is Fickle. The Capilano River is changing its course so frequently that bridge engineers are almost baffled. January 26th 1918. Found in Dick Lazenby‟s research of newspapers (NVMA)

33

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The photo below shows the parlour from the Herrmann era. The room was refurbished in 2011 in time for the Centenary, maintaining its original appearance and named the Mahon Room.

Undated photograph from the Herrmann era Photo courtesy of West Vancouver Archives reference number 0267.WVA.PHO

Memories of Violet Kinnear

“As a young girl I lived near Capilano Road across from Spuraway in the „30s and „40s; my father worked for the Capilano Timber Company and my grandfather worked on the West Vancouver Ferries. I remember walking across the Keith Road Bridge and Spuraway was just on the other side. I remember the gardener, Mr. Wilson; he would walk up Capilano every day, across the bridge to work at Spuraway. It was a big estate in those days.” lvi

In 1942, Dr. Ethlyn Trapp bought the house built in 1925 on land subdivided (lot 5) by Edward Mahon. Dr Trapp donated the property to the municipality in 1960 with the stipulation that it be called Klee Wyck House, after her good friend Emily Carr

Right: Photograph right of Klee Wyck courtesy of West Vancouver Archives, No. 117.WVA.RAH

34

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

A description of Spuraway is found in the May 1931 issue of Canadian Homes & Gardens magazine: lvii . The badminton/squash courts included dressing rooms with showers and a kitchenette plus a spacious alcove facing the badminton court with a wide river-stone fireplace and comfy, cushioned seating for the "gallery” to watch the games. . The squash racquets court's floor was constructed for the rigidity required for the game. The "front wall", instead of being made of concrete, as is usual, is built with 2 x 6 inch studding spaced 12 inches on centres, and sided up with shiplap, the spaces between the studs being filled with packed sand, and the wall then finished with 3 inch "flooring". . The original log chalet was used only during the summers until the Herrmanns expanded the house by two-thirds. . The mantel of the living room fireplace was supported by totem-poles carved from New Zealand limestone by a local Indian craftsman.38

The Capilano street car service continued until October 1943: the trestle over Mackay Creek had been deemed unsafe and wartime left no possibility for its repair

Henry Ewert. The Perfect Little Street Car System, North Vancouver Museum & Archives Commission

The changes the Herrmanns wrought at Spuraway were considerable. In 1945, the Herrmanns sold Spuraway to their daughter Adele and her husband Ernie McDermott of McDermott Motors.

Until his retirement in 1952, George Herrmann was managing director of the Canadian Creosoting Company located at the foot of Pemberton Avenue in North Vancouver. In that capacity he traveled a good deal on business, particularly in Canada, but also to England, France, South America, Egypt, and Asia. He spent an entire year in India at the time when the sun never set on the British Empire.

At the age of one-hundred, George Elliott Herrmann passed peacefully away on Easter Sunday, April 19th 1987 – seventy-six years and a day from the appearance in the Express of the article on his beloved log home. lviii

38 Ibid page 20 and Appendix 2.4

35

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Chapter 4 The McDermott Years 1945 – 1953

Ernest and Adele McDermott purchased Spuraway (Lots 2 and 3) in July 1945.lix

The McDermotts employed Vancouver architect Mr. Charles Van Norman39 to close in the south-facing patio and convert it to a den and bar. The room featured under-floor heating and floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors – radical features for 1945.lx An imposing stone fireplace was built into its eastern wall. The beautiful outdoor porch handrails were retained and can be seen today in the McDermott Room.40 The kitchen was remodeled at the same time.41

Spuraway in the 1940s and 1950s through the eyes of Valerie McDermott & Brian McDermott, daughter & son of Ernest & Adele McDermott, and granddaughter/son of George & Estella Herrmann 42

“Our mother was considered the top woman rider on the Pacific Coast from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Through her many horse show victories in LA & San Francisco she was asked to act as a double for the great movie star of that era, Barbara Stanwick, for any scenes involving riding horses. She also did this for some other actresses in Hollywood as well and met and became lifelong friends with Cecil B. De Mille's daughter, Cecilia De Mille Harper, who visited and rode at Spuraway.

When she married our father, Ernest McDermott of Vancouver, and they had eventually purchased Spuraway from our grandfather and grandmother, she rigorously taught us, at a very early age, how to ride and jump thoroughbred horses on the English saddle. At the annual Southlands Horse Show in Vancouver all four of our family regularly entered (and won) the "family class" trophy as well as some other classes individually with our Spuraway-trained horses.

The area between the paddocks and Keith Road [the location of buildings 2 and 3] was full of large trees and we would play cowboys and Indians riding our ponies through the trees.

39 Van Norman, Charles Burwell Kerrens. Architect (1907-1975). Designs include the Park Royal Shopping Centre 1950, Capilano Bridge Teahouse extension 1953, the Maritime Museum Vancouver 1958, and several residences in West Vancouver 40 The den and bar was named the McDermott Room during the Centenary 41 Plans courtesy of Vancouver Archives via Gary Van Norman. See Appendix 4 for detailed copies of the plans 42 Provided to the Authors in 2011

36

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The Lodge balcony, and the steps and doors to it, must have been added later. When we lived there, there was an arbour where the balcony is now, covered with grape vines. My (Valerie‟s) bedroom was at the rear43 and included a sink44.

I (Brian) was greatly amused to learn from my long term friend, Gordon Gibson Jr., that he and I were allocated the same bedroom during each of our families‟ tenures in the house. Although it was the smallest bedroom, it had one very valuable aspect for little boys: the roof over the porte cochere was at the perfect level for us to sneak out from mandatory naps by opening the window, stepping out onto the roof and climbing down the branches of a large tree that had some branches overhanging the porte- cochere roof. Great fun!

I (Brian) remember that the lily pond was cleared of lilies during the latter ownership by our grandparents to permit us to swim there (1940s). I also remember having my first swimming lessons in that pond/pool given by my uncle, Freddy McDermott, who headed up the Vancouver Sun's Free Swimming Lessons program at Kits Pool for many years.

The port-cochere was always there; our grandfather wanted the cover for the car. There was also a three-car garage.

There was a large storage shed just north of the Lodge45 and the hillside slope46 was our toboggan run in winter. At the bottom we flooded the area to create an ice rink.

There was a house47 where the caretaker and family lived. He looked after the gardens, vegetables, stables & paddocks, and animals & chickens.

Alma was the housekeeper and she lived in the front upstairs bedroom [what is now the guest suite bathroom]. There was an intercom from the master bedroom at that time in the north-west corner of the house second floor and my father would call down to the kitchen to say, “Three minutes,” and Alma would start boiling the breakfast eggs.

There was a Chinese cook, Mr. Wong, during our grandparents‟ time, who lived in a small apartment with a bathroom behind the kitchen.

The dining room48 was separated from the kitchen by a solid wall49 with a connecting swinging door50.51 The kitchen comprised the current dining area which had a huge island with a stainless-steel top, and the kitchen was in the same place.

There were leaded glass French doors dividing the foyer from the parlour52. The balustrade on the stairs used to have posts wider apart and Brian got stuck between them while spying on a big party going on downstairs. The powder room in the foyer was there from our grandparents‟ time.

43 now the guest suite bedroom 44 where the shoe cupboard is located in the guest suite 45 where the east end of building 7 is now located 46 east of building12 47 north of building 12, the upper lawn 48 now the multi-purpose room 49 since removed 50 still in place 51 See the 1945 plans which illustrate the kitchen and dining room in Appendix 4 52 now removed

37

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Our mother had furniture custom made to fit the parlour and the bar. We had two lamp sculptures – carved by Chief Joe Mathias – in the parlour and bar. Our parents installed the first TV set in West Vancouver in the late 1940s. The antenna was attached to the highest tree close to the house to catch the only TV signal that came from Seattle.

I (Valerie) also remember that there was a fireplace in the alcove in the badminton court area as well as a kitchen. The later was a complete one as that building was quite a distance from the house.

(Brian) Upstairs over the large entrance hall that separated the squash court (to the West) and the badminton court (to the East) there was a wonderful "observation gallery" with large picture windows allowing excellent views down to each court on either side of the room. I remember a ping-pong table in the middle of that upper gallery and a large "bucking-bronco" wooden horse with an electric motor (to make the device buck and twist like a real horse) located in the main floor entrance hall. One can only wonder at the names of early Vancouverites that were bucked off that challenging critter. I remember very well that I was bucked off it many times.

The guests would walk in the entrance [now the second or east entrance on Keith Road] to the stone steps leading to the garden path between two cedar trees and the path ran through the rhododendrons to the house.

