ARCHITECTURE:
This is a 1½-storey, bellcast hip-roofed, Colonial Bungalow The façade appears to be symmetrical but for an angled bay on the left balanced by a picture window on the right. There are bellcast, hip-roofed dormers on all sides. Classical features include the paired modillions on the eaves of the dormers and the main roof, and the fluted Doric columns. There is a cantilevered angled bay under the eaves on the left side. The recessed, full-width front verandah has clusters of columns on concrete bases supported on battered, random rock piers. The verandah balustrade is composed of decorative curved balusters of unusual design. The front steps are low and flared and have concrete capped rock balustrades. The rock of the front foundation, piers and balustrades unifies the front verandah. The panelled front door and sidelights have original art glass. Several windows have etched and bevelled glass with central fleur-de-lys. A recessed rear porch has one chamfered post and a solid balustrade. The body of the house is clad in double-bevelled siding and the basement below the water table is shingled.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1911-12, 1917-18: Taxidermist and furrier William Lindley (b. Aston, Lancs, ENG 1857-1921) Margaret “Maggie” (née Anderson, b. Antrim, IRE. c.1872-1957) lived at 1048 Pandora Av for many years before building this bungalow for $3500. He came here in 1886 and was in partnership with Frederick Foster before forming his own business, BC Fur Co on Government St. Retiring c.1913 he went to work with the Exhibition Department of CPR Natural Resources Branch installing natural history exhibits in cities across Canada. He was a member of Sons of England.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1913: Alfred A Godwin of Godwin & McKay, real estate, 620 Yates St.
1920-35: Astronomer William Edmund Harper (b. Bruce Co, ON 1878-1940) married Maude Eugenia (née Hall, 1876-1949) in Ottawa in 1909. A graduate of UofT in 1906, he was first to receive the RASC gold medal. He joined the Dominion Observatory in Ottawa, then returned to U for his Masters in 1907. He came to the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (5071 W Saanich Rd, Saanich Registered Heritage) in 1918, becoming its second director in 1936. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1924 and in 1935, UofT granted him an honorary doctorate.
1938-40: Olive Jemsen Brown (née Cramp, b. London, ENG 1884-1960) came to Canada in 1913 with husband William James Worsfold Brown (1879-1918). A BC Lands Dept civil servant for five years he died suddenly of acute tubercular meningitis. Olive was secretary of St. Barnabas Guild for many years.
Owner: 1941-46: Widow Margaret Elizabeth (née Barss, b. Sturgeon Co, ON 1884-1962) married John “Wesley” Robb, Butcher ( b. Elderslie, ON 1883-1936) in Elderslie in 1906. They lived for a number of years in MacDonald, MB. After selling the house, Margaret went to work for Jean Burns Dress Shop. She later moved to Regina where she died.
Owners: 1947-49: Metropolis Hotel janitor William Falk and Maggie. By 1949 there were eight suites in the house.
1949: Esquimalt Dockyard diesel-marine machinist William Arnold Falk (b. Sunnyslope, AB 1918-1982) and Joan May (née Hunt) lived in one of the suites.
Owners: 1950-62: Retirees Archibald George Dunster (b. Kent, ENG 1890-1966) and Emily Jane (née Totten, b. Belfast, N IRL 1889-1969) had lived for some years in Regina, SK, where he was a motor conductor.