Adam Balmer was the superintendent of Stanley Park from about 1910 to 1913. He lived at 1155 Park Road from 1910 to 1913.
Park Road was on the boundary between Stanley Park and the City of Vancouver. The current address is 2099 Beach Avenue.
It appears that Adam Balmer was born in England, possibly in Newcastle in 1863. He may have married Mary Ann Williams in Newcastle in 1887.
Sometimes he described himself as a florist.
He first appeared in the Vancouver directories in 1910. He was the Superintendent of Stanley Park, and he was living at 1155 Park Road. He continued in this role until 1913, when the park board replaced him with W.S. Rawlings, who was the former secretary of the board. Adam Balmer resigned and moved out of the superintendent’s residence.
It appears that the Balmer family soon moved to Seattle, Washington. In 1914, Adam’s son, Adam Albert Balmer, died in Seattle.
The Balmers continued to live in the Seattle area through the 1920s until the 1940s.
Mary Annie Balmer died in Seattle on July 12, 1934. She was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle.
Adam Balmer died in Seattle on August 21, 1943. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle.
Adam and Mary appear to have had the following children.
Adam Albert Balmer
Adam Albert Balmer was born about 1895. He died in Seattle, Washington, on January 14, 1914. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle.
Mary E. Balmer
Mary E. Balmer was living with Adam and Mary Anne in 1920. She was born in Indiana about 1899. She may have been called “Betty,” since the 1923 Seattle directory shows Betty Balmer living at 712 Belmont Place, which was the same house as the one in which Adam and Mary were living at that time.
Sources
Note: aside from the material that refers to the Park Board, the other information relating to Adam Balmer and his family members is somewhat speculative and not confirmed.
Adam Balmer
Richard (Mike) Steele, The First 100 Years,: An Illustrated Celebration, Vancouver, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, 1988, page 210: 1909-1913: Superintendent: Balmer, A.; page 213: 1913: Board replaces Superintendent Balmer with former Secretary W.S. Rawlings. Balmer resigns.
Social and Personal, Vancouver Province, July 5, 1913, page 8: “Ex-Park Superintendent Balmer, Mrs. Balmer and family have removed from Beach avenue, entrance to Stanley Park, to 1356 Pender street west.”
Social and Personal, Vancouver Province, July 7, 1913, page 8: “Ex-Park Superintendent Balmer has returned to Vancouver after an extended trip to the coast cities. While in Tacoma he attended the flower show.”
“England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-1920”, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/261D-ZR9 : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Balmer, 1863.
“England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-1920”, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2DYV-1FB : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Balmer, 1887.
“Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922”, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2HPQ-83R : accessed 12 Apr 2014), A Balmer, 1905.
“United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XL81-HYH : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Balmer, 24 Sep 1913; citing “Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954,” Ancestry.com; Ship , arrival port Vancouver, British Columbia, , line 6, NARA microfilm publication M1464, roll 231, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
“United States Census, 1920,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHFR-DGM : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Balmer, Seattle, King, Washington, United States; citing sheet 10B, family 237, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821927.
Seattle, Washington, 1923 city directory, page 329; http://distantcousin.com/Directories/WA/Seattle/1923/Pages.asp?Page=0329: Adam Balmer (Mary A) h712 Belmont pl.
“United States Census, 1930,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC33-16R : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Marie Ann Balmer in household of Adam Balmer, Seattle, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0023, sheet 11A, family 67, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2492
“United States Census, 1940,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9S9-9J4 : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Balmer, Westport, Westport Election Precinct, Grays Harbor, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 14-98, sheet 2B, family 51, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 4341.
“Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3T6-T2K : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Balmer, 21 Aug 1943; citing Seattle, King, Washington, reference it 1, no 4056, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2024167.
Find A Grave, Find A Grave Memorial# 5315873, Adam Balmer, died August 1943, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle, King County, Washington, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=balmer&GSiman=1&GScid=76945&GRid=5315873&.
Mary Anne Williams (wife of Adam Balmer)
“United States Census, 1930,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC33-16R : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Marie Ann Balmer in household of Adam Balmer, Seattle, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0023, sheet 11A, family 67, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2492
“Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N352-ZMD : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Balmer in entry for Mary Annie Balmer, 12 Jul 1934; citing Seattle, King, Washington, reference CN 2409, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2023203.
Find A Grave, Find A Grave Memorial# 5315880, Mary Annie Balmer, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle, King County, Washington, died July 1934. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=balmer&GSiman=1&GScid=76945&GRid=5315880&.
Adam Albert Balmer (son of Adam Balmer)
Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory, 1913, Part 1, page 588, Balmer, A Albert, clk. R Beach Av cor Park Rd.
“Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQMH-6ZL : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Adam Albert Balmer, 14 Jan 1914; citing Seattle, King, Washington, reference , Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 1992191.
Find A Grave, Find A Grave Memorial# 5315874, Adam Albert Balmer, died January 1914; Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle, King County, Washington, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=balmer&GSiman=1&GScid=76945&GRid=5315874&
Mary E. Balmer (daughter of Adam Balmer)
Seattle, Washington, 1923 city directory, page 329; http://distantcousin.com/Directories/WA/Seattle/1923/Pages.asp?Page=0329: Betty Balmer, designer, r 712 Belmont pl.
Margaret P. Balmer (sister of Adam Balmer)
“United States Census, 1910,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MGVD-2YX : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Margaret P Balmer, Seattle Ward 3, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 95, sheet 10A, family 224, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375672.
Mariane Balmer (sister of Adam Balmer)
“United States Census, 1910,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MGVD-2YF : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Mariane Balmer in household of Margaret P Balmer, Seattle Ward 3, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 95, sheet 10A, family 224, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375672.
“United States Census, 1930,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC33-16T : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Marion Balmer in household of Adam Balmer, Seattle, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0023, sheet 11A, family 67, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2492.
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