During our grandparents‟ ownership of Spuraway, the parties they held there were legendary around Vancouver. Because the property was so remote in the early days before the construction of the Lion's Gate Bridge in 1938, the parties sometimes lasted the whole weekend. Guests loved going there since they could ride, play badminton & squash, swim, dance & roller skate to music on the badminton court (with rubber wheels), and so they never had trouble rounding up their friends for a weekend party.

Spuraway was a magic place to grow up, and we each had daily chores assigned to us to help around the large vegetable garden, the orchard, chicken coops, pigs, an occasional cow "up the hill" near the caretaker's house, as well as at the stable & horses located between the lily pond and the badminton/squash building.

The only negative of growing up there was the lack of close-by neighbours and therefore the lack of playmates. So, our horses and farm animals were our pals, and we had to "import" friends to come to play or sleep over for a weekend. We survived.”

In November 1949 during flooding, the west embankment of the Capilano River gave way cutting off the Marine Drive Bridge. At the time this was the only road link to West Vancouver. Army engineers built a Bailey bridge. That was also washed away and West Vancouver was cut off for ten days

In 1950 the Park Royal shopping centre opened – the first in Canada

The McDermotts lived at Spuraway until 1953 when the property was sold to Gordon and Louise Gibson.

38

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Chapter 5 The Gibson Years 1953 – 1965

The Gibson family purchased Spuraway (Lots 2 and 3) in May 1953lxi; by Louise Gibson when her husband Gordon Sr. was away.

We bought Spuraway – 30 acres, swimming pool, badminton court, stables and paddock – for $75,000. By the time it was sold it was worth $450,000. All this was Louise‟s doing and I must say she was a great businesswoman.lxii

The large en suite bathroom was created for the Gibson family in the 1950s by converting the front bedroom into a bathroom.53 The lily pond was enlarged into a swimming pool.

Gordon Gibson Sr. was a prominent business leader and politician in British Columbia. As the Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia he represented the constituency of Lillooet from 1953 to 1956 and North Vancouver from 1960 to 1966.

Gordon Sr. was a timber baron whose nickname was "Bull of the Woods" due to his loud lumberjack's voice. He was loved by many small loggers as being one of the only people to be interested in them over the interests of big business.

The tradition of riding was continued by the family and Gordon Gibson Jr.‟s responsibility was to clean the stables early every morning.lxiii

“Largely because of the Gibsons‟ interest in young people, laughter and music rang out frequently from the gymnasium, the home, and the grounds.” 54

The final days of horses at Spuraway: “… said he would like to own a couple of horses and at this my ears pricked up, for I had four of them. My son, Gordon, and my daughter Louanne, had become interested in other pursuits, and I was keeping these four horses at Spuraway at a cost of $75 per month.” Gordon Gibson Sr. lxiv

Gordon Gibson Jr., was a scholar, political columnist, and author, and also a British Columbia Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly, as well as leader of the provincial Liberal party. He served as assistant to the federal Minister of Northern Affairs from 1963 to 1968, and was a special assistant to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau from 1968 to 1972.

Spuraway in the 1950s and 1960s through the eyes of Gordon Gibson Jr. lxv

“I remember it as an always happy and busy place. Mother and Dad were very social people. My Mother was appalled that my horse-loving Father wanted to move to a ranch in the interior where she would be cut off from her many friends. So one day while he was travelling, which was very frequent, she purchased Spuraway. On his return she surprised him: „Dear, I‟ve bought your ranch.‟

53 The bedroom and en suite now comprise the Lodge Gibson Guest Suite 54 The International Land Corporation brochure 1966. See Appendix 6.2.1

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

They both had their own social circles, around all the time. My Mother‟s group centred in the kitchen – around the fireplace she had built there. Dad‟s group tended to hang out in the den/bar at the south end of the building.

A lot of those in attendance were politicians of one sort or another, since Dad was a Liberal MLA for much of this time. There was a lot more drinking of whiskey in those days – a liquor company representative would regularly deliver case loads.

I remember one sunny afternoon - I must have been aged about twelve – the telephone rang. In those days phones were rare, still operator assisted. The only main floor phone was in the front hall. A Minister, Dad, and some friends had been talking for a couple of hours. I answered the phone. It was Ottawa calling for the Minister. I hurried to the den to advise of this important matter. The Minister, much refreshed, came to his feet and made his way down the hall. It was a bit dark and he was nearsighted, but as I stood by the phone I was not prepared for what happened next. Between the Minster and the phone was a small table with a statue of a long Dachshund dog. He picked up the dog, peered at it, put the feet to his ear and said “Hello!”

At this time the Sinclair girls were always helpful in campaigns. The picture shows Margaret (who later married Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau), second from left standing at an event with my Father.

Photo Gordon Gibson Sr. at a Campaign event at Spuraway Circa 1960s Photo courtesy of Gordon Gibson Jr.

Dad and Mother were very generous and the house and gym were in constant use: it might have been the Boy Scouts; or the ball team he helped, the Spuraway Broncs; it might have been the huge annual barbecues – 500 and more – for the lumbermen‟s social club, the HooHoos. The congregation of what was to become St. David‟s met for some time in the gym while money was being raised for the church. Horse friends would come over to use the riding ring or stable.

During this time, a significant part of the property was expropriated to make way for the Upper Levels Highway. Dad was an opposition MLA at the time, and always convinced that the Highways Minister sent his engineers in the Spuraway direction.

There was always something going on. It was a wonderful, wonderful time.”

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Louise Gibson (nee Bepple) and Gordon Gibson Sr. Photographs circa 1964 courtesy of Gordon Gibson Jr.55

There was a bittersweet conclusion to the Gibson years.

By this time our family was grown and Louise and I were spending a great deal of time in Victoria. We decided to sell Spuraway, our big home in West Vancouver, because Louise wanted to have the pleasure of running the Maui Lu Hotel. She told me that she wished to live in Maui until she died because it was the closest thing to heaven on earth as anyone could find. She died in 1967.lxvi Gordon Gibson Sr.

Biography Gibson, G. & Renison, C. Bull of the Woods. Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. Vancouver. 2000

55 The original framed photographs are now on display in the Herrmann Room of the Lodge

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Aerial photo of Spuraway 1951

Courtesy of West Vancouver Archives. Detail from District of West Vancouver fonds. 166.12.2.6.WVA.DWV Aerial photograph covering Taylor Way to Capilano Road / Capilano Cemetery to Marine Drive, 1951

Note the paddocks and buildings and there is a house where what is now the upper grass garden (between buildings 12 and 8)

Aerial photo of Spuraway 1962

Courtesy of West Vancouver Archives. Detail from District of West Vancouver fonds. 65981.WVA.DWV Aerial photograph of Park Royal / Lions Gate Bridge and north approach / BC Railway / mouth of Capilano River, June 1962

Although the post-war prosperity and the automobile rapidly developed West Vancouver during the 1950s, Spuraway remained a quiet rural retreat.

The 1953 road map left shows the river, in yet another configuration from the map on pages 24 and quite different than today, and the Keith Road Bridge.56

Vancouver and area road map 1953 Courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives # MP 340

Right: 2011 map illustrating the current course of the river

56 By this time the Keith Road Bridge was open to pedestrian traffic only and was in poor condition. Valerie McDermott 2011. Ramsey, Bruce, A Place of Excellence, 1987. The Keith Road bridge had been condemned as such but was still used as a foot bridge

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Chapter 6 The Estate Apartments 1966

Lot three – less the area removed from the property for the highway construction – was purchased in January 1965 by a West Vancouver company, International Land Corporation Ltd (ILC). lxvii

The property was developed into a striking example of residential planning: a variety of spacious townhomes nestled within and around acres of gardens. The townhomes face the gardens with the roadways and vehicular traffic separated to the outside perimeter. The design retained the house (log house and the 1920s north-wing addition) as a private club for the residents including a guest suite and an apartment for the property‟s operations manager. The design of the townhomes reflected the Herrmann-added north wing of the house with large overhanging cedar roofs and horizontal cedar siding.

The Province newspaper on Friday March 25th, 1966, included a full-page advertising feature with the headlines “Spuraway ESTATE APARTMENTS and The city estate now a reality” 57 The sub-headings included: “Grace, elegance key to sympathetic design Urban apartment convenience amid the gracious ease of a country estate Nine acres of lawns and gardens, indoor58 and outdoor swimming pools, a gymnasium with sauna bath, squash and badminton courts International Land‟s policy is “insist on the best”

“Now the apartment can be thought of in terms of “estate” rather than just “garden” if it is designed around some form of open space.”

The first residents moved to Spuraway in early 1966: “Completion of the 122-unit apartment is scheduled for mid-summer, although a number of buildings are already completed and the first residents moved in.”

A complete description and reproduction of the page is included in Appendix 6.1.

