1954 Georgia Street

1954 Georgia Street – Downing Residence – 1901 – Vancouver Public Library – VPL Accession Number 2516; http://www3.vpl.ca/spePhotos/LeonardFrankCollection/02DisplayJPGs/1103/2516.jpg.

 

1954 Georgia Street was one of four similar houses on the south side of Georgia Street, near the intersection with Chilco Street. (The page on Whitfield Walker Stuart has a more detailed view of the store in front of 1974 Georgia Street.) 

 

1900 block Georgia Street, about 1909; detail from Man in scull on south side of Coal Harbour; Vancouver City Archives; CVA 7-267; https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/man-in-scull-on-south-side-of-coal-harbour.

 

The Houses

The four houses on Georgia Street were essentially the same design, although two were mirror images of the others.

 

Insurance plan – City of Vancouver, July 1897, revised June 1901 – Sheet 43 – Coal Harbour to Comox Street and Bidwell Street to Stanley Park.

 

 

Insurance plan – City of Vancouver, July 1897, revised June 1903 – Sheet 43 – Coal Harbour to Comox Street and Bidwell Street to Stanley Park.

 

 

1900 Block Georgia Street – Detail from Goad’s Atlas of the city of Vancouver – 1912 – Vol 1 – Plate 7 – Coal Harbour to Barclay Street and Cardero Street to Stanley Park.

 

 

1974 Georgia Street, 1968 Georgia Street, 1964 Georgia Street and 1954 Georgia Street, detail from Goad’s Atlas of Vancouver, Volume 1, Plate 48 [Denman Street to Georgia Street to Chilco Street to Haro Street]; https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/plate-48-denman-street-to-georgia-street-to-chilco-street-to-haro-street.

 

The following photograph shows 1954 Georgia Street, with a portion of 1964 Georgia Street on the right.

 

Downing residence, 1954 Georgia Street, 1903, [cropped]; Vancouver Public Library; VPL Accession Number 2517; http://www3.vpl.ca/spePhotos/LeonardFrankCollection/02DisplayJPGs/1103/2517.jpg.

 

This photograph shows a detail of the front porch of 1954 Georgia Street.

 

Downing residence at 1954 West Georgia, 1903 [cropped]; Vancouver Public Library, VPL Accession Number 4153; http://www3.vpl.ca/spePhotos/LeonardFrankCollection/02DisplayJPGs/1104/4153.jpg.

 

This photograph shows part of the living room in the house in 1902.

 

Living room interior, Downing residence at 1954 West Georgia, 1902, Vancouver Public Library; VPL Accession Number: 4152; https://www3.vpl.ca/spePhotos/LeonardFrankCollection/02DisplayJPGs/1104/4152.jpg.

 

Vancouver directory listings from 1902 to 1923.

 

1902 to 1911	Downing, Tracey Wilkinson (son of John Downing)
1912 to 1916	Downing, Mrs. Charlotte (widow of John Downing)
1917 to 1918	De la Giroday, Gaston
1919 to 1923	Grant, Fenwick William

 

From the 1920s onward, the house offered rental accommodation.

 

Vancouver Province, March 10, 1928, page 16, column 2.

 

Vancouver Province, April 28, 1937, page 19, column 8.

 

Vancouver Sun, November 15, 1940, page 22, column 2.

 

In 1942, the property was for sale. The advertisement also referred to a store in front (probably with an address of 1950 Georgia Street) and a garage in back, which faced Alberni Street).

 

Vancouver Province, February 21, 1942, page 26, column 8.

 

The house continued to offer rooms for rent.

 

Vancouver Sun, May 6, 1947, page 18, column 2.

 

 

Vancouver Sun, October 3, 1947, page 32, column 6.

 

The rooming house business was for  sale in 1948.

 

Vancouver Sun, January 26, 1948, page 24, column 6.

 

In the late 1940s, A.J. McBain was selling marine engines at 1950 West Georgia Street, which appears to be the store that was at the front of the lot.

 

Vancouver Province, December 23, 1948, page 22, column 5.

 

The house was for sale again in the late 1940s and the early 1950s.

 

Vancouver Sun, January 25, 1949, page 20, column 6.

 

 

Vancouver Province, August 4, 1953, page 33, column 4.

 

In June 1955, house wreckers were demolishing the house.

 

Vancouver Sun, June 16, 1955, page 39, column 1.

 

The property later became part of the site of the Laguna Parkside apartment building, which has an address of 1925 Alberni Street. (Further information appears on the page for the Horse Show Building.)

 

1900 West Georgia Street, south side, west end of block; Google Streets, searched January 7, 2020; image dated May 2012.