944 Denman Street

Denman Street, east side, between Barclay Street and Nelson Street (facing northeast), about 1904; Vancouver Public Library, VPL 2653.

944 Denman Street was one of three houses near the southeast corner of Denman Street and Barclay Street.

Legal Description: District Lot: 185; Block: 58; Lot 14A.

Denman Street - between Barclay Street and Nelson Street - detail from Insurance plan - City of Vancouver - July 1897 - revised June 1901 - Sheet 43 - Coal Harbour to Comox Street and Bidwell Street to Stanley Park — Denman Street – between Barclay Street and Nelson Street – detail from Insurance plan – City of Vancouver – July 1897 – revised June 1901 – Sheet 43 – Coal Harbour to Comox Street and Bidwell Street to Stanley Park.

Denman Street - between Barclay Street and Nelson Street - detail from Insurance plan - City of Vancouver - July 1897 - revised June 1903 - Sheet 43 - Coal Harbour to Comox Street and Bidwell Street to Stanley Park — Denman Street – between Barclay Street and Nelson Street – detail from Insurance plan – City of Vancouver – July 1897 – revised June 1903 – Sheet 43 – Coal Harbour to Comox Street and Bidwell Street to Stanley Park

Denman Street between Barclay Street and Nelson Street - detail from Goad's Atlas of the city of Vancouver - 1912 - Vol 1 - Plate 8 - Barclay Street to English Bay and Cardero Street to Stanley Park — Denman Street between Barclay Street and Nelson Street – detail from Goad’s Atlas of the city of Vancouver – 1912 – Vol 1 – Plate 8 – Barclay Street to English Bay and Cardero Street to Stanley Park.

944 Denman Street; 952 Denman Street; 958 Denman Street; detail from Goad’s Atlas of Vancouver Vol. 1; 1913-1920; Chas. E. Goad Company; Plate 55; Vancouver City Archives; Item : 1972-582.30; [Cardero Street to Haro Street to Denman Street to Comox Street]; https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/plate-55-cardero-street-to-haro-street-to-denman-street-to-comox-street.

There is one reference to this property in Heritage Vancouver Society’s database of historic building permits: http://permits.heritagevancouver.org/index.php?cID=1 [searched February 11, 2023].

District:	Vancouver
Permit:	A-4806
Owner:	Edwards & Ames
Architect:
Builder:	Martin, A.
Legal Address:	DL: Block: Sub: Resub: Lot:
Date (Y-M-D):	1922-11-11
Street Number:	944
Street Name:	Denman Street
Value:	$350.00
Remarks:	Dwelling/House; Repairs/Alterations;
Reference ID:	VN-19225341-17

Vancouver Building Permits, Heritage Vancouver Society; http://permits.heritagevancouver.org/index.php?cID=1 [searched February 11, 2023].

Vancouver directory listings from 1900 to 1920.

1900	Chapman, Frederick William
1901	Douglas, Francis (“Frank”) Ross
1902 to 1915	Wilson, William Henry
1916	Vacant
1917 to 1919	Helyer, John Shaw
1920	Helyer, Mary Jane (widow of John Shaw Helyer)

In 1900, Francis (“Frank”) Ross Douglas was living at 944 Denman Street.

Vancouver Province, December 4, 1900, page 6, column 5.

In 1915, the contents of the house were for sale by auction.

Vancouver Daily World, July 31, 1915, page 17, column 7.

In the early 1920s, Ida Morris had a music studio at 944 Denman Street.

Vancouver Sun, July 11, 1920, page 21, columns 1-2.

In 1940, the City of Vancouver granted a permit to raise the house at 944 Denman Street.

Vancouver Sun, April 12, 1940, page 27, column 1.

Part of the house offered rental accommodation in the 1940s.

Vancouver Sun, May 28, 1940, page 16, column 1.

A series of restaurants and rental accommodations continued to occupy the site in the 1940s and 1950s.

Vancouver Sun, May 29, 1948, page 31, column 4.

Vancouver Sun, July 13, 1949, page 19, column 2.

Vancouver Sun, August 5, 1952, page 21, column 2.

The 1953 Vancouver directory still listed 944, 952 and 958 Denman Street.

Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory, 1953, page 812.

However, in 1954, the houses at 952 Denman Street and 958 Denman Street were gone, and only 944 Denman Street was remaining. It was the site of the Dineland Café.

Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory, 1954, page 864.

900 Block of Denman Street (east side); detail from First Beach, 1954 ; BO-54-211; http://vintageairphotos.com/bo-54-211/.

In 1956, the café business was for sale.

Vancouver Sun, February 24, 1956, page 41, column 1.

900 Block of Denman Street; Denman Street and Barclay Street, southeast corner; 1957, detail from Aerial view of the West End showing the increase of apartment buildings west of Cardero Street, Vancouver City Archives, Dist P133; https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/aerial-view-of-west-end-showing-increase-of-apertment-buildings-west-of-cadero-street.

Southeast corner of Denman Street and Barclay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia; detail from English Bay, 1 February 1959, A snapshot of 1950s Vancouver, October 23, 2019, University of British Columbia, Department of Geography, https://geog.ubc.ca/news/a-snapshot-of-1950s-vancouver/.

Denman Street and Barclay Street, southeast corner, 1962; detail from West End from the air, Vancouver City Archives; Air P96; https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/west-end-from-air.

In 1970, bandits robbed the Dineland restaurant at 944 Denman Street.

Vancouver Sun, August 31, 1970, page 15, columns 3-5.

In 1982, the property was for sale, along with a “high-quality building.”

Vancouver Sun, March 16, 1982, page 45, column 4.

Since the 1980s, a market has been at the corner of Denman Street and Barclay Street, with an address of 940 Denman Street. A series of restaurants has occupied 948 Denman Street.