The 1966 ILC Spuraway brochure lists the persons involved in the development. Architect: Leo Lund Design Consultants: Hopping Kovach Grinnell59 Landscape Architects: Philip Tattersfield & Associates60 Contractors: Logie Bros Construction Ltd Rental & Lease Agents: Fred/K E Russell Ltd, Bob De Wolfe

The complete brochure is reproduced in Appendix 6.2.

57 The original page is now framed and displayed in the Herrmann Room of the Lodge 58 The “indoor” pool was never built. A later addition, the children‟s pool, was constructed adjacent to the west end of the gymnasium complex 59 See http://www.hkgdesign.com/ website Nov 2011 60 Other designs include Saanich Municipal Hall landscape 1965

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Above left: The front of the 1966 International Land Corporation brochure Above right: The plan of the townhomes, International Land Corporation brochure 1966. The log house is centre right marked SPURAWAY CLUB See Appendix 6.2 for the complete brochure and townhouse plans

Later, in 1968, ILC constructed a six-storey apartment building, providing views of the mountains and ocean, and a second pool, an outdoor children‟s pool, adjoining the gymnasium recreation complex. The plan for the building, below, contains a number of interesting details: the location of the staff house and outbuildings from the Herrmann era are marked on the plan, as well as the anticipated indoor swimming pool.

See the following page and Appendix 6.3 for greater detail.

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Spurway Plan 1986

060.1-3.172 Spuraway, Plan 101-211, zoning bylaw no. 2200, 1968: topography plan of Lot 3 of the southerly portion of district lot 763, group 1, New Westminster District (Plan 5254)

Courtesy of West Vancouver Archives

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The uniqueness in the development is that the units were originally termed Garden Apartments, in today‟s terms townhouses or town homes. However there are wide variations in layout and size. Most town homes have fireplaces and some have two. The homes are spacious, especially when compared to more recent multi-housing developments.

The age of the buildings is such that the construction preceded the era of “leaky condos” in the Lower Mainland. In simple terms, the construction methods and building codes used in the 1960s were such that although buildings may have been less energy efficient and/or more expensive to build, they were more robust. lxviii

Spuraway in the 1960s through the eyes of Jack Don, brother of author Janet Morningstar lxix

“I remember working weekends and summers alongside my father, Jim Don. Dad was the superintendent (foreman) for the building of the “Villa” building 12.

There was much work to do with the building of the small pool and renovating the changing rooms.

In those days Spuraway was a rental apartment complex and each building had hanging baskets and I had to water and fertilize them. Lots of interesting people lived at Spuraway in the early days including BC Lions Football players.

Other jobs over the years included removing large boulders from the garden near building four, removing ivy from the west side of the lodge, and cleaning the shake roof of the lodge. My Dad was in charge of renovations when the property changed from rental to strata, although owners had the option of renovating the suites themselves. My father worked at Spuraway doing improvements and maintenance from 1965 to 1985.”

The photograph shows the west end of Building 7; the Lodge is visible in the right background The photograph is labeled “Spuraway Garden Apts, West Van BC Roofed with resawn red cedar shakes C J Morony + Jimmy Don” Jimmy Don (right) is the father of author Janet Morningstar Photo Janet Morningstar 1966

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The following photographs show the newly-completed garden apartments. International Land Corporation brochure Undated, circa 1968 Courtesy of Fred E Russell

The roof of the Lodge, the log house, is visible between the trees

The Lodge (log house) is the building covered in greenery.

The photograph illustrates how well International Land Corporation reflected the cedar roof of the log house in the design of the townhomes

The cedar siding of the townhomes is in complete harmony with the Herrmann-added north wing of the log house

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The low density of the development is apparent in the spacious garden setting

Truly a garden apartment concept; all townhomes are set within and overlook the acres of gardens

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Chapter 7 Strata Property 1980

In May 1980, International Land Corporation Ltd, under the Strata Title Act, applied to register Strata Plan of Lot “B” of Lot 3, South Part of District Lot 763.lxx The survey of the property for the strata application was completed by Chapman Land Surveying Ltd. 61

Plans courtesy of Chapman Land Surveying Ltd

James (Jim) Don, and John (Jack) Don, father and brother of the author Janet Morningstar, were involved in the building and renovations of the buildings from the 1960s to 1985.

In 2009, the Herrmann-era gymnasium complex, including the children‟s pool, changing rooms, and squash court were in need of refurbishment, but the foundations were sinking and the owners made the hard decision to demolish the buildings and create a new garden in their place.

Above: Front door of the gym Right: Front, south side of the gym Photos Robert Taylor 2007

61 See Appendix 7, and framed examples of the plans are on display in the Herrmann Room of the Lodge

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Left: The interior of the gym Described as the badminton court in the Herrmann era

Photos Robert Taylor 2007

Below: East end of the gym

Left: 2009 plans for the new garden on the old gymnasium and pool site

Photo Robert Taylor 2009

Right: The new garden under construction

Photo Robert Taylor 2010

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Images of the Log House and Gardens 62

The west side of the Lodge (log house and 1920s addition left) 1996 Water colour by Marguerite Mahy Photo courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives

The Gardens Water colour by Marguerite Mahy Photo courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives

62 The original paintings are hung in the foyer and parlour (Mahon Room) of the Lodge

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Chapter 8 The Centenary

North Shore News April 6th 2011

The article reads:

“NEIGHBOURHOODS Residents resurrect lodge’s history

Spuraway Lodge celebrates 100th anniversary

A group of West Vancouver residents are reaching out to the wider community in hopes of compiling the full story behind a North Shore landmark approaching its centennial.

Spuraway Gardens, a West Vancouver townhouse complex located at 235 Keith Rd, is also home to a historic log house believed to have been built by Japanese carpenters in 1911. For the following fifty years the building served a variety of uses – house, farm or equestrian centre – to a number of well-

52

Spuraway 1911 to 2011 known families including the Mahons, Herrmanns, McDermotts, and Gibsons. In 1965, the property was developed into townhouses, though the lodge [original house] remained intact and now serves as a club and activity centre for complex residents.

“It‟s a fascinating piece of West Van history,” says centenary committee member Robert Taylor. “There are very few buildings in West Van that are older than this one.”

Fascinated by the lodge‟s history as well as unique architecture, a group of Spuraway Gardens‟ residents formed a centenary committee, with the support of the strata council, and are endeavoring to compile the building‟s history. They‟re asking anyone with stories or photographs to contact them. “In planning for this, we‟re made connections with people who really care about history,” says centenary committee chairwoman Janet Morningstar, adding they‟re also learned a lot about the former owners‟ impact on the development of the North Shore.

Committee members are presenting a series of local history talks for those who currently call Spuraway home, featuring well-known community historians, and are hosting a centenary celebration April 16th for residents, past and present, as well as those who‟ve assisted in putting the lodge‟s history together. Invitations have been extended to former lodge residents as well. “We‟re really thankful that this building was not demolished and turned into another condo building, I think because of the intrinsic historical value but also its value as a private club for the residents,” says Taylor.

SPURAWAY gardens operations manager Toby Millage (left) and centenary committee member Gary Payne are among those celebrating and landmark West Vancouver lodge‟s 100th anniversary this month.”

Erin McPhee April 6th 2011

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The Centenary April 16th 2011

The Peirsons‟ 1911 Rolls Royce under the porte-cochere of the log house

Photo courtesy of Keith Taylor

On Saturday April 16th 2011, residents and guests celebrated the history of the one-hundred-year-old log house. By comparison, the West Vancouver Heritage Directory lists only two West Vancouver houses built prior to 1911. lxxi

The event was highlighted by the presence of many people connected to the history of Spuraway. All four families, the Mahons, Herrmanns, McDermotts, and Gibsons, who owned and lived in the mansion as a private residence between 1911 and the 1960s, were represented. Several described life at Spuraway during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. 63

The three levels of government were represented: Canada by The Honourable John Weston, Member of Parliament; the Province of British Columbia by The Honourable Ralph Sultan, Member of the Legislative Assembly; and the District of West Vancouver by Her Worship Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Mayor.

In the weeks leading to the Centenary a number of people provided lectures and presentations at the Lodge (the log house) which added greatly to the sense of history: historian and SFU professor Henry Ewert, author of numerous history books including The Story of the BC Electric Railway Company, presented the development of the North Shore Street Car System; Sharon Proctor, author of Time Travel in North Vancouver presented Edward Mahon and The Planned Observatory on Grouse Mountain; Jim Carter and Francis Mansbridge of the West Vancouver Historical Society presented exerts from their new book, Cottages to Community, that celebrates West Vancouver‟s centenary in 2012; and Don Grant of the Hollyburn Heritage Society explored The Early Days of Skiing on Hollyburn.

The developers and builders of the garden estate attended as did the land surveyor whose company completed the survey for the strata development in 1978, and the son of the architect responsible for the 1945 renovations.

The presence of a contemporary car, the 1911 Rolls Royce, and many attendees in period clothing added to the historic atmosphere.

63 See Appendix 8 for the guest list

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The log house in 2011 is substantially unchanged from 1911.

The front (east side) of the log house appears as it did in 1911.

The large stone chimney on the left was added in 1945 as part of the enclosure of the patio into a den and bar.

Photo courtesy of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives 2012

Right The original logs and eaves, west side of the house

Photo courtesy of the North Shore News 2011

Left In 2011, during repair work to the Lodge, one of the original external steps to the patio (now the McDermott Room) was discovered. It appears that it was no longer required when the patio was enclosed in 1945. The stone step was removed and used to create a bench outside the front door of Building 12.

Photo Robert Taylor 2011

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The parlour of the log house in 2011 appears as it did in the earlier photograph and was named the Mahon Room.

Left Photograph Robert Taylor 2011

The clock on the mantel is documented as manufactured circa 1911 or 1912.lxxii

Right Photograph of the parlour Courtesy of West Vancouver Archives Undated but from the Herrmann era

Left: The guest en suite bathroom was originally a bedroom and was converted by Gordon & Louise Gibson in the 1950s and renovated by the Strata Corporation in 2010.

The guest suite was named the Gibson Suite in 2011.

Note the detail of the lattice window, believed to be one of the windows mentioned in the 1911 newspaper article

Photograph Robert Taylor 2011

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The parlour, the Mahon Room Photographs Robert Taylor 2011

Looking through the foyer to the parlour, the Mahon Room

Looking through the foyer to the dining room, the Herrmann Room

The staircase in the foyer

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The Centenary was recorded in the British Columbia Legislature during remarks by The Honourable Ralph Sultan, the Member for West Vancouver-Capilano:lxxiii The illustrated Hansard records are courtesy of Dr. Sultan.

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One did not set out to write a history, rather one celebrates the contributions of the people who made these things happen and eventually created uniqueness. Spuraway is unique, the third oldest – and most original – house in West Vancouver with a tranquil garden-estate setting.

Creating the Centenary was the pulse of this work: bringing interested and interesting people together to celebrate and remember and appreciate. The authors 2012

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Epilogue

Shortly after the Centenary, the community was shocked by the unexpected death of the long-time Operations Manager and resident of the Lodge, Toby Millage. Spuraway is more similar to a small town than a typical strata corporation, and includes 14 buildings, acres of gardens and pathways, its own utility systems, electrical systems, and almost 300 parking spaces contained within its nine acres. The role of Operations Manager is therefore more akin to that of a city manager requiring a wide range of knowledge and skills.

The authors independently conducted a search for a suitable person and met Fred Beadle, a man eminently qualified, and persuaded him to apply for the position based on Spuraway‟s unique challenges and opportunities. Fortunately for Spuraway, Mr. Beadle accepted the position.

Under Mr. Beadle‟s guidance the final part of the restoration of the log house was competed in 2012, the centenary of the Municipality of West Vancouver.

The replacement of the 1945 windows in the McDermott Room, formerly the 1911 covered patio, presented aesthetic and structural challenges. Mr. Beadle designed and built the new walls and windows creating a very pleasing effect that mirrors the 1920s cedar-sided north wing. The 1945 slate floor was uncovered and the under-floor heating system made operational. The 1911 veranda and balustrade, visible in the painting of the house on the front cover, were retained and restored.

The 2012 windows and door on the south (Keith Road) side of the house

The 2012 renovations retained the delicate 1911 carvings and eaves

Photos Robert Taylor 2012

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Toby Millage, resident of the Lodge and the Operations Manager for Spuraway from 1994, died unexpectedly in 2011 in the days following the Spuraway Centenary. He is shown here playing the antique pianolxxiv in the parlour during the Centenary. Toby had worked hard to complete the refurbishment of the Lodge in time for the Centenary.

Photo courtesy of Keith Taylor

The Authors

Janet Morningstar (nee Don) grew up on the North Shore. She has a BA, teaching certificate, and MA. Her father, Jim Don, and brother Jack Don, were involved in the building and renovations of Spuraway from the 1960s to 1985. She lived at Spuraway, and was a member of Council and the Lodge Committee from 2007 to 2011.

Robert Taylor is a partner in perivale + taylor consulting, a company specializing in organizational and management system reviews, and has a keen interest in history. He lived at Spuraway and was a member and president of Council and the Lodge Committee from 2006 to 2011.

The authors now live in Oak Bay on Vancouver Island in an early 20th century house similar to the Spuraway Lodge.

The Centenary 2011 Photo Robert Taylor 2011

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Appendices

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Appendix 1.1 Plan for the Crown Grant 1891

The current district lot 763 eastern boundary is a straight line and does not follow the riverbank. Several areas on the west side of the river are in the District of North Vancouver.

Courtesy of Land Title and Survey Authority of BC and Gary Van Norman

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 1.2 The Crown Grant 1891

Courtesy of Land Title and Survey Authority of BC and Gary Van Norman

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.1 Plan for the 1910 purchase of the Southerly 40 acres of District Lot 763

The plan does not show Keith Road which runs through the lower part of the lot. The dimensions of 1320‟ square equal exactly 40 acres. The northern boundary, in today‟s geography, is approximately a continuation east of Inglewood Avenue.

Courtesy of Land Title and Survey Authority of BC

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.2 Census 1911

The 1911 census showing Edward Mahon (49 years) and Lilette (his wife, 21 years of age, birth date March 20th 1889) and persons, presumably staff: Harriett Griffin the cook; and three family members of Amos (caretaker) and his wife (name illegible, and his son Gordon, last name illegible. The address is 323 Burrard Street, Vancouver, currently the site of the Marine Building.

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.3 Express Newspaper Courtesy of the West Vancouver Memorial Library

Advertisement for Lots 601 and 607 “At Terminus B.C. Electric Carline “ January 10th 1911

Advertisement for Lots 601 & 607 and 599 NEW CAPILANO CAR LINE May 1911

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.3 Express Newspaper Courtesy of the West Vancouver Memorial Library

Advertisement for Lots on the Grand Boulevard January 10th 1911

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.3 Express Newspaper April 18th 1911 Courtesy of the West Vancouver Memorial Library

The article begins on the following page under “New Departure in Residential Novelty” and continues in the right column above. The whole article is included in Chapter 2.

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Appendix 2.3 Express Newspaper April 18th 1911 Courtesy of the West Vancouver Memorial Library

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.4.1 The Fireplace Mantel in the Parlour – vertical carvings

Details of the mantel Photos Robert Taylor 2011

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.4.2 The Fireplace Mantel in the Parlour – horizontal carvings

Details of the mantel Photos Robert Taylor 2011

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Appendix 2.5 Railway Right-of-way Plan 1923

Subdivision of the Southerly 40 acres of District Lot 763 West Vancouver and Part of Parcel A District Lot 764 (reference Plan 360) North Vancouver, Group One, New Westminster District BC

Courtesy of Land Title and Survey Authority of BC and Gary Van Norman

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

Appendix 2.6 West Vancouver Assessor’s and Collector’s Rolls lxxv

District Lot & date

1912 763 NP SP Mahon, Edward 764 Part “

1913 763 NP SP Edward Mahon 543 Pender St West. Van

1914 763 NP SP Edward Mahon

1915 763 NP SP Edward Mahon London Bldg, Van Total value $26,000

1916 763 NP SP Edward Mahon Total value $24,000

1917 763 No & wst Capilano Timber Co NPt SPt Edward Mahon 64 537 Pender St. Van Total value $24,000 Charles H Ruddock

1918 763 Right of Way Lot A Charles H Ruddock NPt & WPt Capilano Timber Co 65 NPt A Williams 432 Richards St, Van SPt Chas H Ruddock, 42nd St Bldg, New York City Total value $24,000 notice c/o Edwards & Ames, 537 Pender

64 The name Edward Mahon is crossed out and the name Charles H Ruddock is written in 65 Capilano Timber Co crossed out

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Appendix 2.6 continued West Vancouver Assessor’s and Collector’s Rolls

1919 763 B Right of Way C H Ruddock, c/o James D Lacy, 626 Henry Bldg, Seattle, Wash Capilano Timber Co 66 Edward Mahon SPt A Chas H Ruddock notice of Edwards & Ames, 537 Pender St 67 Capilano Timber Co 413 Granville St

1920 763 B Right of Way Capilano Timber Co Ltd North Vancouver N 120 acres N 120 acres S 40 acres Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames, 413 Granville St Van S Rt of way Capilano Timber Co Ltd

1921 763 B Right of Way Capilano Timber Co Ltd North Vancouver N 120 acres N 120 acres S 40 acres Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames, 413 Granville St Van S Rt of way Capilano Timber Co Ltd

192268 763 Capilano Timber Co Ltd North Vancouver Rt of way 6 acres Corp of West Vancouver N 120 acres Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames S 40 acres Capilano Timber Co Ltd North Vancouver Rt of way 2.3 acres

1923 763 Capilano Timber Co Ltd North Vancouver Rt of way 6.8 acres Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames 619 Pacific Bldg Van BC Less Keith Rd 1.95 35.75 ac. S 40 less Rt-of-way

66 Capilano Timber Co crossed out and C H Ruddock written in 67 Chas H Ruddock notice of Edwards & Ames, 537 Pender St crossed out and Capilano Timber Co written in 68 In 1922 the record is typewritten and has a different column layout

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Appendix 3 West Vancouver Assessor’s and Collector’s Rolls

District Lot & date

1924 763 Lot A Capilano Timber Co Ltd North Vancouver S. 40 acres Rt Way 2.30 Lot 1 Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames 619 Pacific Bldg Van BC 11.19 acres Lot 2 Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames 619 Pacific Bldg Van BC 1.0 acre Lot 3 Geo E Herrmann, 323 Burrard St Van69 PO Drawer 2048 No Van BC Edward Mahon, c/o Edwards & Ames 619 Pacific Bldg Van BC

1925 763 S.40 acres A Rt Way Capilano Timber Co Ltd 2.30 acres Lot 1 Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames 619 Pacific Bldg Van BC 11.19 acres Lot 2 ” 1.0 acre Lot 3 Geo E Herrmann PO Drawer 2048 No Van BC Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames 619 Pacific Bldg Van BC 12.0 acres Land value $3000 Improvements $8000 B Capilano Timber Co Ltd 6.8 acres

1926 763 S.40 acres A Rt Way Capilano Timber Co Ltd 2.30 acres Lot 1 Ed Mahon 11.19 acres Lot 2 Geo E Herman 1.0 acre Lot 3 Geo E Herrmann PO Drawer 2048 No Van BC Edward Mahon c/o Edwards & Ames 619 Pacific Bldg Van BC 12.0 acres Land value $3000 Improvements $8000 500070 B Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd 6.8 acres

69 323 Burrard St Van crossed out 70 8000 crossed out and 5000 written in

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Appendix 3 continued West Vancouver Assessor’s and Collector’s Rolls

Total Value Dollars Land Improvements 1927 A Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd Lot 1 Ed Mahon Lot 2 Geo Herrmann Lot 3 “ 3000 13,000 Edward Mahon B Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd

1928 A Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd Lot 1 Ed Mahon 3150 Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 Lot 3 “ 3000 13,00071 Edward Mahon 4069 19,000 B Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd

1929 A Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 Lot 3 “ 3000 13,000 Edward Mahon 72 B Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd

1930 A Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 73 Lot 3 “ 3000 13,000 B Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd

1931 A Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd 74 Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 Lot 3 “ 3000 13,000 B Rt-way Capilano Timber Co Ltd Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd 75

71 Values 3000 & 13,000 crossed out and 4069 & 19,000 written in 72 Edward Mahon crossed out 73 figure of 3500 written in 74 Capilano Timber Co Ltd crossed out and Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd written in 75 Capilano Timber Co Ltd crossed out and Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd written in

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Appendix 3 continued West Vancouver Assessor’s and Collector’s Rolls

1932 A Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 Lot 3 “ 3000 13,000 B Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd

1933 763 Lot A Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Lot 2 Geo E Herrmann 525 3500 Lot 3 “ 3000 13,000 Npt B Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co

1934 763 A Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co 2 Geo E Herrmann 525 3500 3 do 3000 13,000 Npt B Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co

1935 A Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 45076 Lot 3 do 3000 13,000 B Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd

1936 A Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 Lot 3 do 3000 13,450 B Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd

76 450 written in over the 13,000

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Appendix 3 continued West Vancouver Assessor’s and Collector’s Rolls

1937 A Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd 77 Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 Lot 3 do 3000 13,450 B Rt-way Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd Corporation 78

1938 Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 Lot 3 do 3000 13450

1939 550 79 Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 525 3500 delete 1940 no improvements here 80 Lot 3 do 3000 13,450 3300 12,000

1940 Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 550 Lot 3 do 3300 12,000 10,800 81

1941 Lot 2 Geo Herrmann 550 Lot 3 do 3300 10,800

77 Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd crossed out 78 Sisters Creek Logging Co Ltd crossed out and Corporation written in 79 525 crossed out and 550 handwritten in 80 handwritten note: “delete 1940 no improvements here” 81 12,000 crossed out and 10,800 handwritten in

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Appendix 4.1 Charles Van Norman Renovation Plans 1945

PLAN & ELEVATIONS, ALTERATIONS to RESIDENCE for MR & MRS E McDERMOTT [the conversion of the open veranda to an enclosed room, the McDermott Room] dated Aug 16 45

All plans courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives via Mr. Gary Van Norman, son of the original architect Charles Van Norman

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Appendix 4.2 Charles Van Norman Renovation Plans 1945

Plans of the DETAILS OF BAR [the McDermott Room] dated Nov 30/45

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Appendix 4.3 Charles Van Norman Renovation Plans 1945

KITCHEN CABINET DETAILS [now part of the Herrmann Room] dated AUG 45

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Appendix 4.4 Charles Van Norman Renovation Plans 1945

FLOOR PLANS [renovation of the kitchen, now part of the Herrmann Room] dated AUG 45

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Appendix 6.1 The Province newspaper Advertising Feature 82 Friday March 25th 1966

82 The original newspaper page is framed and hung in the Herrmann Room of the Lodge

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Appendix 6.1 continued The PROVINCE newspaper Advertising Feature Friday March 25th 1966

Spuraway Project

The City Estate Now a Reality

Now the apartment can be thought of in terms of “estate” rather than just “garden” if it happens to be designed around some form of open space.

The “estate” becomes reality with the deluxe 122 suite apartment homes at “Spuraway” occupying the site of the former Gordon Gibson residence and grounds in West Vancouver.

“So far as we know there is nothing like Spuraway estate apartments anywhere in Canada,” says Gil Bradner, Vice President and General Manager of International Land Corporation. “It is an attempt to continue urban apartment experience with the convenience and some of the facilities of a luxury estate.”

In redeveloping the property Bradner‟s firm has renovated the original log mansion, famed for its oriental- style architecture. It will become a clubhouse for the residents.

The equally famous gymnasium, used over the years by innumerable community groups, will be refurbished for use as a squash and badminton court, and a sauna bath will be added along with an indoor swimming pool. The existing outdoor pool has been refitted and relined and will be kept for the use of residents as well.

“Our experience, however, is that an outdoor pool alone doesn‟t meet the requirements of the kind of people that we expect will live at Spuraway. Even the older folks like to be able to swim year round. Busy executives like to have all their recreational facilities right at hand so that they needn‟t belong to a health club and meet a scheduled time for use of facilities for exercise. And, of course, such facilities provide for easier social contact among residents.”

“We must admit, though, that the chief reason such an approach hasn‟t been tried before is most likely that suitable sites are just not available. At Spuraway we were fortunate to obtain a large land area, with a cultivated forest, close to shopping and the downtown business and cultural centres. There are all the essentials to satisfy the requirements of the kind of person a quietly prestigious garden apartment like Spuraway will attract.”

Only about 30 per cent of the nine acre site is used for buildings, leaving another roughly six acres in lawns, trees, gardens, and walks.

“To retain the park-like feeling of the estate, we have removed as few trees as possible,” Bradner said, “and even saved a portion of the old formal gardens. This will be relocated as part of the new landscaping plan worked out by Philip Tattersfield and Associates.”

All parking for residents is under cover at Spuraway, almost all of it beneath the buildings. Although more costly than other methods of providing parking, the developers wanted to avoid the creation of large surface parking lots.

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Appendix 6.1 continued The PROVINCE newspaper Advertising Feature

Grace, elegance key to sympathetic design

In a setting dominated by open spaces ringed with huge redwood and fir trees the challenge in selecting interior and exterior design basics is to keep things simple and uncluttered.

At least, that is the opinion of Art Hopping of Kovach and Grinnell, design consultants for Spuraway.

“Cedar fielded panel doors with special solid iron handles, complete with an old-fashioned latch, were one element we used to achieve this balance. The heavy shake roofs were another.”

Fireplaces, seldom used as extensively in garden apartments as they were at Spurway where almost all suites have them, presented another opportunity to maintain the character of the project. A brownish, rather than red or yellow, brick was chosen with box mantels of cedar. Design of the fireplace in each unit was chosen to coincide with the setting of the rooms in relation to outdoor areas.

Soft exterior colours were selected to “float into the surrounding forest”.

To sustain the luxurious mood, bathrooms were treated more elegantly than is usual with vinyl wall coverings and heavy gilt frame mirrors. Tiling is of a special design. Banding, or bordering, tile which was a popular style at the time the original Spuraway was built was reintroduced again to maintain the over-all character.

ESTATE CLUBHOUSE will be made of the picturesque old Gibson home on property which is Spuraway.

Project helping area

Taxpaying residents of West Vancouver will be happy about the conversion of the Spuraway estate from private residence to an apartment project. It will enrich the coffers of West Vancouver by some $30,000 a year in municipal taxes.

This is almost ten times the annual taxes paid on the property when is was used as a private residence, according to Mr. G Bradner, Vice President, International Land Corporation, North Vancouver, owners of the project.

Completion of the 122-unit apartment is scheduled for mid-summer, although a number of buildings are already completed and the first residents moved in.

Planned originally for a larger number of units, the developers held back construction of one unit until the market demand for various types of accommodation could be measured more exactly.

The development has 10 styles of suites, ranging from bachelor suites to a luxurious three-bedroom suite with a den and separate dining room.

Cost of the project when completed will be around $1,000,000. This is about $100,000 above the original cost forecast when the project commenced in January, 1965.

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Appendix 6.1 continued The PROVINCE newspaper Advertising Feature

Spuraway ESTATE APARTMENTS

urban apartment convenience amid the gracious ease of a country estate

Mountain-fresh air tinged with the scent of Redwoods and Firs. Six acres of lawns, walks, gardens and trees. Facilities for recreation and social activities. These are the things you‟ll enjoy when you live at Spuraway. Created for people who want to lead a full, active fife free from the shackles of caring for a house, but able to conjure up the convenience of an estate, Spuraway is close to the heart of the city, yet nestles in a quiet forest. Here is a garden apartment with atmosphere and character, the character of an estate. See Spuraway before you plan your next move.

NINE ACRES OF LAWNS AND GARDENS, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS, A GYMNASIUM WITH SAUNA BATH, SQUASH AND BADMINTON COURTS

10 FLOOR PLANS: Select your suite from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom or three-bedroom-plus den-plus dining room accommodation

RENTS FROM $115.00 to $325.00

INTERNATIONAL LAND’S POLICY IS “INSIST ON THE BEST”

If you are planning to build a garden apartment, an office or a home … we invite you to take advantage of our considerable experience in selecting craftsmen, suppliers and materials. The following helped create “Spuraway” (and many have worked on our earlier projects as well and we list their names with pride and with “thanks for a job well done”.

[There follows a list of 25 companies]

Spuraway another pace-setting project by 235 Keith Road, West Vancouver INTERNATIONAL LAND CORPORATION LTD

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Appendix 6.1.1 The PROVINCE newspaper

The following news cutting is believed to come from the same edition as the above.

The article reads: “… other suites have bedrooms or dens which could be converted to use as a dining room,” he noted.

Leo Lund, MRAIC, architect for the project, stated that one of the primary considerations in his design of Spuraway was the accustomed way of life of the kind of people it would attract as residents. In the main, they are people with above average income, accustomed to entertaining and for the most part, used to the space of a private home. Once you‟re become used to having room to swing a cat the idea of going into a “compact” apartment lacks appeal, he added. “This fact was recognized in the use of private entrances for every suite, in the square footage and arrangement of the suites, and in the arrangement of the grounds at Spuraway, and in the architectural planning”, Lund commented.

This same element is why the owners decided to refer to it as an “estate” apartment, rather than as a garden apartment. The term garden apartment has come to mean little more than “low rise”, without regard to the amount of space between or around buildings. Spuraway has lots of land, in relation to the building area, as estates do.

Wired Television

All apartments in the new Spuraway project are equipped with wired television leads to ensure residents of clear reception of all channels. When colour becomes available in this area, the existing service will carry it, according to Northwest Television Systems, operators of the cable system in West Vancouver. FM radio and background music are also carried by the system.”

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Appendix 6.1.2 The PROVINCE newspaper

The following news cutting is on the reverse of the previous page.

The caption reads:

“BROAD OPEN LAWNS and tall evergreens create a mood of forest quiet at Spuraway. The $1,600,000 estate apartment project occupies a nine-acre site with only 122 units. First residents have already moved in and project will be completed in May. Tall trees in centre of photo are Sequoia (Redwoods).”

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Appendix 6.2 The Townhomes

Front cover of the 1966 International Land Corporation brochure

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Appendix 6.2.1 The Townhomes

Page 1 of the 1966 International Land Corporation brochure. Note: the dates 1910, 1917, and 1952, based on examination of the land titles and other contemporary documentation, should read 1911, 1923, and 1953.

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Appendix 6.2.2 The Townhomes

Page 2 of the 1966 International Land Corporation Brochure

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Appendix 6.2.3 The Townhomes

Page 3 of the 1966 International Land Corporation brochure

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Appendix 6.2.4 The Townhomes

Page 4 of the 1966 International Land Corporation brochure

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Appendix 6.2,5 The Townhomes

Back page of the 1966 International Land Corporation brochure

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Appendix 6.2.A The Townhomes – Plans

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Appendix 6.2.B The Townhomes – Plans

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Appendix 6.2.C The Townhomes – Plans

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Appendix 6.2.D The Townhomes – Plans

100

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Appendix 6.2.E The Townhomes – Plans

101

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Appendix 6.2.F The Townhomes – Plans

102

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Appendix 6.2.G The Townhomes – Plans

103

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Appendix 6.2.H The Townhomes – Plans

104

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Appendix 6.2.J The Townhomes – Plans

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Appendix 6.2.K The Townhomes – Plans

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Appendix 6.3 The Apartment Building

Left The detail of the plan shows the proposed indoor swimming pool located at the rear of the old gymnasium, where the current garden building (the old boiler building) now stands.

Below: the building labelled as no. 11 is the current building 8: the plan‟s number for buildings 8 through 11 are reversed – presumably an error. Building 12 is correctly identified.

The plan illustrates the locations of former Herrmann-era buildings:

Lean to

Shed

Double Garage

Shed

House

Detail 060.1-3.172 Spuraway, Plan 101-211, zoning bylaw no. 2200, 1968: topography plan of Lot 3 of the southerly portion of district lot 763, group 1, New Westminster District (Plan 5254)

Courtesy of West Vancouver Archives

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Appendix 6.4 Reference Plan Portion of Lot 3 1964 and 1965

Courtesy of Land Title and Survey Authority of BC and Gary Van Norman

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Appendix 7.1 Strata Plans 1978

The plans are displayed in the Herrmann Room of the Lodge Courtesy of Bill Chapman, Chapman Land Surveying Ltd, West Vancouver

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Appendix 7.2 Strata Plans 1978

The plans are displayed in the Herrmann Room of the Lodge Courtesy of Bill Chapman, Chapman Land Surveying Ltd, West Vancouver

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Appendix 8 Centenary Guest List

It was Spuraway Strata Corporation‟s pleasure to host the following guests during the Centenary:

The Honourable John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country

The Honourable Ralph Sultan, Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for West Vancouver- Capilano

Her Worship Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Mayor of West Vancouver

Marolyn Mahon, daughter-in-law of Edward & Lilette Mahon

Lilette Mahon Player, granddaughter of Edward & Lilette Mahon

Bryan Mahon, grandson of Edward & Lilette Mahon

Valerie McDermott, granddaughter of George & Estella Herrmann, daughter of Adele and Ernest McDermott, and former resident of the house

Brian McDermott, grandson of George & Estella Herrmann, son of Adele and Ernie McDermott, and former resident of the house

Gordon Gibson Jr., former resident of the house, son of Louise and Gordon Gibson Sr.

Gary Van Norman, son of the architect Charles Van Norman

Bill Chapman, Chapman Land Surveying Ltd, the surveyors of the property in 1978

Gil Bradner, International Land Corporation

Linda Lehn, Logie Brothers Construction

Fred Russell, International Land Corporation

Marcia Bergen, Chair, West Vancouver Memorial Library Board

Jim Carter, West Vancouver Historical Society

Eleanore Dempster, author of the Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge, 1988. 2004

Francis Mansbridge, historian and author of Cottages to Community, the Story of West Vancouver‟s Neighbourhoods

John & Marny Peirson, 1911 Rolls Royce

Sharon Proctor, historian and author of Time Travel in North Vancouver

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Appendix A Works Consulted and Further Reading

Bourdon, Donald. North Shore Museum and Archives. The Boom Years, G. G. Nye‟s Photographs of North Vancouver 1905-1909. Hancock House Publishers, North Vancouver. 1981

Bradbury, E. West Vancouver, A View Through the Woods. The District of West Vancouver.

Burnes, John R. North Vancouver, Saga of a Municipality in its Formative Days 1891 – 1907.

Davis, C. Reflections, One Hundred Years: A Celebration of the District of North Vancouver. Opus Productions. Vancouver. 1990

Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988

Ewert, H. The Perfect Little Street Car System, North Vancouver 1906 – 1847. North Vancouver Museum & Archives

Ewert, H. The Story of the BC Electric Railway Company

Express Newspaper. 1911 and 1912

Foundation Group Designs, West Vancouver Heritage Inventory, prepared for the District of West Vancouver. 1988 and updated 1994

Foundation Group Design. Heritage Landscape Inventory, prepared for the District of West Vancouver. 1988

Gibson, G. & Renison, C. Bull of the Woods. Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. Vancouver. 2000

Gordon, K. Made to Measure, A History of Land Surveying in British Columbia. Sononis Press, Winlaw, BC. 2006

Grant, D. Hollyburn Heritage Society at http://www.hollyburnheritagesociety.ca/

Lazenby, Dick. Newspaper research, courtesy of North Vancouver Museum & Archives

Mansbridge, Francis. Cottages to Community, the Story of West Vancouver‟s Neighbourhoods. West Vancouver Historical Society. 2011

Mansbridge, Francis. Hollyburn, The Mountains and the City. Ronsdale Press. 2008

Morton, James W. Capilano, The Story of a River. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto. 1970

Pallant, Roy J V. A Brief Chronological History of Lower Capilano. Lower Capilano Heritage Group 1991

Proctor, S. Time Travel in North Vancouver, A Peek into the Past. Hancock House Publishers Ltd. Surrey, BC. 2010

Ramsey, Bruce. A Place of Excellence, A Chronicle of West Vancouver. District of West Vancouver. 1987

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Rees-Thomas, David M. Timber Down the Capilano: a history of the Capilano Timber Company and Railroad. British Columbia Railway Historical Association. Victoria, BC. 1979

Sommer, Warren. The Ambitious City, A History of the City of North Vancouver. Harbour Publishing. 2007

Stone, H. A. A Short History of Caulfeild Village. Undated

Tanaka, Tosh. Consulate General (Vancouver, B.C.) Hands across the Pacific : Japan in British Columbia, 1889-1989. c. 1990

Taylor, Tom. Glimpses, World War II in West Vancouver. Ray Hignall Services Inc. 2004

Volovsek, Walter O. The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon. Otmar Publishing, Castlegar, British Columbia. 2012

West Vancouver Archives. Tax Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls. 1912 to 1941

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Appendix B

References i Land Title and Survey Authority of BC ii Volovsek, Walter O. The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon. Otmar Publishing, Castlegar, British Columbia. 2012 iii Hall, Paul J. Place Names of West Vancouver. West Vancouver Historical Society. 2004. Named for James C Keith, in 1891, the first reeve of the Municipality of North Vancouver. In 1892 the Council undertook to build a road from Deep Cove to Eagle Harbour, and passed a money by-law authorizing the borrowing of $40,000 for that purpose. Mr. Keith purchased the debentures and the so-called Lighthouse Road became officially named in his honour

Burnes, John R. North Vancouver, Saga of a Municipality in its Formative Days 1891 – 1907. Undated. On March 28th, 1892, tenders were called for the construction of Keith Road. The contract was let to the contracting form of J. J. Tierney who built the road at a cost of $47,338.26. This road was only a trail at best and the bridges were not too good, as they both went out on January 20th 1895. The road, or trail as I think it was, did remain for some time at least. It was a connection between the different parts of the new municipality and I have traced it in many places during my work. It is interesting to note that the location of the bridges was recognized as “Good Locations” for many years and today there are bridges in the same locations. The road itself was located in the easiest place to build and with no thought of car or truck transportation, and the name remains to this day in many parts of the original location

Express newspaper. Capilano Property Owners. It was the feeling of the meeting that the widening and otherwise improving the Keith Road from the present terminus of the Capilano car line west along the Bay to Point Atkinson would convert that highway into one of the most magnificent drives in Canada and add another attractive feature to the fine surrounding of Vancouver. May 8th 1908

Province newspaper The main artery of the district is the Keith road, which extends in a continuous line from Deep cove across the municipality to Eagle harbor on Howe sound, 23 miles in length. This road will be extended next spring from Eagle harbor to White Cliff city. The extension goes through very rocky country and the rockwork alone will cost $70,000, of which the Provincial Government has promised to put up $50,000. Three miles of road have been completed by the Provincial Government in government land sold at auction some time ago. These roads are 66 feet wide and splendidly finished. November 20th 1909. Found in Dick Lazenby‟s newspaper research (NVMA)

Express newspaper. The West Vancouver Improvement association is agitating strongly for the construction of a drive similar to the one nearing completion in Point Grey. The proposition is to run a road from the corner of the Indian reservation connecting with what is known as the Robson road in North Vancouver. This will make the connecting link of a perfect Marine Drive and will extend for a distance of ten miles from the south forks of the Capilano River through to Point Atkinson. This will be a full macadamized road and will form one of the most lovely drives in British Columbia. June 11th 1910

Express Newspaper. Work has now been commenced on opening up the newly located Keith Road both east and west of Nelson Avenue [now 23rd Street]. There is a large number of men at work on this clearing. This road is being opened up to the width of 80 feet and when completed and macadamized will make one of the finest marine drives on the Pacific coast. March 24th 1911

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Mansbridge, Francis. Cottages to Community. The Story of West Vancouver. West Vancouver Historical Society 2011

Street Naming Bylaw, Bylaw 18, adopted December 23rd 1912. West Vancouver Memorial Library Authors‟ note: The newly-incorporated municipality of West Vancouver changed the name of Keith Road, wherever it was close to the water, to Marine Drive. Keith Road remains from the 100 block by the Capilano River through to the 1200 block where it joins Marine Drive in Ambleside, and a number of isolated sections close to Caulfeild and Eagle Harbour iv Foundation Group Designs, West Vancouver Heritage Inventory, prepared for the District of West Vancouver. 1988 and updated 1994 v Mansbridge, Francis. Cottages to Community. The Story of West Vancouver. West Vancouver Historical Society 2011 vi Davis, C. Reflections, One Hundred Years. A Celebration of the District of North Vancouver‟s Centennial. Opus Productions Inc. Vancouver. 1990 vii Morton, James W. Capilano, The Story of a River. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto. 1970; and

News Advertiser newspaper. Found in Dick Lazenby‟s research of newspapers (NVMA) Built By Japanese

The christening of the new combined cantilever and Howe truss bridge, built by the Japanese across the Capilano Creek, for the Capilano Flume Syndicate, took place yesterday (St. Valentine's Day).

The ceremony was performed by Miss M. MacKay, of 531 Hawks Avenue, who was attired in a very becoming military costume, in keeping with the occasion, the bridge being named after the noted Japanese Admiral, Togo. Miss MacKay was accompanied to the bridge by Mrs. Wm. Edmonds of Detroit, Michigan, and Miss. J. Connors of Beach Avenue who looked charming in costumes of brown. Mr. D. Burgess, practical engineer, formed one of the party.

The bridge, which has a 140ft. span, was entirely constructed by the Japanese under the supervision of Mr. W. T. Farrell, contractor of this City, who compiled the plans.

A pleasing feature of the occasion was the serving of tea by the Japanese and the giving of toasts by the ladies of the party.

The bridge is on the line of flume, under construction by the Capilano Syndicate. The flume, when completed, will run the full length of the Capilano Valley. The timber tributary to this flume is almost inexhaustible and of the choicest quality viii Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988 ix Indenture no 49432 Land Title and Survey Authority of BC x Ewert, H. The Perfect Little Street Car System, North Vancouver 1906 – 1847. North Vancouver Museum & Archives xi Ewert, H. xii Ewert, H.

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xiii http://www.tundria.com/trams/index.html xiv West Vancouver Memorial Library xv District of West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls, West Vancouver Archives xvi Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988, and Bryan Mahon xvii British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932. Edward Mahon and Lilette Caroline Julia Rebbeck, April 26th 2011 xviii Sales Record of the North Vancouver Land & Improvement Company, from Volovsek, Walter O. The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon. Draft manuscript Copyright 2012 xix Volovsek, Walter O. The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon. Otmar Publishing, Castlegar, British Columbia. 2012 xx Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988 xxi Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Letter from W T Farrell to Edward Mahon, March 1st 1911. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988 xxii Province newspaper April 20 1903 xxiii New Advertiser, found in Dick Lazenby‟s research of newspapers (NVMA) xxiv The newspapers of the period in repeated references link Mr. Farrell and the Japanese contractors. Examples include:

World newspaper March 4th 1893 A Japanese employed at Farrell's logging camp just across the inlet was found to-day to have the small- pox

World newspaper. December 27th 1905 Mr. Farrell sent over gangs of Japanese last night and this morning to assist the Capilano to make a new bed for itself. He asserts that in this way, with properly directed work, the new channel will be made through in 48 hours; not perhaps 27 feet deep, 20 feet wide at the bottom and 60 feet wide at the top through its entire length, but of sufficient dimensions to allow the river in a short time to do the rest

Above found in Dick Lazenby‟s newspaper research (NVMA) xxv Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988 xxvi Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988 xxvii Japanese Canadian National Museum xxviii Japanese Canadian National Museum

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xxix Yokota, Naomi; Berdichewsky, Bernado. Pioneers Anonymous. North Shore Multicultural History Exhibition, North Vancouver Museum & Archives. Courtesy of the Japanese Canadian National Museum xxx Tanaka, Tosh. Consulate General (Vancouver, B.C.) Hands across the Pacific: Japan in British Columbia, 1889-1989. c. 1990. via the Japanese Canadian National Museum xxxi Japanese Canadian National Museum xxxii Dempster, Eleanore. The Laughing Bridge, A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Impressions in Print Enterprises, Maple Ridge, BC. 1988 xxxiii Volovsek, Walter O. The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon. Otmar Publishing, Castlegar, British Columbia. 2012 Lilette became an accomplished painter; later in life enrolling in the Vancouver School of Art and obtaining her diploma in Drawing and Painting. A memorial exhibition of her works was held at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1956 xxxiv Squamish Nation, 2012 xxxv Haida carver, 2012 xxxvi Smithsonian National Museum of National History xxxvii Mansbridge, Francis. Cottages to Community. The Story of West Vancouver. West Vancouver Historical Society. 2011 xxxviii Ramsey, Bruce. A Place of Excellence, A Chronicle of West Vancouver. District of West Vancouver. 1987 xxxix Morton, James W. Capilano, The Story of a River. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto. 1970 xl Indenture No 31163 Land Title and Survey Authority of BC xli No 34169 Land Title and Survey Authority of BC xlii No 87129 Land Title and Survey Authority of BC xliii No 87564 Land Title and Survey Authority of BC xliv Land Title and Survey Authority of BC xlv Volovsek, Walter O. The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon. Otmar Publishing, Castlegar, British Columbia. 2012 xlvi Volovsek, Walter O. The Green Necklace: the Vision Quest of Edward Mahon. Otmar Publishing, Castlegar, British Columbia. 2012 xlvii Wrigley‟s 1923 Vancouver City Directory includes Hermann Geo E mgr Van Creosoting Co r [residence] 1402 McRae Ave [Vancouver] Sunset Newspaper Friday July 27 1917 Company Recovers All But Two Piles.

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North Vancouver - There is great rejoicing at the plant of the Vancouver Creosoting company on the north shore over the recovery of 126 out of the 128 specially treated piles that were cast adrift in the Gulf of Georgia last week when a barge in which they were being towed to Vancouver, sprang a leak and sank off the mouth of the Fraser river. The piles being about 130 feet long were very valuable and Manager Hermann of the company lost no time in ordering out the company's boat as well as securing the services of Junkins and Co.'s tug Defiance to go to the scene and endeavor to rescue the long timbers. Both the tide and wind were favorable in the rescue work as they drove the piles in at the end of Sea Island where Manager Goss of Acme cannery and Manager McArthur of the Vancouver cannery could see then and they instructed their Japanese fishermen to bring the piles into boom. Although the Japanese had not contracted to hunt piles, they stopped their work and assisted with the capture until 126 out of 128 were secured in the boom. Although the piles were insured, Manager Herman states that the amount of insurance would not nearly cover the cost nor delay in replacing the long sticks as it is very difficult to get these long poles from the bush at the present time. Found in Dick Lazenby‟s research of newspapers. (NVMA) xlviii No 54148K Land Title and Survey Authority of BC xlix No 21067K Land Title and Survey Authority of BC l Canadian Homes & Gardens Magazine. … the original log chalet was used only during the summers until the Herrmanns expanded the house by two-thirds… May 1931, courtesy of Brian McDermott li Aerial photographs 1951 & 1962; Gordon Gibson Jr. and Valerie McDermott; and Spuraway, Plan 101- 211, zoning bylaw no. 2200, 1968 lii Foundation Group Design. Heritage Landscape Inventory, prepared for the District of West Vancouver. 1988 Botanical Name: Sequoiadendron giganteum Common name: California Redwood Family name: Taxodiaceae, Taxodium family Size: Height 80‟ DBH 10‟ Width 26‟ The Planning Department convinced the developers of this apartment complex to retain this wall of Redwoods. This bank consists of 10 Redwoods, 1 Pine, and 1 Copper Beech, giving a stately wooded effect. There are compatible plantings of birch and vine maple, with an understory of ivy. Probably planted at the time the estate was landscaped. The original house was built in 1911. Good to very good condition liii Bradbury, E. West Vancouver, a view through the trees. District of West Vancouver. At Spuraway Gardens, 235 Keith Road, a row of giant redwoods, along with pine and copper beech, were part of the landscaped estate of the original house built in 1911 liv Letter from George Hermann to Edward Mahon December 13th 1933. Courtesy of the Mahon Family Records via Walter Volovsek lv Letter from George Herrmann to Edward Mahon November 5th 1935. Courtesy of the Mahon Family Records via Walter Volovsek lvi Conversation with Robert Taylor, April 2011 lvii Courtesy of Brian McDermott lviii Undated, unreferenced, and anonymous essay believed to be from the West Vancouver Historical Society

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Spuraway 1911 to 2011

lix Certificate of Title No 126775 L. Land Title and Survey Authority of BC lx Van Norman, Gary, son of the architect Charles Van Norman. 2011 lxi Certificate of Title No 289791-L. Land Title and Survey Authority of BC lxii Gibson, G. & Renison, C. Bull of the Woods. Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. Vancouver. 2000. Note: the West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s Rolls, Ibid. Appendix 3, provide a figure of 13 acres, twelve for Lot 3 and one for Lot 2 lxiii Gordon Gibson Jr. 2011 lxiv Gibson, G. & Renison, C. Bull of the Woods. Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. Vancouver. 2000 lxv Provided to the authors in 2011 lxvi Gibson, G. & Renison, C. Bull of the Woods. Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. Vancouver. 2000 lxvii Certificate of Title No 499980-L. Land Title and Survey Authority of BC lxviii McCuaig & Associates Engineering Ltd. Depreciation Report, Vancouver. 2007 lxix Provided to the authors in 2012 lxx Application No 38073 and hand written added 38073 to 38239 [the 167 strata units]. Land Title and Survey Authority of BC lxxi Foundation Group Designs, West Vancouver Heritage Inventory, prepared for the District of West Vancouver. 1988

. The Navvy Jack House, 1768 Argyle Avenue, circa 1873. Contemporary reports indicate that he [Navvy Jack] built this house sometime the following year [1873]. The prime waterfront property was later acquired by John Lawson at a land auction sale. He moved his family in by 1907. Its siding and windows have been altered but the form of the building is intact

. Caulfeild House, 4768 Pilot House Road, circa 1909. The building has been substantially altered and its integrity has been compromised

. 235 Keith Road, 1911

Note: the Inventory entry for Spuraway is inconsistent with the records examined during this history

The Inventory gives a date of 1917 for George Herrmann purchasing the property but the contemporary records (land titles and the District of West Vancouver Assessor‟s and Collector‟s rolls) show 1923 and 1924. It is possible that the 1917 date may have been confused with the granting of a right-of-way through the property for the railway in that year.

The Inventory also reads “The modern addition to the north side was designed in 1945.” Based on the architectural plans, the 1945 changes were limited to the south side of the house with the enclosure of the patio into the bar, now the McDermott Room, and interior changes to the kitchen and dining room in the newer north wing

119

Spuraway 1911 to 2011

The north wing of the house replaced an original smaller north wing during the Herrmann years, presumably in the later 1920s, and is documented as existing in 1931. See chapter 3 and chapter & appendix 4 lxxii Letter from Wilfred Fattorini, Thomas Fattorini Limited, to Samuel Taylor (father of the author Robert Taylor). circa 1963 lxxiii 2011 Legislative Session: Third Session, 39th Parliament, in HANSARD, the official report of Debates of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, May 4th 2011, Afternoon Sitting, Volume 20, Number 13 lxxiv The piano, by W. W. Kimball Co. serial number 136965, was manufactured in 1904. Pierce Piano Atlas 12th edition, indicating a manufacture date of mid 1904; and The Blue Book of Pianos indicating manufacture between 1900 and 1905 lxxv West Vancouver Archives

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